It is with disappointment that we are writing to you to let you know that we are reluctantly removing our school teams from the GAA league due to lack of parental involvement. In the early years of the school, we heard from a lot of parents who wished for our school to have sports teams. We put work into this over the last few years with a view to getting fully involved in the league this year including lunchtime training sessions, fundraising for jerseys, making connections with GAA clubs and other schools. We were very encouraged by the attendance at the meeting before the summer.
Each game takes time to organise - booking a pitch, arranging a referee, liaising with other schools, organising cover within the school for a teacher to accompany the team, etc. Having to call each of those people on the morning of a match to cancel is very difficult - the other team have already booked and paid for a bus, the referee has taken time off work, the GAA Club have arranged for their caretaker to have everything ready for us.
We understand that parents have work and other commitments. However, this is a venture that cannot proceed without parental support and involvement.
Therefore, we have withdrawn our team from the league. We will continue with the lunchtime training sessions and we hope that we will be able to work together on this in future years.
Yours sincerely,
Caitriona Hand, Principal, and Shane Smith, Teacher and Coach.