‘Stop the Drop’ Campaign Features at Super Sports Day
The 12th June saw schools from all over Wicklow descend on Charlesland Sports and Recreation Park in Greystones set and ready to race! The day began with a parade around the track with each school displaying their banner, wearing their school’s colours with pride and singing Amhrán na bhFiann. The best turned out school was St. Kevin’s Greystones and they were awarded with a plaque and a set of ‘Stop the Drop’ jerseys. The jerseys were kindly sponsored by Cumann na mBunscol sponsors Allianz who have recently launched an important campaign called ‘Stop the Drop’ which highlights a concerning statistic. One in five children stop participating in sports between primary and secondary school in Ireland. As part of the campaign Allianz provided each county with ‘Stop the Drop’ jerseys to distribute to pupils participating in Cumann na mBunscol activities as a way of encouraging them to stay in sport. As a committee we thought that the Allianz Sports Day was the perfect place to distribute these jerseys. Each participating school got a set to distribute how they see fit and as many winners who graced the podium as jerseys allowed also got a jersey.
After the parade, activities got underway with the relay teams taking to the track for the first event of the day. There were races for Under 8’s up to Over 12’s which covered different distances including 50m, 80m, 100m, 200m and 600m. Field events included long kick, long puck, ball throw, long jump and tug of war.
Cathaoirleach Ciara did a fine job of MC and kept every event ticking along nicely. Each boy and girl represented their school impeccably and should be very proud of themselves. Special thanks to all the teachers, parents, past pupils, first aid team and volunteers who assisted in the running of the day. Thanks to Teresa Kinnane and the staff in Charlesland, we are grateful to have the use of such fantastic facilities. The Sports Day is a day run by volunteers and without such good nature and teamwork it would be possible to hold such an event, to all of those Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Chill Mhantáin are indebted. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine!
Finally, and most importantly well done to each and every child who took part, many of whom have seldom, or maybe never, ran on a track before so this is a wonderful experience for them. We hope it gives them a grá for it and that they will be back again. The success of the Irish team at the European Championships will also be inspiring the next generation of athletes and no doubt with the talent on show there may be a future team members who graced the track in Charlesland! The level of sportsmanship displayed on the day was truly remarkable. Children could be seen shaking hands at the end of events, congratulating each other on the podium and helping each other out. This lovely atmosphere of sportsmanship was a credit to them and their schools. It is days like this that children remember and the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Sports Day is one such memory that will stay with them forever. Let’s hope it helps to ‘Stop the Drop’ too!
Participating schools: St. Patrick’s Curtlestown, Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath, Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, Greystones Educate Together, Kilcoole Primary School, Rathdrum Boys, Ravenswell Primary School, Scoil na Coróine Mhuire Ashford, Talbotstown, St. Brigid’s Greystones, St. Cronan’s, St. Fergal’s, St. Mary’s and St. Gerard’s Enniskerry, St. Peter’s, St. Andrew’s Bray, St. Patrick’s Wicklow, St. Kevin’s Greystones, St. Patrick’s Greystones, Newtownmountkennedy Primary School, Greystones Community National School and St. Laurence’s.
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