1. Membership 2022

2. Meet the Mentors – Senior Ladies Football Teams

3. Mossy O’Connell Tree Planting

4. Scoil Notices

5. Online Safeguarding Course

6. Scoil Hoppers – Spring Social

7. Camogie News

8. Get involved

9. Cumann Na mBunscoil

10. Trad Session and Pop Up Gaeltacht – dates for the diary

11. Child Welfare update February 2022

12. Coffee Mornings are back

13. Club Plans

14. Members Corner

Membership

A huge Thank You to all club members that have paid membership to date. Membership for 2022 is now due. Annual Club Membership Subscriptions can be renewed and paid online via this link: Pay Membership — Scoil Uí Chonaill (scoilgaa.com)

Meet the Mentors – Our Ladies Football Teams

First up is our Ladies Senior A Football Team…

The adult ladies A team management for the 2022 season will again be Johnny and Gus Rock and Gerry Power. Emma Smith and Harry Barnes have been added to the back room team to focus on the defense and forward line respectively.

Nicole, Gus’s daughter, originally played with Ballymun Kickhams and when the team folded, she came down to Scoil to play with a couple of her college friends. Of course, Gus was roped in to help for a few matches and 10 years later, is still involved!

Emma had played on the Scoil adult team for several years, before spending a couple of years in Australia. Harry plays senior football with St Sylvesters and has very kindly agreed to help out this season.

Our Senior Ladies B Team and mentors

The ladies B team is about fitness, fun and friendship as well as football of course.

Many of the players are very experienced having played with Scoil for years. Newcomers, though, are always welcome whether from home or abroad. Win, lose or draw, the enthusiasm of these players is a reflection of the close bond between the mentors and the team.

Sean Costello is the manager of this team. His past experience has been coaching boys but he has proven that a good manager brings his skills with him no matter who he trains – certainly the close bond between the team members and the spirit of the ladies says it all!

Paul Keane has managed a girls team from under ten to Minor ending last season with a minor shield win. He has successfully encouraged his girls to step up to play for the ladies squad with him now.

John Farrelly has been coaching with Paul for years. He could affectionately be known as the ball boy because he always ensures a supply of Covid sanitized balls for training and games and you can’t have a match without a ball!

Wishing all of our ladies every success for the upcoming season – we are all behind you!

Mossy O’Connell Tree Planting

An event to mark the second anniversary of the death of our Club Chairman, Mossy O’Connell was held in the Club on Saturday 5th February.

A tree has been planted in the grounds to celebrate the life and work of Mossy in the Club. We were delighted to welcome Maire, Gerald and Karen, Fr Ciarán and Eoghan along with family, work colleagues and club members to remember and recognise the contribution Mossy made to the Club over many years.

The tree is positioned close to the playing area, the heart of the Club, where Mossy played, managed and supported teams throughout his life.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Scoil Notices

Best wishes to our Senior Footballer, Conor Kirwan who marries Michelle O’Dowd this weekend in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Wishing you both every happiness for the future.

The club wishes to extend our condolences to Kathryn and William (Will) Owens and the Owens family on the recent death of their mother, Helen.

Helen Owens (née Bolwell) of Killoughter, County Wicklow, (formerly of Malahide, County Dublin). 15th February 2022.

Helen will be sadly missed by her husband Gerard; her children Kathryn, Stephen, Claire and William; their partners Sean, Christine, Bartley and Elaine; grandchildren Louis, Eva, Hannah, Johnny, Donnchadh and Cormac; sister-in-law Ita; extended family and friends.

Kathryn and her husband Sean Costello are club members for many years and Sean is currently involved in managing our Senior Ladies B Football Team. Kathryn and Sean’s four children, Louis, Eva, Hannah and Johnny have played for Scoil over the years with Louis still paying with our Senior Men’s Football Team and Hannah was playing with our Senior Ladies Team until recently.

Helen’s grandsons Donnchadh and Cormac Owens both play for Scoil. Donnchadh plays with our U10 boys and Cormac at Scoil Hoppers GAA Academy. William and Helen’s daughter in law, Elaine are also involved in coaching our U10 boys team.

Over the years, many versions of the club gear would be worn on visits to Helen and she always enquired with great interest as to how her grandchildren were performing in the various games that they were involved in.

