Minor Boys Team Management Applications Invited

The Minor Boys Section is currently recruiting for the following coaching positions for 2026:

Lead Football Coach for Football ‘A’ Team
Lead Hurling Coach for Hurling ‘A’ Team
Lead Football Coach for Football ‘B’ Team
Lead Hurling Coach for Hurling ‘B’ Team
Lead Football Coach for Football ‘C’ Team
Lead Hurling Coach for Hurling ‘C’ Team

The U18 teams for 2026 will include the amalgamation of the 2008 and 2009 groups. The above positions will be key to ensuring a smooth transition for all Year Two (2008 born) players to the Adult Sections in 2027.

Interested coaches should complete the Coaching Application Form (https://cualagaa.ie/policies-documents-and-forms/#toggle-id-3) and send to the Section Chair on chairperson.minors@cualagaa.ie by close of business Wednesday 19th November 2025.

Applicants must be willing to work alongside the Coaching Officer and Director of Coaching with the shared goal of keeping as many of our players playing for as long as possible while also aiming to have our flagship teams competing at the highest level.

We’ll be in touch with all potential candidates to share details about an interview date and format (If required)—no need to worry, it’s not a test, everything will be clearly explained.

Dermot Earley Leadership Programme Graduation

Galway University was the destination for the Cuala participants of the Dermot Earley Leadership programme last Saturday. Not everyone got there due to a red weather alert and the impending match in Parnell Park. Cuala’s group of young people Graduated with a level 6 (Leaving Cert is level 5) Foundation Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action. While not in a position to attend five young Zambians graduated for the first time this year. These graduates were introduced to the Dermot Earley programme by visiting facilitators from Cuala in 2022. With the help of Foroige, funding (€300 per graduate) was secured to ensure five selected Nsobe school students would have the opportunity to complete the three modules and  graduate. The graduates from Nsobe are true community leaders who are invariably the first generation of their families to complete second level education. That they now have an internationally recognised 3rd level qualification is a wonderful achievement. One of the young Zambian women volunteered at a local primary school for her module three project. Foster is now working in that school as a teaching assistant. Cuala has twenty teenagers on the programme this year and teachers from Nsobe school continue to facilitate the programme having been trained up by Foróige who visited Zambia last year at the request of Cuala. If future funding can be secured it is hoped that more young Zambian leaders will continue to graduate alongside their Cuala peers.

Cuala Minor Player Resource Pack

Members may recall research survey shared in April 2024 on the experience of Minor GAA Player’s move to Adult. The survey purpose was to gauge perceived value for a player yearbook and online form at the end of their season as they prepare for a move to adult team(s). The number of responses received from a mix of players, parents, coaches and club members, far exceeded expectations and the insights gathered proved valuable feedback for creation of a Minor GAAP Resource Pack, which has been approved by Coiste, Coaching Forum and shared with Coaching Director, Minor and Adult section chairs and mentors.
Summary of approximate % of positive responses to questions presented are detailed below (weighted from Likert scale 1 to 5):
Question
Approx % of Positive Responses
“I believe that a minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would be beneficial for player and coach communication.”
90.48%
“I believe the minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would help players with their move and integration to adult team(s).”
88.89%
“I believe the minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would help coaches (minor and adult) with the player’s move and integration to adult team(s).”
94.44%
“How important do you think it is for coaches to receive information on the player when they move to adult?”
88.89%
In addition, considerable comments and suggestions were provided that contributed to the overall design of the resource pack, with more ideas coming through that have been added to the Coaching Forum backlog and will be progressed with the club’s Coaching Director.
We would like to thank everyone for their interest in this area, including those who took the time to respond to the survey, the players and coaches who participated in workshops and the members who provided feedback on the versions presented. More detail on the project can be accessed at Minor Player Resources and the Cuala Minor Player Resources are available at Policies, Documents & Forms – Cuala GAC – Official Website (cualagaa.ie).
Míle buíochas,
Niamh O’Connor, Fintan Quill, Joyce Groarke