Eager Young Whistlers were up to challenge

ALLIANZ Cumann na mBunscol Chill Mhantáin held its now annual ‘Young Whistlers’ refereeing course on Thursday, December 6, in St. Brigid’s Hall, Kilcoole Primary School.

Refereeing in the modern game can be a very daunting task however 19 determined fifth class boys and girls faced the challenge with great enthusiasm last Thursday.

Games Development Officer, Garrett Doyle, guided the children through the fundamental skills they needed to learn to be an effective and fair Gaelic football referee.

The course was very interactive as the children worked in groups to explore the common fouls players make when they have the ball and other ‘do’s and don’ts’ of refereeing.

They discussed the issue of respect, and the importance of giving and getting respect when refereeing, playing and watching our Gaelic games.

The children practised how they would signal any foul they saw and they discussed how they would continue to build their confidence in refereeing games in the future.

Each Young Whistler received a certificate of achievement, an O’Neill’s windbreaker and most importantly their whistle!

Well done to the Young Whistlers who qualified from North-East Wicklow, we look forward to seeing you on the pitch!

Young Whistler courses have also been rolled out in West and South Wicklow with thanks to G.D.A’s Darren Hayden and Cormac Noone.

We look forward to introducing a Young Whistlers course for hurling/camogie in the New Year.

North East Young Whistlers: Aoife Keating, Tom Wilson, Matthew Dowd (Kilcoole P.S.), Daniel Garvey Lucy Garvey (St. Brigid’s, Greystones) Aoife Tivnan, Cian Power (Roundwood N.S) Millie Ní Threanlamhaigh, Fionn Teehan (Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain) Eanna O Cuinn, Sophie Ní Leathlobhair, Teagan Ní Chróinín Sunderland (Scoil Chualann), Dillon Hunt, Ella Kavanagh (Newtown P.S.), Grace Nic Réamonn, Cillian Mac Craith (Gaelscoil Ui Cheadaigh) Ronan Hardiman, Josh Jackson (St. Cronan’s) and Áine Walsh (St. Kevin’s Greystones).

Cumann na mBunscol Cornmarket Annual Awards - Don’t forget to get working on entries for the Awards.

There is so much work going on schools in the Garden County, it is just a matter of putting it down on paper; and working on a project is a great way to get the darker evenings in.

Closing date for all entries: Wednesday, January 9. Please post entries to your provincial delegate for Leinster: Jim Fennelly, Churchhill NS, Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny. Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh!

Please send results, reports or photos to pro.cnmb.wicklow@ gaa.ie, follow us on twitter @cnmbwicklow. Keep up-to-date with all Allianz Cumann na mBunscol news in Wicklow on our website www.cnmbwicklow.ie.