- Indoor competitions in boys’ & girls’ football, hurling and camogie
- INTO 7 aside competitions in football, hurling & camogie
- The Canon Esler Cup - an open championship permitting amalgamations with the winners representing their county in the McGreevy Cup
- Girls’and Boys' representative games.
- Table Quiz
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Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin - Annual General Meeting 2007
Every school was requested to send a delegate.
As several committee members were unable to continue in their allocated positions,
some new and younger teachers accepted the challenge of undertaking special
roles for the coming year .
The Annual General Meeting of Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin was held in the Donard Hotel Newcastle on Wednesday 14th November. The large gathering of teachers and football coaches was welcomed by the Cathaoirleach, Collie Bell who tabled the agenda for the meeting. The minutes of the previous year’s AGM were presented and accepted by those present. Mr Michael Hanly issued his final report as Runai of the association and each item was debated by the members. Mr Hanly mentioned his appreciation for the excellent work undertaken by the Football Development Manager, John Morgan and the coaches supplied by Down County Board. He regretted that the timetable for the coaches was unavailable to the Coiste. However this was no reflection on the quality of the coaching provided but he reiterated the necessity for Cumann na mBunscol to be kept informed about coaches. Teachers who had availed of this service also complimented the professionalism of the coaches who visited their schools. Collie Bell, Cathaoirleach, outlined the various competitions organised by Cumann during the School Year 2006-07 viz
The Cumann had readily embraced the Go Games concept, replacing the previous competitive league structure with coaching and Go Games activities. However he felt that the abandonment of the competitive leagues and Finals Day was a mistake since it limited the number of activities undertaken during the summer term. He indicated that the Coiste will reconsider this in the near future. Overall there was an increase in the number of schools participating in competitions with hurling becoming more popular. Our thanks are due to both John Crossey and Paddy Brannnif for their efforts in this.
On behalf of the Committee, he thanked all who had participated in the various competitions, the principals, teachers and coaches involved, the Down County Board for their support, the clubs for providing facilities, the coaching officers for their professionalism, the local press for the coverage given to all events and Allianz for their sponsorship.
The Treasurer, Mr Gerry Reilly, then gave his report which revealed small surplus. He itemised the subsidies allocated to schools to assist in the purchase of Handball equipment and the Hurling scheme as areas of high expenditure.This, however, ensured that the money was going to those schools committed to these initiatives and for the benefit of the children. Mr Reilly’s detailed report was readily appreciated and accepted by those present. Clarification was sought about the amount of expenditure on postage. With the website now up and running, it was felt that this could be employed to notify schools about all events.
Michael Hanly, retiring Runai and Gerry Reilly, retiring Treasor took the Chair to oversee the election of officers for the current school year. The following were elected officers for 2007-08:
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An Cathaoirleach, Mr Collie Bell, a former Down star and a teacher in St. Colman’s Abbey P.S. Newry addressed the meeting. He thanked the outgoing Runai Michael Hanly for his input over the years and in particular for the manner in which he kept all schools informed of pending activities as well as organising fixtures and venues. His leadership and organisational skills were invaluable to Cumann and he sincerely hoped he would remain a committee member.
Collie Bell thanking Michael Hanly for the service to Cumann na mBunscol an Duin since its inception as with its precursor, Down Youth Board. michael has participated at all levels in the Cumann and has been the instigator of many developments and current strategies.
Mr John Morgan Football Development Manager for Down thanked all the schools for their assistance over the past year. He acknowledged the concerns over the lack of information given to the Coiste but felt that this had greatly improved. He related how four new coaches were now available to schools in certain urban areas and that they would be involved in Key Stage One only since the other established coaches deal with Primary Five, Six and Seven. The cost of these new coaches was being met by the Department of Education.Mr Morgan displayed the new Fun Do pack which was soon being made available to schools and clubs. He recommended this pack to schools which had been enthusiastically received by those who already had used it.
Leas Cathaoirleach, Paddy Hardy, explained the Handball initiative which will be undertaken this year. Nine schools had indicated their willingness to be involved in this programme and the equipment and information was now available to them.
PRO Paddy Campbell addressed the group. He thanked the Cathaoirleach and others who had cited his efforts over the year and the recognition given to An Dun by Cumann na mBunscol Naisiunta for the public relations work throughout the year. He acknowledged the assistance afforded him by the retiring Runai Michael Hanly and Leas Cathaoirleach, Paddy Hardy, in the preparation of the competition folder. He supported the Cathaoirleach in his concerns over the demise of league competitions and Finals Day. He thanked the local papers for so readily reporting events and Diarmuid Cahill for including their material both on the Down website and the Down Year Book. A particular thanks was due to Adrain McLean, Managing Director of SEO who had so willing gave of his time and expertise in the design of the Cumann na mBunscol an Duin website.