Participation primary schools blitzes prove to be a success in Donegal
A Donegal flag being waved at the 2025 All-Ireland SFC Final. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Primary school participation blitzes for third and fourth class students have proven to be successful in Donegal.
During the past couple of years, Donegal GAA Coaching & Games staff have organised several events, with the emphasis placed on enjoying football.
Declan Bushell, Donegal GAA Games Development Manager, is encouraged by the fact that so many teachers are providing positive feedback. “Going forward we'd look to strengthen that club-school link,” Bushell explains.
“We'll look to get clubs more involved. In one of the regions there is a pilot, one of the coaches is running indoor primary school blitzes for the clubs. So, the clubs would facilitate, the club coaches help. That helps strengthen and create that club-school link.
“We hope that with these blitzes, that we will get the clubs involved more. So, that they can get to know the kids that are in their feeder schools. We will look to do that.
“It is only Gaelic Football that we've done so far, but we will look to do the same for hurling for boys and girls in a similar age group, third and fourth to start off with. Just to increase hurling participation.”
In 2024 and 2025, Donegal GAA organised football days for third and fourth class students. “It has been very positive with the teachers,” Bushell says.
“The kids themselves, too, they really loved it. There was a very positive reaction. We thought about it last year, and we ran a central one as a pilot. We'd more than 40 primary schools attend over two days.
“We thought one day might be enough, but we'd to extend it over two days to facilitate the numbers. We'd more than 800 kids attend that. Then, to help facilitate schools with Donegal being such a large county, we ran them regional this year.
“We ran five regional ones in the five regions. The uptake was very good, we'd more than 900 kids, the teachers thought it was very positive to take out the competitive element. It was fun and they enjoy it that bit better.
“Maybe schools that don't play Cumann na mBunscoil, they mightn't have enough numbers to facilitate a team, that was one thing. If they only have three or four third class kids, they can still come along and partake in it.
“So, it was mainly all about participation, it takes that competitive element out of it, and it was more for fun when they're mixed up with other schools.”
Increasing the offering to involve students in other classes is also a possibility. “If you think about it, every kid goes to school, it doesn't necessarily mean they are playing Gaelic Football,” Bushell says.
“So, if we can expose them to a participation blitz, get them used to the club setting, and link them in with the club coaches, that hopefully then the parents might bring them down to a training session with the club.
“We've found it very successful, and we will look to continue it. Possibly, we will look at different age groups down the line, with the first and second class or target the fifth and six class, just to drive that forward more.”
