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Sport

Sport in Killinure National School

Killinure School has a long and proud tradition of sporting achievement. Gaelic Games have always played an important part in the life of the school. Regular training takes place in school and in Boher pitch at Beary’s Cross, and all children are encouraged to take part. Throughout the years Killinure have won 7-a-side, 9-a-side and 11-a-side competitions in hurling, camogie, football and ladies football. In 2011 Killinure achieved hurling success at the highest level by winning the top competition (13-a-side A) in East Limerick. Many past pupils have represented the county in hurling teams at various levels, from playing with East Limerick teams to Primary Game with Limerick and on to Senior Intercounty level; there are too many names to mention. The late Johnny Bartley had a huge part to play in developing Gaelic games in the school and parish over many years. Over the past 15 years teachers have given their time to coach children in hurling and football skills from 1st to 6th class at the GAA field every Monday after school.

In more recent years teachers in Killinure have been to the forefront of Physical Education initiatives for schools. All teachers have chosen to earn coaching certificates by completing GAA summer courses. In 2014 Killinure worked with Damien Young in implementing a new aspect to every PE lesson based on his course ‘Developing & Maximising Youth Potential’, formulated in Setanta College and LIT Sports Lab base. Mr Young is a specialist in child and youth movement skill development. In 2016 Killinure was chosen by the PDST curriculum development Unit to pilot a new curriculum project ‘Teaching Pupils to Move Well and Move Often – a focus on Fundamental Movement Skills’ which will be rolled out to all schools in the coming years. Killinure is currently part of a GAA pilot project based on Fundamental Movement and Skills for children from 4 to 7 which has developed from the excellent GAA club-school link running in the school for the past 10 years. We are currently working on becoming a ‘5 Star Centre’ for Sport.

Children take part in athletics events during the Community Games held annually in the parish, and also in cross country running every year. Mr Tony Breen regularly brings transition year students to Killinure from Glenstal Abbey School to help children train for cross country running and other activities.

Children from 1st to 6th Class have swimming lessons during Spring Term. For many years the school travelled to Tipperary Town with all children from 1st to 6th on one bus! In more recent times 3 buses take well over 100 children to University of Limerick Sports Complex for the PE Strand Aquatics where up to 7 swimming instructors encourage them along.
Soccer Blitz and for boys and girls takes place once a year and there has been the addition of a ‘Futsal’ soccer tournament for 3rd and 4th class in recent years.

Basketball tournaments were organised for years through Killinure National School. A primary school version of volleyball, ‘Spikeball’, is now played every year too.