Director of Hurling Coaching in Ireland visits St. Joseph's
On Friday 12th March Paudie Butler, Director of Hurling Coaching in Ireland, visited St Joseph’s. Paudie is a vastly experienced hurling coach from County Tipperary. He is a former inter county hurler and has managed Tipperary and Laois, achieving many successes. Paudie is currently employed by GAA headquarters to oversee improvements in coaching structures across the whole of the country. A huge part of his time is taken up travelling to schools and clubs the length and breadth of Ireland to demonstrate coaching sessions. As a former primary school principal, Paudie is more than aware of the needs of teachers and pupils in relation to skills coaching. Paudie was joined by Kieran Megraw who is a coaching development officer from Antrim County Board. In addition Mr Duffy arranged for Antrim county players Aaron Graffin and Chris O’Connell to attend.
Paudie took Mrs Downey’s P5 class for a lesson and then Miss McDonnell’s P6 class. All the P4, 5, 6 and 7 teachers had the opportunity to observe one of the lessons. The lessons demonstrated how teachers can incorporate many of the fundamental movement skills into very straightforward hurling drills. The children really enjoyed themselves as Paudie put them through their paces. Our teachers gained lots of great ideas that can be used in PE lessons. Paudie commented on the excellent behaviour and manners of all the children he met in St Joseph’s. He was particularly delighted with the enthusiasm shown by Mrs Downey’s and Miss McDonnell’s classes.
After the lessons representatives from The Friends of St Joseph’s presented our school with new hurling sticks and balls. These will help in the promotion of gaelic games in St Joseph’s and enable teachers to put into practice the ideas that Paudie demonstrated.