News & Events

While it can be argued that the GAA in general needs to undertake a serious review of hurling and the direction it's headed, there is a danger that unless action is taken at grassroots level that hurling is danger of losing ground rapidly to other sports.

Recognizing that the school environment is where children are very often introduced to the game of hurling for the first time, one of the key issues identified by the Nenagh Eire Og club as part of its club development plan, was the need for greater liaison between the club and all the local schools. We are all aware of the key role that our schools play in the overall development of hurling. However, the promotion of hurling in the schools offers a huge challenge, especially now in recessionary times with greater cutbacks on extra-curricular activities. In many schools especially in large urban centers and towns, hurling is not the sport of choice and many children never get the opportunity to play as much hurling as they would like. The Nenagh Eire Og club have been actively involved in trying to address this issue on a number of fronts.

Firstly a “Nenagh Post-Primary Support Group” under the chairmanship of Nenagh Eire Og club Chairman Jim Nagle and made up of officials from the County Board, local feeder clubs and representatives from Nenagh CBS secondary school and Nenagh Vocational school including club members Tony Slattery & Liam Heffernan was put in place last year to assist with coaching and games development in both schools.

Secondly, through the work of the club Juvenile committee under the direction of Martin Morris, a club juvenile coaching officer and school liaison officer has been appointed and the club have worked with St Marys Junior Boys National School, Nenagh Gaelscoil and Nenagh CBS Primary school to put structures and systems in place to the mutual benefit of the club and the schools. Under the guidance of Phil Hennessy and Noel Coffey with club coaches Robert Ryan and Liam Flannery, the club is now active in promoting hurling in all three schools. The club is grateful to the schools for their commitment to the program and to the Principals John Martin, Inez Heenan and Gerry Ryan for their co-operation in allocating regular slots for hurling practice. Part of the mutual benefit of the program is shown in the fact that club members in Nenagh CBS Transition Year are also involved in this coaching program and give much need assistance to the club coaches. Many thanks are due to Karen O’Donnell in Nenagh CBS for facilitating this aspect of the program.

Thirdly, aside from the provision of personnel in the form of coaches, further tangible commitment to the program is evident this week with the commencement of a unique initiative by the club aimed at giving every child in town the opportunity to try the game of hurling. The club presented over 80 hurley’s to Senior Infants and First Classes in St Mary’s Junior Boys National School and are very grateful for the ongoing support of Principal John Martin and all the teachers especially Patricia Harte and Michelle Madden.  A further pool of hurley’s will be made available to the Gaelscoil and the CBS primary school in the near future.

Evidence of the success of the overall program thus far is seen in the numbers arriving to the hurling field in MacDonagh Park for extra training. 90 Primary School children participated in an indoor blitz before Christmas which was enjoyed by all the children and parents, with each child getting a medal and refreshments after the days hurling. A very successful hurling camp was also run during Easter with up to 70 boys from ages 5 to 12 attending, the highlight being the visit of our U12s to the Dome in Thurles. County Board Games Development Officers Tadhg O’Connor and Andy Ryan came to Nenagh to coach during the camp. Indeed the good relationship between the different clubs in the town was evident when Nenagh AFC provided their astroturf facility for this coaching.

The club will continue to coach the children in the schools and also extends a welcome to parents to bring the boys to the hurling field for extra coaching outside of school hours. Training times for under 6s, under 8s and under 10s are Wednesdays 5pm to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to 11.15. A Primary Schools Blitz will be held before the summer breakup and a Summer camp will run on the week commencing July 19th 2010.

The Nenagh Eire Og club welcomes all newcomers and helmets will be provided for use during training if required. Subsidized rates for the purchase of hurley’s and helmets are on offer and the club would like to see as many new boys as possible in attendance, where they can enjoy qualified supervised coaching carried out in a safe and friendly environment with their friends - no child will be refused !