Jack O’ Connor, Kerry football minor team manager, will provide football coaching for Kerry ETB schools commencing in September.
The initiative, which was developed in conjunction with Kerry ETB schools and Kerry GAA, was launched in Castleisland Community College on Thursday evening.
The incoming Principal of Castleisland Community College, Carmel Kelly – in her first public engagement at the school – welcomed the programme.
“Jack O’Connor will provide GAA coaching to the school senior football team over the coming year. He will also train Transition Year students to achieve at least a level one GAA coaching certificate. Jack and the Transition Year students will work with the local primary school students to develop their GAA coaching skills,” said Ms. Kelly.
Jack O’ Connor is very enthusiastic about the initiative and emphasises the importance of skills development.
“The main aim of the project is to promote and foster Gaelic Football in the schools and support existing coaches in any way I can,” said Jack.
“We will organise first and second year leagues where the emphasis will be on participation by everybody. We will encourage and support the participation of girls and boys equally and develop interschool leagues,” he said.
Kerry GAA County Board is supporting this initiative and, according to secretary, Peter Twiss: “The County Board has every confidence that this collaboration with Kerry ETB will be a great success”.
Colm McEvoy, CEO of Kerry ETB is also an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative:
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Jack O’Connor’s calibre in Kerry and we are certain that he will motivate and encourage our students to build on their fitness and skill levels. We are also delighted that, as a fluent Irish speaker and teacher, Jack will also enhance oral Irish by promoting the use of Gaeilge in the process of sports participation,” said Mr. McEvoy.
