Amgen Intern Opportunities
Cuala sponsor Amgen has a number of current student intern opportunities. Click on flyer above for details.
Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Course Registration
Applications are now open for the hugely popular Dermot Earley programme. The initiative, aimed at Transition Year students, focuses on the development of leadership skills and is accredited by the National University of Ireland, Galway (FETAC Level 6). Find out more about the programme here.
If your daughter/son is interested in participating in the programme, please forward a notification of interest via this form https://forms.gle/Tch3QYi1HxjqFCBb9.
Registration will be open until 5p.m. on Friday 13th September.
Cuala Transition Year Programme Registration
The Cuala TY Programme begins on the 6th of September and will include a number of initiatives over the next few months including coaching qualifications, safeguarding, first aid and defibrillator training. Please see the following registration form for the 2024/2025 students starting transition year who wish to register on the programme https://forms.office.com/e/hdNcCrQkzi . More details will follow through email and whatsapp towards the end of this week.
Donations Needed – Sport and Youth Equipment
The Cuala Sports and Social Integration Project are working closely with the Internation Protection Applicants (IPA) in Blackrock. As part of this work, and in conjunction with a group of teenagers and kids, we are looking to develop a Youth Club for the families and young people in Blackrock. The Cuala SSIP are putting out an appeal to members to help them set up their Youth Club. We are appealing for the following items, if you have any of them available.
- Footballs and Basketballs
- Complete portable Football nets or Basketball Nets
- Any sets of jerseys in good condition
- Arts and Crafts
- Movable whiteboard
- Complete board games
- Old play stations or Xboxs
- Football boots (especially size 7) in good condition
If you have any of the above items available, please drop them down to the Cuala Office between Mon to Fri, from 10am to 1pm.
Many Thanks
Damian Byrne
Cuala At Oireachtas – Integration
Cuala at Oireachtas with Steering Group for Integration
Cuala players Aisling Groarke and Cormac Spain were in Leinster House on Wednesday to present a statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media alongside the Steering Group for Integration in a public session to discuss “integration of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association with the Gaelic Athletic Association”. The players were invited to attend as representatives of LGFA, Camogie Association and GAA players nationwide following engagement of Cuala with the Steering Group for Integration last year.
Their statement with regards to Integration is now on the public record and can be read in full here, while the presentation can be watched back on video published on the Oireachtas website (Wednesday 10th April, Committee Room 1, video commencing at 13:50).
This was a privilege for the players and club to input into discussions on Integration at such a level. Thank you to Cormac, Aisling and Club Secretary Colm Small who also attended.
Pictured are Colm Small (Cuala Club Secretary), Aisling Groarke (Adult Player), Mary McAleese (Chair of the Integration Project), and Cormac Spain (Adult Player).
Six Nations Fundraiser Results
Ireland won the 6 Nations Championship but who won our forecast?
Well, it looks like we have a few serious rugby tipsters in our club, judging by the final outcome. Just to remind ourselves the challenge was to forecast the result of all games, based on a handicap, with a tiebreaker to predict the total number of tries across the entire tournament.
The competition got tremendous support with 618 entries all looking to show off their rugby knowledge, their forecasting skills and to bank the 1000 euros prize.
With 1 point for each correct forecast the maximum points on offer was 15. And for the record (and the tiebreaker if required) the total actual tries scored across the tournament was 79.
When the final whistle sounded on the final match, we had 4 entries on a score of 13 correct forecasts from the 15 games played. Considering some of the surprise results this was an amazing achievement and must be better than the predictions from some of the professional pundits.
So, with 4 entries tied on 13 points the tiebreaker came into play. Two of the 4 predicted 80 tries and two predicted 86. That’s how close it was. So, even after the tiebreaker, we ended up with 2 entries tied for the top spot.
Congratulations to the official winners, who will split the prize and celebrate with 500 euro each.
Maurice O’Callaghan
Colum Sheanon
Unlucky but shout-out for Michael Fitzsimons and Cillian Cronin who only lost out on the tiebreaker.
For the record, the top 4 on 13 points had a big chasing pack on the final leaderboard:
9 entries ended on 12 points.
22 entries ended on 11 points.
42 entries ended on 10 points.
Final Leaderboard: https://cualagaa.ie/leaderboard-2/
Credit to James Power and Dave Kennedy, the main organisers behind the scenes who set it all up, did lots of number crunching to track the competition and maintain the leaderboard. Months of work!
And finally, thanks to all players, club members and friends who supported this fundraiser for the Men’s Adult Football section. It is much appreciated and a valuable contribution towards the increasing financial costs of running the 4 competitive teams.
A Short Note From Ken Fitzgerald…
A short note from Ken Fitzgerald…
Hi folks,
Just a short note to let you know that I have decided to retire from my role as club coach/youth development officer in Cuala.
I’ll finish on March 22nd, but my last day will be March 15th as I intend to take a week annual leave from 18th to 22nd.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the support and confidence shown in me during my time in the role.
I will continue my voluntary involvement with Cuala via my sons’ teams.
I wish Cuala all the best for the future and hope I’m leaving it in a stronger position than I found it.
Thanks.
Le gach dea-ghuí
Ken
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It’s difficult to sum up Ken’s immense contribution to the club and community in a few words, but we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ken for everything. His impact in virtually every aspect of Cuala down through the years is clear to see. Go raibh míle maith agat as gach aon rud, agus go n-éirí leat sa todhchaí!
