St. Peters School from Solihull will be hoping to win their first school trophy this year

This summer term will see 4000 young people from primary and secondary schools in the West Midlands take to the Gaelic football field for the 5th annual Warwickshire Schools GAA championship events at Pairc Na h’Eireann, Catherine De Barnes Lane, Solihull.

The ‘Gaelic Sports in Schools’ programme, based at Bishop Challoner Catholic School in Kings Heath, was re-launched last January with players from 54 primary and 23 secondary schools taking part in a series of exciting Gaelic football coaching sessions.

The scheme, backed by the local Warwickshire GAA and delivered by Newman College students and local school teachers, will finish with the next generation of Gaelic footballers taking to the field to participate in seven school championship competitions.

Simply the Best: 2004 Championship St. Dunstans & St. Martin De Porres

A highlight of this year’s competitions will be the two primary school championship event which will culminate in the All-Britain finals in June in Birmingham. The primary school programme part of an eight week curriculum and will see children take part in a wide range of fun activities including the McDonalds Skills Challenge. On Tuesday 24th May, 15 West Midlands School GAA primary schools will compete for the coveted championship trophy. Wednesday 25th May will see Birmingham’s Catholic schools clash for the ‘Catholic Cup’ and ‘Harp Cup’ trophies.

A new feature to this years schools programme will be the ‘Ladies GAA week’. The brainchild of development officer Eavan

Mulligan, the 3 day schedule of events will see the introduction of two new championship events, for primary

schools (14th July) and Yr 11-13 secondary schools (15th July) girls teams, alongside the traditional Year 7-10 competition (13th July). The aim of the Ladies GAA week will be to raise the profile of Ladies Gaelic Football in the midlands with a view to develop a local club league.

Finally, the secondary schools boys competitions will kick off with the Yr 7 & 8 (13th June) championship followed by the Yr 9 & 10 competition (11th July). Last year’s competition saw Bishop Challoner scoop both the championship trophy and shield. This year, Birmingham schools Archbishop IIsley and St. Peters will be looking to clinch victory.

Archbishop IIsley will be looking to improve on last year’s Shield Runners-up placing

2004 Secondary School Champions Bishop Challoner will be returning to defend their title