Newpark Hotel played host to the National Cumann na mBunscol Awards ceremony on Friday Night March 9th. 230 guests came together from all over the country to celebrate promotion of Gaelic games in our primary schools. Awards’ categories sought to celebrate excellence in promotion of Gaelic games in small and large schools. Projects on Culture, PR Hall of Fame, Digital media and Long Service were all on view and the top prize was announced in each category to rapturous applause. Paul Kinsella and John Knox were honoured for long service. They served Cumann na mBunscol for 37 years each, modernising the league structures, purchase of equipment and running Féile na nGael in Kilkenny.
Hall of Fame award was won by Tadhg Kenny , a Kerryman living in Dublin who dedicated all his teaching life to Cumann na mBunscol Ath Cliath. Guest speaker on the night was none other than Brian Cody. Brian recounted his love for playing and coaching in Cumann na mBunscol Kilkenny. He praised teachers for their exceptional work and he emphasised the unique place our primary schools hold in the GAA. Working to protect this status was so important and a GAA without this valuable resource would be much the poorer. Brian gave very generously of his time for quite some time after the formal aspect of the night taking photos and talking amongst many delegates. Kilkenny did itself proud for sure.
The next day almost 80 delegates attended the AGM and many aspects of the association were debated. The path for the future was clearly mapped out. There was staunch support for the constitution of Cumann na mBunscol Naisiúnta.
By Mary Morgan Mon 12th Mar
