Gaelic4Teens launches in Wicklow

THE Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), in conjunction with Wicklow Sports Partnership, launched the Gaelic4Teens Wicklow programme in Baltinglass last Wednesday, March 28.

Four successful clubs – Bray Emmets, Rathnew, Baltinglass and Tinahely – will take part in this exciting programme during 2018.

The programme will help clubs to retain their current playing bases while also recruiting players in the 15-17 age bracket, which has been identified as a group with a high drop-out rate.

William Harmon, National Ladies Gaelic football development officer, and Cliodhna O’Connor Ladies Gaelic football Coach Developer and 2010 All-Ireland winning goalkeeper with Dublin, are leading the delivery of the programme in Wicklow.

This is a joint project between the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Wicklow Sports Partnership, and is funded by dormant account funding secured through Sport Ireland.

The clubs involved will complete a programme that includes safeguarding courses, disability inclusion training and foundation level coaching awards, and they will receive a pack of equipment worth over €500 each.

The programme will consist of three contact days of training for the coaches, culminating in a national blitz day in the National Sports Centre in Abbottstown where the participants will take part in games and also education sessions from LGFA Gaelic4Teens Ambassadors.