Minor and Senior BBQ and Camogie Blitz

The Minor and Senior women got together last Saturday for an inaugural BBQ and Camogie blitz at Hyde Road, giving the minors an opportunity to meet and socialise with senior players as they prepare to join the senior section themselves in the coming year or two. The rain held off as 6 teams of mixed minor and senior players took part in a 7-a-side ‘Leinster’ and ‘Munster’ Championship before the Blitz Final. Not to miss out on the fun, the mentors gamely participated in a Minor v Senior tug-of-war and wet sponge throwing competition!

A bbq, soft drinks, gelato and coffees kept everyone going for the afternoon, thanks for which goes to our generous sponsors: Bel Gelato, Homeground Coffee, Hicks of Dalkey, Lidl and Tesco.

Dublin Camogie Minor A Leinster Shield Winners

Congratulations to Cuala’s Abbie Kenny and Laoise Conaghan who won the Leinster Minor A Shield with the Dublin Minor A Camogie team last weekend.

Cuala and Dublin U17 All Ireland Camogie Shield Final

Congratulations to our Cuala Minor players Roisin Murray, Erin Brennan Conte and Kate Hanley who beat Waterford in the U17 Camogie Shield final yesterday. (Missing from photo is Caoimhe Griffith, also on the panel).

Cuala and Dublin Minor A Leinster Champions

Congratulations/comhgairdeas to Cuala’s Katie Hayes, vice-captain of the Dublin Minor A Football team, and teammate Rebecca McEvoy who helped Dublin clinch the Leinster LGFA Minor title last Monday, bridging an eight year gap since Dublin were last crowned Provincial A Minor champions. Rebecca and Katie are pictured above with Cuala supporters.

Yoga and Wellbeing Evening

It was a calm and quiet evening in the Cuala hall last Sunday, (marking a distinct change from the usual footballs and sliotars hopping off walls!) for a yoga and wellbeing event with renowned yoga instructor Dani Sheil. The event was organised as a fundraiser for the Minor Girls and Ladies sections, as well as providing a social opportunity for women from Cuala and the wider community. The event started with a chat with Dani about how she got involved in yoga and the benefits it can bring, followed by a yoga session. Tea, coffee and cakes followed along with a raffle for some fantastic prizes. A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to Dani for her expert yoga instruction, the minor girls who helped serve tea and coffee and Sharon Foley for organising the event. Finally a huge thank you to the sponsors of the fabulous raffle prizes:

Rassam Restaurant, Osteria Lucio, The Eagle, Benitos, Finnegan’s Pharmacy, One2One Solutions, Dani Sheil, Dublin GAA, Seoulista, Alison O’Driscoll Makeup Artist, Bubbas Restaruant, Brian S Nolan, Castle Pharmacy, Sandycove Pharmacy, Stronger Gym, Champs Hairdresser, Transfer Gecko, Honest Paws and Horan’s Healthstore

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.

Minor Ladies Football

Best of luck to our Minor A ladies football team who take on Kilmacud Crokes in the Div 1 Shield at 3pm on Sat 12th in Meadowvale, and the B team who meet ManOWar in the Div 8 Cup Final at 3pm on Sat 12th in Oberstown. All support welcome!

Minor Camogie in Div1 Championship Final

Congratulations to the Minor A camogie team who beat Kilmacud Crokes by a single point in a thrilling semi-final match to reach the Dublin Division 1 Championship Final taking place on Sunday 20th October.

Minor and U16 Girls Forum

Minor & U16 girls enjoyed a forum with Dublin players Nicole Owens & our own Jess Tobin and former athlete and sports injuries specialist Fiona Opperman on resilience in sport. Thanks to the coaches and mentors for organising and Shéana Lewis & Aobha Cooney for chairing. Thanks also to Barnhill Stores for sponsoring a lovely lunch after the event.

Dermot Earley Youth Leadership 2023/2024

Cuala members who participated in the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative 2023/2024 were recognised by Jarlath Burns in Croke Park this week. Next stop is the University of Galway in November for the 2024 graduates of the programme. Congratulations to all!