Jersey presentation evening at 100 year old Offaly GAA Club

Wednesdays are a busy evening in Kilclonfert GAA - On Wednesdays the underage 3-11 year old Cill Cubs train. Cill Cubs is split into 4 groups - nursery 3-5 yr olds, under 8’s, U11’s and the all-inclusive All-Stars group for children with additional needs.

They have over 60 boys and girls from Kilclonfert between the ages of 3 to 11 and the All-Stars group have 17 children from Kilclonfert and surrounding areas. Cill Cubs was established in 2021 with the view to getting that important early connection for children in Kilclonfert to their home club.

Mark Kearney, Paul Coyne and David Kelly were instrumental in getting this off the ground, but didn’t envisage back then the huge numbers they would have week after week, with attendance averaging at 50 children per night. 

This year Kilclonfert GAA launched their All Inclusive All Stars programme - and opened it up to children from all areas. They realised the need to create a fun, safe environment for children with additional needs to get involved in football and in turn feel part of the GAA community. The feedback from parents has been amazing and the All-Star children have really added to the atmosphere on the Wednesday evening sessions. 

The GAA community has always been the heart of the community in Kilclonfert and this was evident at Wednesday’s session when the club presented their Cill Cubs with their new training tops - kindly sponsored by Arramount Furniture (Fergal Smyth) and Teknabuild (Roger Smyth) - 73 jerseys were presented, and the children couldn’t wait to try them on.

A huge thanks to Fergal and Roger for their kind sponsorship - loads of smiling faces on the Cubs as they received their jerseys and got photos taken with Offaly Senior footballer David Dempsey - Thanks to David for taking time out to be there. 

Then they had the presentation of the new adult team jerseys kindly sponsored by a long time loyal supporter of Kilclonfert GAA - Seery's Bar. Mick Seery presented the New jersies to Kilclonfert Chairman - Ger Brennan along with players Dan Daly, Niall Spillane, Tj Moore and Eoghan Spillane. The club would like to thank Mick and the Seery family for their continued support of Kilclonfert GAA.

2024 is a big year for Kilclonfert GAA as they celebrate 100 years in existence - they have a new strategic plan in its final stages, and this will be launched at the 100 year celebrations on Saturday 17th August. Keep an eye on club socials for more information on this event. A full day of activities are being planned. 

Finally, Kilclonfert GAA would like to thank all the volunteers and parents who have come on board and made Cill Cubs such a success so far and all the volunteers who help out in the running of the club and the supporters who always dig deep and support fundraising events. 

Looking out onto a field of 70 plus children from the ages of 3 to 11 years really brings home how important the little club is. 

Here’s to the next 100 years.!