GAA 5 Star Centre

What is the GAA 5 Star Centre?

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.

 

 

Science Project Features in Irish Independent

A project by our current fifth class was highlighted in Wednesday’s edition of the Irish Independent.

‘Is Ash the only wood for the Clash’ was a project undertaken by the class and was presented at the RDS Primary Science Fair earlier this year in Limerick. The project was very well received and in an article where next year’s fair and its new sponsors were being launched, the project was mentioned as one of the most memorable.

 

In the piece below, you can read the thoughts of judge and camogie player Rena Buckley.

Hospital/Herbertstown Present Sliotars/Hurleys to the School

Shane Markham & Pádraig O’Dea from Hospital/Herbertstown Bord na n-óg make presentation of playing gear to the school.

 

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.

South Finals

Well done to our boys and girls who completed in South Cumann na mBunscol finals this week.

 

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.

 

Girls Reach 11-a-side Final

Well done to our girls team who have reached the Roinn B final.

 

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.

Boys Qualify for Final

Well done to our boys football team who have qualified for their Cumann na mBunscol final.

 

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.

Anthony Baggott Cup 2018

The annual festival of hurling which culminates with the presentation of the Anthony Baggott Cup took place today in Herbertstown.

 

The host school were joined by neighbours Hospital NS, Knockainey NS and Caherline NS in a round robin where each school played each other. Following these close fought games, Caherline NS and Knockainey NS advanced to the final.

 

A parade led by Kathleen Fitzgerald, a piper from the Liam Lynch Memorial Pipe Band, took place before the final. Caherline, who were crowned East champions 24 hours previous, showed their class to beat the South Champions Knockainey.

Following the final, Eileen Baggott presented the Anthony Baggott Memorial Cup to the Caherline captain. Prizes were also presented by Herbertstown NS principal Carmel Heelan to the players adjudged to be Rising Stars from each panel. Congratulations to Caherline NS who are now champions for 2 years in a row.