Silvermines to host gaelic4girls event
The 2015 Gaelic4Girls host clubs have been announced with a record 60 clubs taking part in the initiative. The programme, which encourages participation in areas of the country where ladies gaelic football is not yet too strong, is to take place at 36 clubs throughout Ireland. 2015 will also mark the first time that the programme will be introduced to Britain where 13 clubs across 5 counties will host the programme for the first time.
All participants in the course will be invited to take part in the national blitz day at Croke Park on July 6th when these young girls get the opportunity to walk out on the famous pitch for the first time.
This year 1 Gaelic4Girls site will be hosted by a Tipperary club as Silvermines have been selected for the programme in 2015.
Gaelic4Girls is a programme that encourages the introduction of ladies gaelic football to areas in which the sport is not already present or where it is particularly weak. Clubs were invited to apply to become host clubs for the Gaelic4Girls programme in January and each application was assessed based on their suitability and need for the programme. Gaelic4Girls is a key programme for the development of the game and has proven to be a great success in helping clubs that have been struggling for numbers and has also succeeded in inspiring new clubs to be set up as a result of being in host areas.
2015 will be the first time that Gaelic4Girls will now be available outside the island of Ireland as Britain will this year host the course in 13 clubs. Ladies Gaelic Football has great potential for development throughout Britain and the introduction of Gaelic4Girls at these 13 sites will be a key tool for the further development of the sport.
24 Irish counties are represented on the list of 60 clubs to host Gaelic4Girls Programmes over 12 weeks throughout the Summer. The first 8 weeks of the programme are spent teaching the girls the basics of the game, many of the players will never have played the game before, and helping them become comfortable with the ball, with the other players and to become comfortable in a club environment.
The final 4 weeks are spent integrating the Gaelic4Girls participants within the club and with the existing club players where they will play and train as one group. At the end of the 12 weeks, each club is invited to take part in a non-competitive Provincial blitz where they get to interact with other players and clubs and where the coaches will also have the same opportunity.
This is the 8th year that the programme will take place since 2008 with 228 clubs having hosted the programme to date introducing over 1,000 new girls to football for the very first time with over 1,400 taking part in the programme during its lifetime.
Another key benefit for the clubs is that they receive all the training that they need to deliver the course and to continue to coach children after the course has been completed. Training for co-ordinators and coaches, which is provided by the LGFA, has already taken place in Connacht, Leinster and Ulster with training scheduled for Munster and Britain in April.
Speaking about the Gaelic4Girls programme LGFA president, Marie Hickey said ‘Gaelic4Girls is a real success story for the LGFA. We continue to see the programme grow year on year and it is especially pleasing to see the programme spread to Britain where there really is a great appetite for the sport. I would like to wish all 60 clubs the very best of luck as they host the Gaelic4Girls programme and I very much look forward to seeing them in Croke Park on what is always a very special day on July 6th.’
Youghal are one of the clubs taking part in the programme in 2015 and this will be their second time participating in the course having previously taken part in 2011. Youghal’s Gordon Kingsley explained why they were so anxious to be accepted into the programme in 2015.
‘This is our second time being part of the Gaelic4Girls programme and we are truly delighted to be accepted again. We previously took part in 2011 and it was a brilliant experience. We have seen the club go from strength to strength since as our team now regularly qualifies for the County League, something we could only have dreamt of back in 2010. It is great news that we are part of the programme again, the girls themselves will be delighted and, of course, the club are too as it will give us the tools that we need to secure our long term future, of course getting back to play in Croke Park again will certainly help!’