Transition Year students organise activities for more than 14000 young people

The “Future Leaders Transition Year Programme” Events Month, which ran from April 17th to May 19th, saw more than 14,000 young people involved in events organised by transition year students as part of the GAA/ PDST Future Leaders TY Programme. The events included Gaelic games blitzes as well as Health & Wellbeing activities.

The Future Leaders Programme, a collaboration between the GAA and the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) is a cross-curricular programme comprising of 10 modules, each designed to encourage maturity, initiative, responsibility, and leadership skills in pupils. The Programme gives pupils the knowledge and skills to support all roles required in the effective staging of Gaelic Games and the organisation of Health & Wellbeing Activities.

There are currently approx. 300 schools taking part in the programme, learning skills associated with: Event Management & Administration, Coaching of hurling / Gaelic football, Refereeing, Sports Journalism, Performance Analysis, Wellbeing, Nutrition, History, and Sustainability.

Through the holistic approach that the Future Leaders Programme provides, the initiative empowers the students to contribute to their school and club communities off the field and also in their personal and professional lives.

The organisation of an event allows students to take ownership and responsibility for everything linked to the event, which ensures everybody has a role to play, developing a sense of belonging and enjoyment in a fun, safe environment.

As part of Event Month, Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy visited a number of schools across the country including St Macartan’s College, Co. Monaghan, Virginia College, Co. Cavan, Creagh College Gorey, Co. Wexford, Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, and Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Co. Limerick and Gort Community School, Co. Galway.

Speaking after the series of visits, he said: “The future of Gaelic games and our communities is bright if the leadership and excellence shown by the young people involved in the Future Leaders Programme is anything to go by. Supported by their teachers, but empowered to organise the events and activities themselves, these students have demonstrated that they have the skills and competence to contribute to their school and club communities in a very real and impactful way.

"To provide opportunities for over 14,000 young people to engage in physical activity and wellbeing events is remarkable. We believe that we can do more as an organisation to provide further opportunities for these young people within our Clubs and Counties.”

Four schools on each of the five weeks of Events Month also received a McKeever Sports pack for their efforts.

With the 2023 Future Leaders Programme coming to an end, now is the time to make sure your school is registered for next year. Fast Track registration for current Schools is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/DaUnY43bb8

If you are a new school looking to get involved in the unique programme, please fill out a registration from which is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/dzkK7qcAnk

For further details, please visit https://learning.gaa.ie/futureleaders or contact futureleaders@gaa.ie