News from the Garden County

Exciting Camogie Finals     

A very successful camogie competition took place in Ballinakill on Wednesday, 29th April. The weather was kind throughout the day, providing ideal conditions for what proved to be an enjoyable and highly competitive event. A total of 12 teams from nine schools participated: Carnew NS, Bearna Chlé, St Joseph’s Glenealy, Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath, Scoil Chualann, Gaelscoil Uí Cheadaigh, Greystones Community NS, St Patrick’s Bray, and Kilcoole Primary School. The standard of camogie on display was excellent, with great skill, determination, and sportsmanship evident in every match.
The Division 1 final was particularly exciting, with St Joseph’s Glenealy and Bearna Chlé finishing level even after extra time, resulting in both teams being named joint winners. In Division 2, Gaelscoil Uí Cheadaigh emerged as deserving winners after a series of strong performances.
A sincere thank you to all the teachers, volunteers, and the staff in Ballinakill who contributed to the smooth running of the day. Their support and effort ensured a memorable occasion for all involved.

Glenealy and Greystones Lead the Way in Ballinakill

Ballinakill was bathed in sunshine on Wednesday 22^nd April as 12 schools fielded 18 teams for a fantastic day of hurling. Across three divisions, over 200 children took to the pitch for a total of 34 high tempo games.

In a hotly contested local derby, St. Joseph’s Glenealy N.S. emerged victorious over Rathdrum N.S. to lift the Credit Union Cup, while Carnew N.S. produced a strong performance against St. Cronan’s to secure the Shield.

The eight-team Corn Ó Murchú division saw Greystones C.N.S. claim the title. After falling just short in last year’s final, they showed great motivation to defeat a talented Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh side. Elsewhere in the division, St. Laurence’s N.S. won the Shield, while St. Patrick’s N.S. (Wicklow Town) took home the Plate. Crossbridge N.S., St. Joseph’s, and St. Cronan’s also performed admirably throughout the day.

Rathdrum N.S. tasted further success in the Andrew Cornyn Cup, defeating a youthful St. Laurence’s side. The Shield final provided one of the day's highlights, with Greystones Educate Together edging out Scoil na Coróine Mhuire in a thriller, while Greystones C.N.S. capped off a successful day by winning the Plate final against St. Patrick’s N.S.

A massive thank you to Wicklow GAA for the use of their excellent facilities, and to the teachers, parents, coaches, and GPOs whose hard work made the event possible. We now look forward to our 1^st and 2^nd Class Participation Day on May 14th at Bray Emmets!

Primary Games to the Fore in Aughrim

Sunday 19^th April was a busy day in Echelon Park Aughrim with a hurling and football double header. Wicklow Senior Hurlers took on Derry in Round 2 of the Christy Ring Cup and Wicklow Footballers took on Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final. At half-time in both games the stars of the future took to the field to showcase their skills. Well done to all involved in giving the boys and girls selected by their schools the chance to pull on the Wicklow jersey and take to the field of the county grounds, the stuff of memories!
Hurling/camogie exhibition match: Billy Dolan, Senan Wright (Gaelscoil na Lochanna); Liam Forde (Greystones Community National School); Arthur Finan, Aidan Kenny, Tom Crosby, Eliza O’Farrell (Greystones Educate Together); Darragh Orr, Jason Orr (Scoil Nioclais Naofa, Dunlavin); Marianne Noonan, Emma Lawless, Gráinne Dodd (Scoil Chualann); George O’Brien, Bill O’Brien (St. Pat’s Wicklow); Emma Corrigan (St. Kevin’s); Grace Power (St. Laurence’s), Eppie Lally, Moya McCrory, Maeve Cooney and Pippa Ormonde (St. Patrick’s Bray).

Football exhibition match: Noah O'Carroll, Liam Proctor (Ravenswell Primary School); Scott O'Toole, Evan Nolan (Newtownmountkennedy Primary School); Cian Mooney, Callum Sharp (Sacred Heart, Aughrim); Conor Nolan, Billy Malone (Greystones Community National School); and Avery Gould, Oisin Franey (Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin).

