The main focus of the new Centre of Excellence will be to encourage children and young people’s participation at all levels of Gaelic games, irrespective of ability, and to promote a lifelong interest in and love of the sports. This will be achieved through the provision of educational programmes that support the development of best practice in areas such as coaching, refereeing, safeguarding and the acquisition of Gaelic games skills in a wide range of areas. Additionally, a range of educational programmes for the wider volunteer community will also be created.

GAA Munster Vice-Chairman, Tim Murphy, says the establishment of the Centre of Excellence is an exciting continuation of efforts to nurture a love for Gaelic games in younger players:  “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Mary Immaculate College and to establish this exciting new Centre of Excellence. This follows on from the significant efforts that have already been made to increase children’s participation in sport, particularly Gaelic games. Munster GAA has invested significantly in developing our games programmes at child level through various initiatives at both primary school and club levels, especially in relation to coaching and refereeing education courses for volunteers. I look forward to seeing the positive learning outcomes from this Centre of Excellence applied to clubs and education settings in the coming years and fundamentally strengthening the sport.”

Pictured: Dr Richard Bowles, Lecturer in the Department of Arts Education & Physical Education; Joe Carton, Munster GAA Provincial Games Manager; Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at MIC; Tim Murphy, GAA Munster Vice-Chairperson; Dr Angela Canny, Assistant Dean of Education; Pat O’Shea, Munster GAA Provincial Games Manager.

The Centre of Excellence draws on the success of long-established links between MIC and Munster GAA. In particular, MIC has an enduring tradition in the promotion of Gaelic games among its Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students as well as nurtured links with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Camogie Association. MIC has considerable staff expertise in a range of disciplines that can support the promotion of Gaelic games through coach and referee education. In addition, the College has on-campus facilities including the Tailteann sports complex, playing pitches, teaching labs and classrooms which can all be utilised for Gaelic games education programmes and initiatives.

According to Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at MIC: “While the centre will focus on the province of Munster, it will also benefit the GAA throughout the whole country. Our student population are very enthusiastic about this initiative and as most graduates will go on to work within education throughout the country, MIC is ideally placed to promote the ethos Gaelic games through the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Munster. In addition there is significant synergy between the mission and vision of MIC and the GAA, with both emphasising the importance of community. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank and commend the work of the Steering Group for their hard work in bringing this Centre of Excellence to fruition.”