Down GAA to celebrate Congress 2010 with Schools Competitions
February 12, 2010
Down GAA stars were on hand at The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry this week to launch the Down GAA County Board Schools Competition. Pictured at the launch is county players Martin Clarke, Benny Coulter, Ambrose Rodgers, Jack Devaney, Schools Competition Co-ordinator, Sherryl Kerr, Marketing Manager at The Quays and Colin Kavanagh, Deputy Centre Manager at The Quays. To mark Down GAA hosting the 2010 GAA Annual Congress, the County Board are seeking talented young artists and historians to enter The Quays sponsored competitions which offer a host of prizes for schools and pupils.
To celebrate the hosting of the 2010 GAA Annual Congress in Newcastle on 16-18 April, Down County GAA Board, in association with The Quay's Shopping Centre in Newry, have launched details of special competitions for schools in Down and Newry & Mourne.
The GAA Congress is one of Ireland's biggest sports conferences and an important event on the Association's calendar. Delegates from across Ireland and beyond will converge on the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle for what officials in Down also regard as an opportunity to showcase all that is good about the GAA in Down.
In promoting the event, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the breakthrough All-Ireland success of 1960, Down GAA and The Quay's are inviting schools to enter one of two competitions:
1. GAA History Project Competition, which will be open to all primary-schools in Down and Newry & Mourne - entries may relate to all or any part of the history of the GAA, at national, county or local level.
2. GAA Art Competition, which will be open to all post-primary school students - The theme of this competition is 'Our Games - The GAA Today'. Entries may relate to any part or activity of the GAA. Winners will be chosen from each of the 3 Key Stages.
The competitions are being sponsored by The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry.
Cathal Austin, Centre Manager at The Quays said, "We are delighted to be supporting Down GAA in this schools initiative and indeed during the GAA Congress 2010. The Quays is at the heart of the local community in Newry & Mourne and beyond where there is a strong tradition of Gaelic Games. We would like to encourage all schools even those who are not traditionally associated with the GAA to take part in the competitions and showcase young people's talents from this area to an all island audience at the congress."
Mr John Devaney, Coordinator of the Schools Competitions for the Congress 2010 Committee stated that "the initiative is a unique opportunity for schools and students to express what the GAA means to them and to play a part in this important event." He added that "hosting Congress is an opportunity for clubs, schools and supporters to showcase all that is good about the GAA in Down."
Entries will be exhibited at the Slieve Donard Hotel during the duration of the Congress weekend - there are plans to extend this exhibition to The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry for a period of time after the event to enable students to view the work.
Information on both competitions has been forwarded to schools, and may also be accessed on
the Down GAA website at www.downgaa.net.
Further information can also be obtained from John Devaney at 07793 130417 or [email protected].
Congress 2010 - Education Sub-Committee
John Devaney, Seán Óg McAteer, Diarmuid Cahill, Sheenagh McConville, Catriona Rodgers. Tweet
