Coaches Corner

The end 2010/2011 academic year brings to close the second year of the McCurtains’ schools development programme. This year has been a huge success with school fixtures and record numbers of school teams attending the annual St Patricks Day tournament. This year has seen the club deliver Gaelic football sessions to 1190 children spread across five secondary and four primary schools in East London.

Well with preparations and countless meetings complete, it was finally time for the Thomas McCurtains Annual Fun Day. But firstly there was the matter of setting up the scene for the big day. Friday evening and Saturday morning seen countless numbers of volunteers and parents spending hours putting up the fences, setting up the pitches and beginning operation clean up of the field to ensure the day was a success.

Despite the weather it was a brilliant day which seen all of our sides take to the field to showcase their skills. The first event of the day for the minors was the hurling skills tests, organised by Dennis Doherty and Jonny Dwyer. The youngsters of the club seem to have a real passion for hurling at present and this is most certainly credited to the influence of Dennis.

On Friday 1st July Thomas McCurtains supported All Saints Catholic School in celebrating National Sports Week 2011. Alongside London GAA, Gaelic sessions were provided for all year groups throughout the day, with the majority of the children experiencing the sports for their first time.

It proved to be an excellent day with the enthusiasm and enjoyment of all students clear to see. The sessions were split up into two, with the first part of the session hurling and the second part Gaelic football. Some of the talent on show in the school was great to see and we have been promised by all involved at the school that as many students as possible will be encouraged to join the club.

The day was a real success and a massive thank you was given to the club for their support by All Saints and all involved in the London GAA set up. McCurtains look forward to building further on their strong relationship with All Saints in the 2011/2012 academic year!

James Loney

Schools Development Coach

Goodmayes was the venue for our second Under 8 and 10 blitz on Saturday 18th June. With training going from strength to strength since the last blitz in May, the McCurtains youngsters went into the day with high confidence and a sense of expectancy.

Since the beginning of October 2010 I have been working in the local schools around East London providing Gaelic Football on behalf of Thomas McCurtains. Whilst really enjoying my time in the schools I was finding the transition of moving away from friends and family at home quite difficult. Looking back it was a tough time of the year with the bad weather and dark evenings preventing me from getting out and finding my way around. There were several times when I was ready to leave and go home, but thankfully after persuasion from John, Gary and Martin I stuck it out and now im loving life in the McCurtains camp!