The Gaelic4Girls National Blitz Day took place at St Brigid’s GAA ground, Kiltoom, Athlone last Saturday.
The blitz is the culmination of a national programme aimed at young girls aged nine to 13 years from disadvantaged areas which are predominately non GAA strongholds. This programme created by Ladies Gaelic Football has been supported by the Irish Sports Council Women in Sport Initiative for the past three years and has proven a huge success in increasing young girls’ participation in sport.
This year the programme took place in eight venues around the country, Cork City (Ballyphephane and Mayfield ), Dublin (Balbriggan and Gloucester Street ), Cavan Town, Derry City, Belfast, Limerick City, Mayo (Ballyhaunis ), and Westmeath (Tang ).
Ladies Gaelic Football President Pat Quill, said, “The Gaelic4Girls initiative has continued to be a resounding success. Sport is vital for disadvantaged communities and even more so for young girls who are often forgotten when it comes to inclusion in sport. This programme gives these young girls a positive outlet and a focal point to develop as both individuals and sportspeople.”
Over 300 girls participated in the Gaelic4Girls National Blitz Day and over 90 per cent of these young sports enthusiasts never played ladies football or any sport before taking part in this programme.
Stars of the ladies game such as Monaghan’s Ciara McAnespie, Dublin’s Denise Masterson and Mayo’s Claire O’Hara assisted with the running of drills and sharing their knowledge of the game with the young participants.
The girls played in mini-games where they showcased their newly learned skills wearing their unique area colour t-shirt and the day concluded with all participants receiving a specially engraved medal from President Pat Quill.
