Dublin GAA Coaching & Games Development Update- May 2026

Easter Camps

During the Easter holidays, clubs across Dublin hosted their annual GAA Easter Camps, welcoming players aged 5–12 for a fun-filled week of activity and skill development. Led by the club’s Games Promotion Officers, the camps provided a fantastic opportunity for young players to build their abilities in Football, Hurling, and Camogie.

Throughout the week, players enjoyed a variety of games, all while developing their skills. Some clubs specialized in one code a day and while others featured a bit of both codes each day. Older players also got involved by volunteering as coaches giving them a chance to connect with younger players, develop leadership skills, and give back to their community.

As always the Easter Camps were a great success, the players got outside, meeting their friends every day while playing the games that they love.

 All Stars

On Saturday the 11th of April the GAA All Stars Inclusive Programme held a special day in Croke Park for clubs from across the country to come in and run their session.

This initiative was established to make Gaelic Games inclusive for those with additional needs. It aims to include children who have difficulty taking part in typical team games by providing a safe space for them to make friends, exercise, develop fundamental movement skills, ball skills, and have fun! Another goal of the All Stars programme is to promote the ethos of inclusion within clubs and communities nationwide.

On the day clubs got to carry out their sessions on the pitch in Croke Park. Every club brought additional equipment for their teams including hula-hoops, frisbees, parachutes and much more! It was a very successful day, measured by the laughter and smiles of everyone taking part. We hope that the day will be a memorable one for years to come for all participating players, families and coaches.

Award 2 Youth/Adult Hurling

That’s a wrap on our Award 2 Youth/Adult Hurling Course which recently finished in Parnell Park on Saturday 25th April.

A total of 12 clubs were represented on the course. The coaches have completed the on-course section which began on Saturday 14th February. They now prepare for their video portfolios and uploading their content onto Google Classroom to for assessment. 

Huge thanks to the 19 coaches who participated and massive thanks to our facilitators David Sweeney, Ger O'Connor, Louise Byrne, Mark Brady, Matt Moran 

Play and Stay Days

Over the Easter break, different clubs from around Dublin were delighted to partake in two fantastic Play and Stay Days in Croke Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7th and 8th. These days brought together seven clubs from across the county, showcasing the very best of our young talent at U10 level.

Across the two days, clubs represented included Ballinteer St John’s, Na Gaeil Óga, and Raheny in hurling, alongside St Pat’s Donabate, Geraldine P. Moran’s, and Cabinteely in football. Each club contributed to a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, with players demonstrating impressive skill, teamwork, and enthusiasm in both codes.

The Play and Stay Days provided a wonderful opportunity for players to enjoy games in a fun and supportive environment, while also giving coaches, mentors, and supporters a glimpse of the bright future of Dublin GAA. There was no shortage of talent on display, and it was clear to see that many of these young players have exciting days ahead, perhaps even as Dublin county stars.

A sincere thank you to all participating clubs for their commitment and enthusiasm, which made both days such a success. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Go Games referees from Na Fianna, whose support and professionalism ensured that all games were played in the true spirit of the association.

Overall, the Play and Stay Days were a great success, filled with enjoyment and plenty of memorable moments for everyone involved.

St Maurs Strategic Plan Launch

On Saturday April 18th members and stakeholders of St Maurs GAA Club gathered in their local club in Rush for the launch of their new 5-year strategic plan.

This plan came as a result of a lot of hard work from club members over the past 12 months. Since the townhall meeting which took place in March 2025 in Rush National School and was attended by over 120 people the people of St Maurs have worked tirelessly to produce this strategic plan. Subgroups were formed and through a series of meetings and group sessions over the past year, the plan was developed with a focus on 6 strategic pillars: Coaching & Player Recruitment, Finance & Fundraising, Club & Committee Structures, PR & Marketing, Facility Development and Social & Community.

Saturday Night’s event was a huge success with a number of volunteers stepping forward to help with the implementation of the plan as the club builds towards its centenary celebration in two years’ time. As well as the rollout of the strategic plan, the night also included live music, food and drink, a raffle and a skills session delivered to our CCC1 teams by some of our younger coaches. As St Maurs looks towards the future the clubs’ decorated past was also recalled among new and old members alike.

We would like to thank former club chairperson Brendan Harpur and Karen Thorpe for the help in organising the launch night. A big thank you to the members of St Maurs GAA club, as well as the club executive and specifically Emma Leonard for their support in driving the plan. Thanks to Pixel Press printing company also for their work in designing the booklet. Lastly a mention to Dublin GAA Coaching staff Ger O’Connor and Ciaran Monks for facilitating the development of the plan over the last year.

Coach Developer Inservice Training

We were delighted to be involved in two excellent Coach Developer in-service training days this week — the first with Dublin staff and the second with Ulster GAA at Wolfe Tones GAA Club, Kildress, Co. Tyrone.

Both sessions were delivered by Ger O’Connor, alongside Paudie O’Neill, bringing great energy, insight, and practical experience throughout. A big thank you also to Roger Keenan for organising such well-structured and engaging events.

It was fantastic to have National Coach Development Manager Brendan Hackett and Louise Byrne in attendance, showing their support and highlighting the Sport Ireland Coaching Framework 2025–2030. This framework, recently presented to all NGBs, will play a key role in shaping the development of our new Coach Education Framework.

The sessions focused on preparing coach developers to deliver the Award 1 Child syllabus, exploring key teaching approaches and maximising the use of new resources. The level of engagement during module deep dives and group presentations was a real highlight across both days.

From fundamental movement skills to decision-making, team play, and understanding the child’s perspective, the workshops provided a strong platform for delivering impactful, child-centred coaching.

Two brilliant days of collaboration, discussion, and shared passion for coaching development — exactly what these in-service sessions are all about