Fergus Clifford – Teacher and Football Coach
I’VE ALWAYS been involved in football since I started here in 1999 and it’s hugely important. But that’s also true of sport in general and there’s plenty research to show the benefits sport has for boys and young men. It’s also a hugely important contributor to positive mental health and this is an aspect that we try and promote when it comes to sport.
The majority of our pupils would be very active in a cross-section of sports. Football is obviously the primary sport here but hurling, basketball, athletics, rugby and soccer have also become popular in recent years. There’s now plenty of sporting options available for pupils whereas in the past it was just football.
I suppose it’s no real surprise that pupils take their football serious once they reach senior year as playing Corn Uí Mhuirí is a very high-level competition and usually by this stage pupils will have made up their mind that football is their number one game.
The school has a very proud tradition and there are reminders of past successes all over the school with old team photos and names of past pupils who went on to star for Kerry and their club.
Obviously, academic priorities come first for our students, but combining sport is a great way of augmenting the academic side. Football is undoubtedly the school’s signature sport, but the choice now on offer instils a proud sporting ethos across the school.