Cumann na mBunscol Update- January 2026

Bliain Eile Le Ríomh

With excitement about 2026 on the horizon, 2025 was brought to a close at a well-attended Cruinniú Cinn Bhliana in Club na Múinteoirí before Christmas.

Annual reports from outgoing Rúnaí, Michael Smyth, Cathaoirleach, James Hayden, PRO Jerry Grogan and Uachtarán, Tadhg Kenny, outlined the outstanding work of colleagues and especially the teachers in the schools who are totally committed to the promotion of our unique Gaelic games in the capital’s primary schools.

Highlights of 2025 were, not surprisingly, the wonderful standard of play in all boys’ and girls’ leagues.

The colour, excitement, drama and top-notch skills at Croke Park final days showcased the work of teachers and the talent that is emerging to ensure a vibrant Dublin football, hurling and camogie future.

All officers paid tribute to teachers, sponsors, Dublin County Board and all who support the work of Cumann na mBunscol.

New additions to the Coiste Láir will enable some structural changes to be made to streamline the organisation.

Some of the new rules in the adult games will be introduced next season.

Solo and Go will be allowed, as will the dissent rule.

With the universal popularity of the new game, children will be excited to move on to new challenges.

The new season in 2025 will begin with hurling and camogie. More exciting action is anticipated as a new wave of special talent will be on view from February.

Rúnaí Michael Smyth has moved on to take up the position of principal in his native Galway. He has served the organisation well over 9 years and will be greatly missed.

Cumann na mBunscol, Áth Cliath, is now a massive organisation with over 300 schools participating. Football, hurling and camogie programmes, as well as an annual four-day programme of athletics, require serious administration and time commitment.

The new Rúnaí, Cian Lynch, will be well up to the task. The Rolestown teacher excelled as organiser of the annual Dublin v Antrim Friendship Games exchange in recent years and he has already got into top gear as the preparations for the 2026 hurling season are already well advanced.

New Committee members Pádraig Ó Conchubhair (Gaelscoil Bhrian Boróimhe) and Diarmaid Eageney (St. Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide) will spread the load considerably as they take on the task of supervising the hurling and football competitions.

This dynamic team have already caught the attention of schools as they organised the recent inaugural Cumann na mBunscol sports’ quiz.

Some promotions highlighted at the Cumann na mBunscol AGM:

Successful visit to Corrigan Park, Belfast with football, camogie and hurling teams. This visit continues the friendship exchanges with Belfast that began in 1932. The first games were held in McCrory Park and later Corrigan Park and Casement Park. The first games in Dublin were played in 1934 in Croke Park.

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The annual athletics festival in Morton Stadium, Santry was certainly a highlight of the Cumann na mBunscol calendar.

Thousands of talented track and field athletes represented their schools and showed that many of them will, undoubtedly, be the our future stars like previous participants David Gillick, Rhasidat Adeleke and Andrew Corcoran.

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FODHC teamed up with the Cumann, once again, to promote the annual GAA Museum Interactive Challenge, where children compete in a hurling pucking competition, and the bi-annual Poc Fada competition run in Na Fianna GAA club.

One of the Interactive competitions was confined to girls to mark Dublin camogie’s 125th anniversary.

A special award, Gradam Kay Ryder, was presented to each participant in honour of the 10 time senior All-Ireland winner who was in the GAA Museum to present the awards.

One of most enjoyable events in the Cumann na mBunscol is the twice annual captains’ photo shoot after the finals.

Captains bring along their cups and a group photo is taken.

Afterwards, awards are presented to the outstanding achievers at the finals.

Award Winners from Football Finals 2025

Conor Hanly from Hollypark NS was selected as Laoch na hImeartha following his player-of-the match performance in the Division 1 Corn Kitterick final in Croke Park.

He was outstanding at corner-back as Hollypark won the prestigious cup for the first time.

Barney Rock and former Dublin captain, Denise Masterson, made the presentations after the game.

Conor has a very special connection with Croke Park. He is a great grand-nephew of Michael Hogan who was shot on Bloody Sunday and after whom the Hogan Stand is named.

The ‘Cool’ Báire Award, for 2025, went to Teejay Bergin, from Sacred Heart NS in Ballygall.

He was the unanimous choice of the adjudicators after a wonderful display between the posts in Corn Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

His award citation read: "The Sacred Heart goalkeeper made a save that belonged to the library of the Sunday Game. And the big screen at the Savoy. It came from a screamer of the laces of Joey de Sutúin. The shot carried the sting of a wasp. It was heading for the attic. In a hurry. But Teejay made the most stunning stop. It will be framed in his heart forever. And for those lucky enough to have seen it."

Gradam Dean Rock is awarded to the top- scorer from all 20 finals. The 2025 award went to Ruben Ward, Francis St. CBS, who were returning to Croke Park after a gap of 24 years.

Ruben scored 6-2 as his team triumphed.

His citation, from Niall Scully’s match report said "here is a footballer that just needs an inch to make hay. And to make the net sing. He is so composed and clinical when even a quarter chance falls from the tree. Goals are his currency. And anytime he got on the ball, the bells began to ring."

Match programmes are special mementos of schools’ participation in Cumann na mBunscol finals in Croke Park. Some wonderful entries have won this award over the years. The 2025 winner was a model of its kind. The winner was from St. Patrick’s BNS, Ballyroan and it will be treasured by the children for many years to come.

"This match programme is a worthy winner. It features excellent profiles of the players, the school’s history in Cumann na mBunscol, famous past pupils and inspiring words and messages. It is a wonderful memento of a great day for Ballyroan BNS."

The Laoch na hImeartha award, from the girls’ finals, went to Grace Ní Dhálaigh from Gaelscoil Chrócaigh Liamhna, who really caught the eye. She scored 1-2 as they won Corn Pat Fogarty.

"Grace gave a wonderful performance for Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna", said Niall Scully's match report.

"In a wonderful game against St. Brigid’s, Killester. She wore the number 10 jersey. She lit up the giant stadium with scintillating runs. She scored a goal and a couple of points. But she did much more than that. She was the side’s heart beat. She never stopped working for her team-mates. Yet, more than anything, it was the way she did it. Capturing the very essence of her name."

The ‘An Scór Is Fearr’ accolade is always difficult to select. This year’s winner, Bobby-Rose Beiliú- Ní Chonaill, contributed several scores that impressed the judges and she was a worthy winner in the drawn final, with St. Finian’s, Newcastle, for Corn Comhar Linn.

"Scoil Oilibhéir led at halftime. Bobby Rose Beiliú-Ní Chonaill was the main reason for that. Her free-taking was precision itself", said Niall Scully's match report.

"She struck two points from play too. And she also summed up the commitment of her team-mates when she made the bravest of saves. All smiles at the final whistle. A match the maestro, the great Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, would have loved to have commentated on from high up in his favourite Kingdom - Croke Park’s Pigeon Loft on Level 7."

The ‘Spiorad An Chumainn’ award was sponsored by Dublin Credit Unions and was awarded to Francis St school.

The award was for their success in Croke Park after a break of 23 years.

The school has had many previous successes and a proud history in Cumann na mBunscol. Despite having just a small school yard to train and play, they have shown phenomenal resilience and were worthy recipients of the award. 

They won the prestigious Corn na nGearaltach in 1945.