Lidl First Year #SeriousSupport Programme

The Lidl First Year #SeriousSupport Programme aims to increase retention rates in sport and to support female students as they transition into post primary education. We will have eight excellent sessions from some of our top players and these are not just aimed at our sport but sport in general. Details of these sessions are listed below and the dates each one will be released.

Session 1 – Monday 28^th September

Importance of Sport in Transition to Post Primary School and Pitfalls to Avoid for Dropout – Carla Rowe (Dublin)

Session 2 – Monday 5^th October

Sport and Positive Wellbeing – Cora Staunton (Mayo)

Session 3 – Monday 12^th October

School and Sport Balance: Getting the Best from Both – Emer Gallagher (Donegal)

Session 4 – Monday 19^th October

Avenues to get involved in sport within your school or club – Orlagh Farmer (Cork)

Session 5 – Monday 2^nd November

Be Yourself, Keep It Real – Paris McCarthy (Kerry)

Session 6 – Monday 9^th November

Dealing with Distractions and Anxiety – Bernie Durkan (Kildare)

Session 7 – Monday 16^th November

Harvesting and Harnessing the Support of Peers – Jenny Higgins (Roscommon)

Session 8 – Monday 23^rd November

Use of Social Media – the Pros and Cons – Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh)

These will be inspiring talks as the players involved share their experiences on these topics to help the first-year students in your schools. The sessions are 30 minutes approximately ensuring they will slot perfectly into a class timetable with 10-15 minutes remaining to discuss the questions posed at the end of each recording within the classroom setting supported by a weekly guidance sheet alongside practical activities that will be available to integrate into the sessions.

Registration link: LGFA Lidl First Year #SeriousSupport Series 2026-27 – Fill in form.

Note: We are inviting applications from teachers of first year students. The teacher will show these sessions to the full class – and work with the class using resources provided.