Mini - Sevens Report 2005

Once again this year 240 boys & girls got the opportunity to display their skills in Croke Park on the occasions of the All-Ireland Hurling & Football Semi-finals and finals.  All 32 counties were represented as usual and this factor remains the strength of the Mini-Sevens.  There are no strong or weak counties, all are represented.

The G.A.A as an organisation can be very proud of providing such a wonderful opportunity for our young boys & girls.

As in every other year, many cards and letters were again received this year from players, referees, umpires, linesmen and their parents thanking Cumann na mBunscol, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and the INTO for the wonderful time that they had in Croke Park each Sunday during August and September.

As well as players, 20 boys and girls participated each Sunday as umpires, linesmen, runners and flagbearers.   We had many written requests from parents and children seeking an opportunity to partake in these roles.

For the sixth year running we had young people refereeing the mini - games and this has proven to be an outstanding success.  The referees have come through the “Young Whistlers” scheme organised by Cumann na mBunscol, Átha Cliath.  We hope that the experience of refereeing in Croke Park will encourage these young people to continue refereeing in to the future and that it will give them a positive image of the role of the referee in our games.  The “Young Whistlers” are now very much an accepted part of Mini-Sevens days in Croke Park.

Arís I mbliana ritheadh comórtas ar TG4 agus b’e an duais ná an buaitheoir a bheith mar maor ‘sna Mini-Sevens ag Cluiche Cheannais Peile na hÉireann.  B’é Ronan O Flatharta as Baile an Fhirtéiriigh, Co. Chiarraí a bhuaigh i mbliana agus bhí an-lá ar fad aige i bPáirc an Chrócaigh.

Everybody concerned was very appreciative of the attendance of Uachtarán C.L.G.  Mr. Seán Kelly in Clonliffe College on the mornings of the All-Ireland

finals and of the considerable amount of time he spent with us, taking

photographs and chatting with the participants. We thank him for that and for the considerable amount of time he spent with us.

The I.N.T.O was represented on each of the six Sundays by its President, Ms Sheila Nunan.  Each Sunday, she emphasised the organisations commitment to the series and she was very appreciative of the work being done for Gaelic games by Primary school teachers throughout the country.

 I would like to thank Sheila for her support each Sunday.

A word of thanks also to Mr. John Carr, General Secretary of the I.N.T.O whose commitment to the concept of the Mini-Sevens is well known and we thank him for all his help and assistance over the years.  Thanks also to Catherine Byrne of the I.N.T.O for her help throughout the year and to all involved with the In-Touch magazine. As Catherine is retiring  this  year, I would like to thank her for all her support in the past and wish her well in the future.

.Dhein Máire Ní Graham sár-obair arís I mbliana, mar atá déanta aici le blianta fada anuas agus táimid thar a bheith buíoch di.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a gabháil don fhoireann ar fad i bPáirc an Chrócaigh a chabhraíonn linn i gcónaí agus go háirithe iad siúd a thugann tacaíocht dúinn gach Domhnach.

Táimid thar a bheith buíoch do Liam Ó Maolmhichíl de bharr an méid suime atá aige sa scéim I gcónaí.

Bíonn an-cóibriú againn ón Artane Boys Band. Is breá leis na páistí siúl amach taobh thiar den banna cheoil cháiliúil sin. Is minic a deireann páistí linn gurb é sin an rud ba mhó a thaitnaíonn leo ar an lá.

Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul dos na múinteoirí ó Chumann na mBunscol, Átha Cliath a bhíonn ann gach Domhnach ag feachaint chuige go mbíonn gach rud in oiriúint dos na páistí.

Tá buíochas freisin ag dul do oifigigh Chumann na mBunscol, Coiste Náisiúnta go mór mór Malachy McGeeney agus Jerry Grogan.  Bhí sár obair Jerry le feiscint arís i mbliana tríd an méid Poiblíocht a fuaireamar don scéim ‘sna nuachtáin, irisleabhair agus ‘sna cláracha gach Domhnach.

Míle buíochas mar sin, do gach éinne a raibh baint acu leis na Mini-Sevens na bliana seo agus táimid ag súil le 2006 nuair a bheidh an seans iontach seo ar fáil arís do pháistí na tíre.

The attached table shows the number of schools that took part in each discipline throughout the 32 counties.  I would like to thank the host counties who organised the Regional festivals.  They were, as usual, well organised and very skilful players were selected in all disciplines.  I would also like to thank Timmy Maher for his excellent work as Mini-Sevens Coordinator over the last eight years and wish him well in his new role as chairman of his local club.

Jim O’ Reilly

Number of Schools which took part in the INTO/GAA Mini-Sevens 2005