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Newsletter 2        Newsletter 3        Newsletter 4     Report to Coiste Náisiúnta September 13^th 2003.     Secretary’s Report 2004:

Schedule Cumann na mBunscol Laighean Games Programme May/June/July 2004

September 11^th 2004: Report  to Coiste Náisiúnta.

1.    Meetings:

The Coiste Láir met on three occasions during the year (28 Jan 2004/ 24^th March 2004/ 27^th April 2004). The main business of these meetings was the organization of our games programme.  A.G.M. held on March 24^th 2004.   

2.    Administration:

16 communications with counties by post.  Preparations for coiste lair meetings. Reports for Coiste Náisiúnta / C.L.G. Laighin. 4 Newsletters issued. Details of ‘Games Programme’ prepared/posted to counties. A.G.M. booklet produced.

3.    Roadstone Awards

A submission was prepared in late August 2003 in Category 1 – ‘Best Hurling/Camogie Initiatives’. We won a nomination and received third prize on the night in Berkeley Court. Congratulations to other Leinster counties on winning nominations.

4.    Coiste Náisiúnta

Attended September General Meeting in St Pat’s.  Met with Coiste in Club na Múínteoirí (Sept.13^th2003)and gave report of years activities. The chairman and rúnaí represented Leinster at National A.G.M. in Tralee in February .Attended P.R. meeting Croke Park (24^th April 2004).

5.    Coiste Gearáin

Chairman David Finnegan represented us on this coiste, which was set up by Coiste Náisiúnta. A meeting was held in Galway where an outline procedure for dealing with complaints was produced. County units adopted this at the National A.G.M. in Tralee and is now part of the constitution of an Coiste Naisiúnta

6.    C.L.G.Laighean

The support from Comhairle Laighean this year was again excellent. Grants were issued to all 12 counties in March. Our mini games on six Sundays were very successful. A word of thanks to the officers and staff in Áras Laighean. Games were also played at Parnell Park and Dr. Cullen Park.

7.Games Programme

1. May 16^th         Parnell Park               Mini Game                 Gerry O’ Meara

2. May 19^th         Mullingar                    Catch & Kick             Gerry O’ Meara

3. May 23^rd         Croke Park                 Mini Game                 Gerry O’ Meara

4. May 30^th         Carlow                        Mini Games                Edel Parkinson

5. June1st           Celbridge                    Ground Hurling          Tom Ryan

6. June 6th          Croke Park                 Mini Game                 T. Fitzpatrick

7. June 10^th         Portlaoise                   Camogie Tens            D. Finnegan

8. June 18^th         Carlow                        Lift & Strike               Tony Crowe

9. June 20^th         Croke Park                 Mini Game                 D. Finnegan

10. June 27^th         Croke Park                 Mini Game                 E. Parkinson  

11. July 4^th            Croke Park                 Mini Game                 D.Finnegan    

12. July 18^th          Croke Park                 Warwickshire             T. Fitzpatrick

13. Nov 2004        Kilkenny                     Handball Day             Paul Kinsella

8.    Publicity /P.R.

Coverage of our Games Programme was extensive. I am very grateful to Jerry Grogan for his support. We featured in  Scoilsport,  Lár Páirce, The Star, Leinster Match Programmes, Westmeath Examiner and many other Provincial Newspapers. Coverage was also available on Website of Cumann na mBunscol Náisiúnta. Cumann na mBunscol Laighean now have a link on www.scoilsport.org Thanks to Margaret Cunningham for her assistance. Lár Páirce (C.L.G. Magazine) featured all our activities during the year. Thanks to Tom Fitzpatrick for publicity.     

9. Mc Donald’s:

All 12 counties participated in the ‘Catch & Kick’ Programme last year. This year the focus was on ‘Lift & Strike’ with the launch taking place in Páirc an Chrócaigh on March 30^th 2004. Again equipment was made available to schools accompanied by a skills manual.  All twelve counties participated.

10.Primary Schools National Workgroup

This group, under the umbrella of Coaching and Games Croke Park, was set up this year. I represent Cumann na mBunscol Laighean on this committee. We met on three occasions to date. (Jan 6^th, Jan 24^th and Mar 13^th ).

11. St Patrick’s College

The trainee teachers acted as referees in our matches during the year. Others helped with the organization on the day. This partnership is indeed an important one and will hopefully bear fruit when these students become involved in promoting gaelic games in the schools in the near future.  We sponsored kit bags for the college hurling team.  Thanks to Tom Fitzpatrick. We also availed of the help of Dublin U 17 squad members on match days in Croke Park

12.County Units

The co-operation with all county units is the key to success for Cumann na mBunscol Laighean. I thank the secretaries in each county for their work. However it is disappointing to report difficulties in getting a small number of counties to get involved in our ‘Games Programme’..

13.Website

Our activities feature on the Coiste Náisiúnta website. Thanks to Margaret Cunningham for facilitating this. I would hope that in the near future we might develop our own site geared at pupils and teachers alike. The coiste uses e-mail to communicate and I hope that next year all communications with county units would be by e-mail.

14.Camogie Centenary Year

To mark this year we dedicated our mini game during The Leinster Hurling Final to the girls of Offaly and Wexford.  Chairman David Finnegan organized a ‘Centenary Camogie Blitz Day in O’ Moore Park Portlaoise on June 10^th 2004. Five counties took part – Laois, Kilkenny, Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow.

15.Buíochas

1.                  Runaí gach contae & múinteoirí uilig.

2.                  Comhairle Laighean C.L.G.

3.                  St.Loman’s Mullingar

4.                  Celbridge G.A.A.

5.                  Carlow Hurling Club

6.                  O’ Moore Park Portlaoise

7.                  Parnell Park

8.                  Dr. Cullen Park Carlow

9.                  “Young Whistlers”

10.              Micléinn Coláiste Pádraig

11.              Coiste Náisiúnta

12.              Fellow Officers.

Gerry O’Meara

Runaí      September 11^th  2004