Thanks too to the Young Whistlers who officiated on the day: Úna Cooper and Lochlainn Hughes.

The Road to Croker - INTO Skills Challenge Winners

The Cumann na mBunscol Wicklow County Skills Final took place in Ballinakill on the 17^th April. The level of skills was incredibly high and all who participated should be incredibly proud of themselves for qualifying from their region and representing their schools so well.

Those who qualified to play in Croke Park during the summer are as follows:

Boys Football:

1^st place – James Miley (Scoil Nioclais Naofa, Dunlavin)

Hurling:

1^st place – Shane Geoghegan (St. Joseph’s Valleymount)

2^nd place – Jack Harrington (St. Mary’s Blessington)

Girls Football:

1^st place – Chloe Richardson (Ravenswell Primary School, Bray)

2^nd place – Dana Brady (Roundwood NS)

Camogie:

1^st place – Moya McCrory (St. Patrick’s Bray)

We wish them the very best of luck when they take to the field representing the Garden County on the hallowed turf of Croke Park this summer.

Thanks to the GDAs for their help in the assistance of running this event and thanks also to Ballinakill for the use of their facilities.

Skills Showcased at Coughlan Cup Finals Day

The Allianz Coughlan Cup Boys Football competition, involving North Wicklow primary schools, took place on the 16^th April in Bray Emmets GAA Club and proved to be a phenomenal day out for all involved. Blessed with excellent weather, the event provided an ideal setting for schools from across the region to come together and showcase their skills and talent.

In total, 37 teams competed across four divisions, with the focus firmly on participation, enjoyment, and providing every player with the opportunity to experience the game in a positive and supportive environment. The overall standard of skill on display was exceptionally high, and the drama of the Division 1 final was a fitting highlight to conclude the day’s proceedings. The standard of play, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm from all involved contributed to the excellent atmosphere throughout the day.

Sincere thanks are extended to Bray Emmets GAA Club for hosting the event and for their excellent facilities, as well as to the teachers, mentors, and schools who supported the initiative. A special word of thanks is extended to the referees and to the TY Young Whistlers, who carried out their duties with great professionalism throughout the day. Thanks also to Dave Barry, who once again ensured everything was set up and ready to go.

Congratulations to the following cup winners:

Division 1 Coughlan Cup Winners: St Laurence’s

Division 2 O’Riordan Cup Winners: Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh

Division 3 Corn De Barra Winners: Kilcoole

Division 4 Corn Uí Dé Winners: St Patrick’s Wicklow

Wicklow Times Shield Finals Day a Great Success

Finals Day of the Wicklow Times Shield Blitz Day for Girls Football took place on the 19^th March in Bray Emmets GAA club. The sun shone for the day as thirty-three teams from twenty different schools participated. Finals Day was the conclusion of the league section across the four divisions with plenty of finals to be decided afterwards. As always, there was a huge amount of skill on show for the small crowd that gathered to enjoy a fantastic day of football. The schools that participated were: Scoil Chualann, St Patrick’s Bray, Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, Holy Rosary Wicklow Town, Scoil na Coroine Mhuire Ashford, St Laurence’s, St Kevin’s, Newtownmountkennedy PS, Kilcoole PS, Kilmacanogue NS, St Coens, Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, Ravenswell NS, Roundwood NS, Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath, Greystones ETNS, Greystones CNS, St Fergal’s and Nuns Cross. St Patrick’s Bray defeated Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh in the Division 1 decider and were presented with the Wicklow Times Shield. Roundwood NS were victorious in the Division 2 final against Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath. They were presented with the Corn Uí Chréan Loinsigh. In Division 3, the Corn Choirbín was awarded to Nuns Cross as they defeated Greystones CNS in a very tightly contested final. Finally, Roundwood NS were victorious in Division 4 winning the Corn Táiliúra against Kilmacanogue NS. The full list of winners is as follows:

Well done to all the teams that contributed to a great day of football. A quick thank you to Dave Barry and Bray Emmets GAA club for the use of their facilities and for the setting up of the pitches. Thank you to our TY students from Colaiste Chraobh Abhann and Greystones Community College for assisting with refereeing the games too.