Down GAA's successful 'Have A Go' hurling initiative
Down GAA organised three taster hurling sessions early in the year. Photo by Down GAA
By Cian O'Connell
Down GAA's 'Have A Go Initiative' is proving to be a real success story.
Early in the year, three hurling taster events were organised in Downpatrick, Newry, and Newcastle.
The response was hugely positive for Down GAA Head of Games Conor O'Toole. "The new GAA Games Development Funding model has been a breath of fresh air for Down GAA," O'Toole says.
"An increased pot of centralised money enabled the county to employ Fergal Rogers and Brian Morgan in November 2024.
"In the first quarter of 2025, Down GAA set about offering new opportunities to children across Down, to partake, for the first time in hurling and camogie."
Enjoying hurling and camogie during the initial three events was the objective. "The sessions were two hours in duration each, with the first focusing on introductory skill development activities and exercises, and the final hour being small sided games focused," O'Toole explains.
"The sessions were overseen and delivered by Fergal Rogers and our Regional Hurling Officer, Danny Toner.
"Uptake and interest was much greater than we could ever have anticipated. 75 children, all complete novices aged between seven and 12 turned up in the bitter cold at Lecale Trinity GS Downpatrick for the first of the session on January 11. The cold weather could not deter the young participants from having a wonderful morning's activity."
In Newry, the reaction was similarly enthusiastic. "The success of our Downpatrick event was followed in Newry on February 8 where we had 51 children registered and present in the Abbey CBS," O'Toole remarks.
"Our staff were greatly supported on the day by members of Newry Shamrocks GAC, the only hurling unit in the city, who handed out flyers about upcoming hurling training sessions and clubs activities.
"Indeed, our County Senior Hurling Manager, Ronan Sheehan, himself now an adopted 'Newry Native' was present on the day to support the programme and to assist with the coaching duties."
Bryansford hosted a subsequent day in March. "The final "Have a Go" session was held in St Patrick's Park, Newcastle, home of Bryansford GAC, on Saturday March 8, where in excess of 60 children took part in the workshop, most of whom were holding a hurl and wearing a helmet for the very first time," O'Toole says.
"The glorious sunshine, against the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains was the ideal environment for young people to experience the excitement and skill associated with hurling - and so the seed was planted."
O'Toole is encouraged by the manner in which the clubs have worked since the opening quarter of the year. "The appetite for hurling in these "non-hurling" areas was further evidenced with the formation of juvenile hurling and camogie units in Bryansford GAC and Ardglass GAC in April," O'Toole says.
"Both clubs were successful in their applications for GAA Starter Packs, which has really enhanced the clubs' ability to deliver a meaningful programme for children at a local level."
Coaching courses have been organised within the clubs, who also offered hurling and camogie sessions in Kellogg's Cúl Camps. "We believe, in some small way, that the "Have a Go" events were a catalyst for the development of these new exciting Hurling and Camogie units - now the real work of sustaining these starts in earnest for both clubs," O'Toole reflects.
"Down GAA and our staff will of-course be on hand to support the clubs and their volunteers in any way we can. Plans are already underway for the 2026 'Have a Go' events, given the success of the 2025 version."
