National Gaelic4Girls Blitz Day 2010

This was the third national blitz day since the initiatives inception in 2008 and this year there was over 250 girls participating in the blitz. The Gaelic4Girls programme targets areas with few sporting facilities for young girls aged 9-13. Through Ladies Football these young people can develop athletic and social skills in a safe and nurturing environment.

The overall aim of the initiative is to set up a permanent club in the area so that the girls can continue to be involved in sport and to create lasting relationships with existing GAA clubs in the area. All the Gaelic4Girls sites are located in areas with little or no ladies football heritage.

Nine sites participated in the National Blitz Day which consisted of a festival of mini-games where the girls showcased their newly acquired skills. A number of county stars such as Dublin’s Cliodhna O’Connor and Sinead Aherne, Una Carroll and Anne Marie McDonough of Galway and Lisa Cafferky of Mayo were on hand to help the budding stars of tomorrow.

Paula Prunty, Ladies Football National Games Development Officer, commented, “The National Gaelic4Girls Blitz is a fitting reward for the all the hard work and dedication these girls have shown throughout the programme. They get to showcase the skills they have learned and fun and participation is the focus of the day.”

Uactaran Peil Gael na mBán, Pat Quill was in attendance to present each of the participants with a specially commissioned medal.

All the mini-games were refereed by newly qualified whistle-blowers who have recently graduated from the Ladies Gaelic Football Grab You Whistle Referee Education Programme.

The 13 sites participating in the national programme are Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford Town, Tralee, Nenagh, Strabane, Waterford City, Limerick City, Tallaght, Swords, Lucan, Collinstown (Clondalkin), Finglas, Charlemount Street (Dublin City).

Over 500 girls are currently participating in the programme over the 13 sites and 95% of these girls had never played Ladies Football before.

For more information:
Paula Prunty
National Games Development Officer
Tel: (01) 8363156
Fax: (01) 8363111
Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Croke Park, Dublin 3
www.ladiesgaelic.ie

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