Exciting plan by three clubs to improve GAA in Scoil Mhuire gan Smál in Blarney

An exciting new adventure is underway with the plan to improve GAA in the local area and the local secondary school in Blarney.

Neighbours Blarney, Grenagh and Whitechurch have come together in conjunction with the secondary school in Blarney, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál.

Blarney GAA promotion officer and one of the people behind this plan, Martin Lynch, explains why now is the right time for this.

“This project got off the ground recently on the basis of, we realising that with the big expansion of the Blarney secondary school, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, that they have, you know, in excess of 1,200 pupils, that we felt that it was necessary to help out and improve the level of skills in hurling, football, camogie and ladies’ football in the school.

“And with that in mind, three clubs, Blarney, Grenagh and Whitechurch came together as one unit in conjunction with the school. We came up with a joint approach of a project whereby we would have a full-time coach going into the school, coaching the teams, particularly at 14, 15 and 16 years of age, to give them specific coaching in order to increase the levels of skill and to maybe get the teams to go up along the line in the different grades.

“The ultimate aim that in several years’ time, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál might be in a position to be able to play Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí.” 

While this is a positive for Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, this new initiative will also benefit the three clubs involved according to Lynch.

“By doing this, we want to improve the school, make the school more attractive and also to increase the skill level,” he says.

“The higher level that the school is participating at means that it will be a positive for Blarney, Grenagh and Whitechurch.

“This has been on the burner for a couple of years really. This is a natural progression for all three clubs because we’re all actively involved at coaching at primary school level, whereby the three clubs have full-time coaches going into their primary schools in their own areas, which is great. There’s obviously huge interest and commitment from all involved.

“I have to give credit to the Cork County Board in promoting our games, through Gavin Webb and Niall Twomey, in all the help and support that they give us.” 

The project is initially for age groups from 14 to 16, but this is just the start of the journey with the hope of expanding further.

“This is being reviewed on an ongoing basis. There is a great positive attitude and it was a very easy sell for the three clubs to come together. We have met several times and there was nothing but positivity from all the clubs.

“The clubs fully realised that, look, in order to do this, that we are going to help one another. A very positive, proactive attitude, and atmosphere and outlook from the three clubs, and the school, any time we have met so far.”