Well done to the four pupils who represented the school today in the South Limerick Primary Schools Handball event hosted by John the Baptist CS. The boys played some great handball and are making great progress in the game. Two pupils came home with South medals in a very competitive U11 division. Congratulations boys.
There were great scenes of celebration and excitement today as the pupils and staff of Herbertstown NS, as well as a good number of local people, welcomed All Ireland winners Pat Ryan and Darragh O’Donovan to the school. The two Limerick stars were accompanied by Alan Feely who was a hurler carrier for the team and Limerick Games Development Officers Noel Hartigan and Ollie Coffey. Perhaps the most welcome visitor of all though was the Liam MacCarthy Cup and it was wonderful to have it here in the school.
The pupils performed music, asked questions and sang Limerick You’re a Lady for their guests before Pat and Darragh spoke to everyone. They pointed out how important their time in Doon CBS Primary School was to their development as hurlers and encouraged the boys and girls to have their hurleys in their hands at every available opportunity.
Afterwards, the players posed with the entire school for what will be a treasured photograph for our pupils and staff.
We are very lucky in Limerick to have such fantastic ambassadors for our county.
Best wishes to Tadhg and South Limerick in the Sarsfield Cup Final tomorrow night in the Gaelic Grounds.
Megan O’Shea, Orlaith O’Donoghue and Louise Ryan brought the West County Cup to Herbertstown NS and gave some great advice and tips to the children. All three are members of St Brigid’s Ladies Football Club and links were made between the girls who play football in the school and their chances of one day playing in Croke Park. Megan said “when Limerick last won this cup in 2010, I was looking on in Croke Park just like some of you were.”
The pupils asked questions, sang ‘Limerick, You’re a Lady’ and the school’s musicians performed Amhrán na bhFiann.
Megan, Orlaith & Lucy stayed on to allow time for the children to lift the cup and take photographs. They are great ambassadors for their club and county.
The GAA 5 Star initiative aims to support and recognise Primary Schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous Gaelic Games activity per week in a manner that ensures the children will experience fun, friendship, fairness and ultimately improve their fitness. Recognition as a “GAA 5 Star Centre” is awarded to Primary Schools that undertake to deliver a programme of Gaelic Games activity that is age-appropriate and meets the developmental needs of children within the school.
Herbertstown NS is one of a number of schools accepted to pilot this new initiative from the GAA and so far this year we have been making progress on a number of areas. For the next 6 weeks, 3rd & 4th class and 5th & 6th class will be focusing on the ‘Have a Ball’ and ‘Strike It’ elements of the initiative.
Here are some photos of the pupils taking part in some activities earlier today.
Teams from fourth class participated in a Futsal blitz today in Cappamore. They played games against Scoil Caitríona, Cappamore, Cloverfield NS, Caherline NS & Killinure NS.
Thank you to FAI Development coach Barry McGann for organising today’s blitz.
Local coaches Shane Markham & Pádraig O’Dea from Hospital/Herbertstown visited the school on Monday and presented the staff & pupils with hurleys, sliotars and gaelic footballs for the year ahead. Thank you to Hospital/Herbertstown for their cntinued support of Gaelic Games in the school.
Our teams met two very strong Ballylanders NS sides in Martinstown and unfortunately did not bring home a trophy on this occasion. Our teams deserve huge credit though for the way they played and their supporters and mentors were very proud of them.
In terms of Gaelic Games, attention now turns to hurling where 2019 will see teams participate in indoor hurling, INTO Mini 7s, camogie and 11 a side competitions. Before that, the school’s handballers will be in action in November in the South Primary Schools Handball Blitz.
Our girls will also represent the South division in the county finals of the INTO mini 7s sometime in the spring.
Wins over Knockainey NS and Ballylanders NS saw them qualify for the 11-a-side final where they will face off again with Ballylanders NS. Their final group game against Athlacca NS ended in a draw.
The team played 3 games this morning in Martinstown. Two hard earned wins from games against Knockainey NS and Athlacca NS were enough to secure a place in the Roinn B decider in a fortnight’s time. They will face Ballylanders NS who had the upper hand in our game today.