Gaelic football may soon be the number one school activity for young people in the spiritual home of one of England’s most traditional sports if the children of English Martyrs and St. Marie’s Catholic School’s in Rugby, Warwickshire have their say.

The two primary schools have recently signed up to the East Midland Schools G.A.A 6-week Gaelic football coaching programme which has seen over 100 children take to the field in an attempt to learn new skills. The scheme is part of a drive, backed by local GAA club Rugby Gaels, to introduce Gaelic football to young people in the area, with a view to launch the first youth team in Rugby.

The children of English Martyrs Catholic Primary School in Hillmorton are no strangers to Irish cultural activities, aswell as Gaelic football, the school run a very popular after-school Irish dancing club.

Headteacher Mr Hallaghan, who himself has a long and lustrous history in Irish dancing, has been delighted with the impact Gaelic football has had on the children of his school. He said ‘I have been very impressed by the coaches ability to introduce the basic skills of Gaelic football through fun game activities, which I feel the children really enjoy’. The Gaelic football master classes have been a big hit with two Year 5 children in particular, Michael Walsh (10) and Caroline Simonsen (9). Both children, whose family hail from Dublin, have both picked up the new skills very quickly. Michael, who is a regular spectator at Rugby Gaels senior games, said ‘I like learning the solo run and enjoy getting the chance to play a game at the end, I can’t wait to play next week’. Caroline, who had never played Gaelic football before, but knew it was ‘Irish football’ said ‘I really like the kick pass skill and I think the coaches are great fun’. Class teacher Ms Cunningham, who assists the coaches during lessons, spoke highly of the benefits Gaelic football has on children, ‘the skills involved in the sport has a good blend of generic sport skills such as kicking and running, which children are familiar with, whilst introducing new skills such as the pick-up and solo’. She added ‘I think the coaches have certainly captured the children’s attention with their enthusiasm and ability to motivate the class’.

The coaches given the task of developing local GAA talent in the two schools are Meath under-21 player Damien Sheridan and Carlow minor star Chris Bolger. The two coaches, who have introduced a wide variety of fun activities at the two school’s, have been very impressed with the progress the children have made and are now preparing the schools for their first Gaelic football school championship in March.

Mr Warburton of St. Marie’s Catholic School is delighted to host GAA coaches, however joked ‘the children of our school really enjoy Gaelic football but sometimes have difficulty understanding the accent of the two coaches’. This year is the first year St. Marie’s have taken part in the EMSGAA scheme for Year 5 children and class teachers have already introduced the sport to Yr. 6 children in their spare time. Arran Hinds and Meg Kardasz are just two children from St. Marie’s who enjoy taking part in Gaelic football lessons. Meg has impressed coaches with her ability to pick up the new skills ‘ I love practising the hand pass, the coaches have showed us a lot of fun games to practice the hand pass’.

Whilst Arran enjoys GAA because ‘it’s a bit like rugby and it’s a bit like football and I can’t wait to play against other schools in the championship’.

Children from English Martyrs and St. Marie’s will now be prepare to compete against schools form Coventry and Leicester in their first Primary Schools Championship on Tuesday 15th March and regardless of the result GAA is certainly here to stay.