Day 1
Summer sunshine greeted the 103 boys and girls who filled the fields at Pairc Tadgh O’h-Annlaoi, with the sound of excitement and anticipation- Club Ciaran Hurling Week was about to get under way. Senior Club Coaches John Herlihy N.T and Patrick Andrews led their colleagues and eager participants to a perfect start. Hurleys, Helmets and slitors big and small were the order of the day with beginners and more experienced participants all keen to ‘get stuck in’.
Day 2
Club Chiaráin was unfortunately cancelled on the Tuesday morning due to the bad weather.
Day 3
After the weather spoiled the party the day before, the fun and games resumed on Wednesday morning for all coaches, players and management. There was plenty of pent up enthusiasm after the mini break and everyone was pleased to get stuck in once again. The atmosphere great in the sun once again as the 102 participants and over 20 coaches put the players through everything from obstacle course to fun conditioned games.
Day 4
Thursday passed as all the other days do – full of excitement and fun all morning and early afternoon. All coaches, players, management and parents set about their tasks without any fuss and hurling proved to be a very enjoyable game indeed. Much of course is due to the attitude of the players who are just bursting at the ready at 10am every morning, and in some cases much earlier in the morning! The sun didnt come out but it remained dry all morning.
Ireland and summer eh! The rain tried to play spoilsport once again for our last day. We managed to get out on the pitch at 10am and everything was in full swing until just before 11am when the heavens opened. Unfortunately, we had to get everyone off the pitch and inside the dressing rooms and other rooms in the clubhouse. It didnt let up and the decision was taken to abandon on field activities for the day.
However, things finished on a high as the club had organised an Ice Cream Van (galnmireices.com) to come visit. For many, it was the highlight of the week and a perfect end to a great weeks hurling, fun and entertainment.
Our thanks go to so many people for making it such a wonderful week, it really is one of the high points of the club in any year. To the management behind the scenes, to the coaches (over 25 of them this week), to the parents for their wonderful support and finally to the participants/players who are the present and the future of our club – míle buíochas!
We hope to see all the players and parents participating in the club training and games going forward – the boys Academy will be back on Friday September 10th and the girls continue each week at the club throughout the summer.
Have a great summer everyone. Everyone went home today with an ice cream and plenty of grass from the pitch on their boots!