 For anyone that would like to extend their condolences to the Owens Family, can do so via the RIP Link here: Death Notice of Helen Owens RIP

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

The club also wishes to extend our condolences to Áine and Ronan Ellard and the Ó Coistealbha family on the recent death of Áine’s dad, Micheál on the 25th January 2022.

Ó COISTEALBHA, MICHEÁL (Maidhcín Phat Mhicheálín) Páirc Thoir, An Spidéal, Co na Gaillimhe, 25th January 2022. Suddenly at home. Predeceased by his parents, Pat and Mairéad, his sisters, Bríd and Máirín. Sadly missed by his loving wife Nóra, his children Máire, Mairéad, Sarah, Deirdre and Áine, his sons in law, Colm, Seán, Seán, Benny and Ronan, his grandchildren Ailbhe, Liam, Méabh, Sarah, Katie, Eoghan, Laoise, Páraic, Eimear, Micheál, Donncha, Cormac, Ríona and Tadhg, his relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Micheál’s grandchildren, Eimear, Cormac and Tadhg Ellard all play for the club. Eimear plays with the U10 Girls Team, Cormac plays with the U7 boys team and Tadhg is with the Scoil Hoppers GAA Academy. Áine plays with our Gaelic4Mothers Team and Ronan, Micheál’s son in law in involved with coaching our U7 Boys team.

 For anyone that would like to extend their condolences to the Ó Coistealbha family, can do so via the RIP Link here: Death Notice of Micheál Ó Coistealbha RIP

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Online Safeguarding 1 Refresher Programme

The Gaelic Athletic Association Online Safeguarding 1 Refresher programme is available for those who previously attended a face to face Safeguarding 1 workshop.

This Programme can only be completed if you have attended a face to face Safeguarding 1 workshop within the last three years.

If an individual has completed the Sport Ireland safeguarding training via the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) or a sport’s National Governing Bodies, then they should complete the Online Safeguarding 1 Programme in order to be informed of Gaelic Games safeguarding policies and procedures. Any queries, please contact Aideen Lawlor on 086 312 2130

Scoil Hoppers GAA Academy – Spring Social

We were delighted to open the Clubhouse on Saturday morning with many of our Nursery parents ‘inside’ for the first time. To mark the occasion, we hosted a coffee & cake event and thanks to everyone who joined us we raised €195 which will be used for Nursery expenses. Special thanks also to the bakers including Daria, Eve, Maire, Marion and Niamh.

We encourage all members to pop in to the Club House on Saturday mornings – it is a great way to meet with many club members from all areas of the club.

Camogie News

Scoil has a minor camogie team this year for the first time (ever possibly!). Their league season starts on 27th February with a home game. Best of luck to the girls, lead mentor Niall McGrane and all the management team for the year ahead.

Well done to Taiya McCann, Niamh Kavanagh, Sadhbh O’Sullivan and Caoimhe Daly who are representing Scoil on the U14 Dublin Camogie Development Programme. The girls completed their second block of training last week with a series on inter Dublin challenge matches.

The U14 Camogie team kicked off their season on Saturday recently with a hard fought challenge against Trinity Gaels in difficult conditions at Alfie Byrne Road. The skills were a bit rusty but great to see the girls back playing and enjoying their camogie.

Cumann na mBunscoil

Cumann na mBunscoil is back after 2 years!! Many of our underage players are representing their various schools over the coming weeks and months. The football season will run from February to Easter, followed by the hurling/camogie season.

The first of the games took place before the midterm break and the club grounds was a buzz with activity for the afternoon.

Scoil Neasáin Girls hosted Howth PS in their first Cumann na mBunscoil – Corn Sean Mac an  Breitheamh match at the Scoil Ui Chonaill grounds on 9th February. Amongst other local clubs represented on the Scoil Neasáin team, we had a number of Scoil Ui Chonaill players from the U11, U12 and U13 teams. The Scoil Neasáin girls were unfortunate to lose the match after being ahead at half time  but showed great grit and energy in their first match playing together. Best of luck to Scoil Neasáin in the next few weeks.

St Vincent’s GNS played the same team 2 years ago and were defeated. This year, they played with great gusto and came away with a draw. Well done to all the girls on a fantastic result.

Coláiste Mhuire played their first ever game and they took on Brunswick St. They were narrowly beaten by 2 points but what a great performance by an up and coming team – they will be one to watch for the future…

Also, in the same group as Coláiste Mhuire was Laurence O’Tooles v O’Connells boys. This game was played in Fairview Park with Laurence O’Tooles coming out on top.

Well done to all the teachers for taking their time outside of school to train all the kids and having them competing in Cumann na mBunscoil.

Trad Session and Pop Up Gaeltacht coming to Scoil

Dates for the diary:

On Thursday, 3rd March, an Adults Trad Session will take place in the Club House Bar from 9pm. All musicians are most welcome to come along and join in. Of course, those that wish to come to the club house on the evening to enjoy the music, are most welcome.

On Friday, 4th March, our next Junior Trad Session will take place in the Club House from 7pm to 8pm. All are welcome to come and join in with our Junior Trad Musicians.

Pop Up Gaelteacht ar siúl i Scoil Uí Chonaill ar an 10ú do mí Márta 2022 ar a 8 a chlog. Buailigí isteach. Tá fáilte roimh gach uile duine teacht.

Pop Up Gaelteacht will take place in Scoil Uí Chonaill on 10th March from 8pm. Spread the word – all are welcome.

Child Welfare update February 2022

Scoil Ui Chonaill GAA is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for all children attending the club.  We will do our best to take all practical steps to safeguard children from any forms of abuse, harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and we respect their rights and feelings.

Reporting concerns

If you are a juvenile member who is worried about your treatment within the club or are an adult member/parent who has concerns about the welfare of a child please contact the Club Children’s Officer- Aideen Lawlor- 0863122130. You will be dealt with professionally and in the strictest confidence.

Children’s Officers-

The role of the Club Children’s Officer (CCO) is to promote children’s wellbeing and protect them from harm or abuse. The key role is to ensure the implementation and promote the relevant code of behaviours so to ensure that young people can participate, enjoy and benefit from our Gaelic Games in safe and enjoyable surroundings. The CCO oversees the Garda Vetting process.

The Club Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Paul Maher@ 0879874090. The main role of the DLP is for reporting concerns or allegations of abuse, to liaise with the county DLP and the Associated mandated person and where necessary statutory agencies and to assist those who have expressed concerns or allegations of abuse.

Statutory Agencies Contact Details: 

Republic of Ireland: 

·       Tusla Child & Family Agency: https://www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/ 

·       An Garda Síochána: https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/ 

Coffee mornings are back…

I know you will be glad to learn….. That Scoil Ui Chonaill/OCS*PPU committee will recommence our coffee morning gatherings on Tuesday 1st March from 11am onwards in Scoil Clubhouse.

We hope you can make it and that this outing will be the first of many to come.               

Further Enquiries, if any, to:

Dick Murphy: 087 9295093        

Gerry Rowley: 087 6287395

Club Plans

As part of our long term planning, we are looking at a number of enhancements to the Club Grounds, building on our recent car park improvements.

Our key focus is increased accessibility to the Clubhouse for all members as well as a ‘retrofit’ upgrade to the current facility. We will also be resubmitting our approved plans for an addition to the dressing room as they are due to expire shortly.

Get Involved…

We are always looking for volunteers to help with our teams. Should you wish to help out in any way at all, please speak to the team coaches or email scoil.pro.eoc@gmail.com.

Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a big difference to the club. It does not have to be in a coaching capacity – assistance is always welcome for the admin side of this also.

Dave Daly, the Club’s Camogie Representative is seeking assistance with the Camogie Section. Any help in any small way would really be appreciated. Please contact Dave on 087 145 6050 for more information.

Members Corner

Famous GAA Quote

Pat Fox has it on his hurley and is motoring well now. But here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail. I’ve seen it all now – a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park!
Micheal O Muircheartaigh

Lidl Plus LGFA Rewards Scheme 2022

Don’t forget about the Lidl Plus Rewards Scheme for 2022 that is currently running. This is a huge opportunity to all the club to get behind this reward scheme and the club can be rewarded up to €5000 in cash

The club received a set of jerseys last year and were only short a small number of stamps for the second set. Every stamp counts….

Stags Voice

As always, should any member wish to have Club News included in the Stags Voice, please email all information to scoil.pro.eoc@gmail.com before the 15th of the month.

Annual Registration

Annual Club Membership Subscriptions can be renewed and paid online, please see attached link: Pay Membership — Scoil Uí Chonaill (scoilgaa.com)

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Social Media

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