My name is Catriona Scott, I am head of Girls PE and Manager of the Senior Camogie Team in St Patrick’s College, Maghera. I am taking my Senior Camogie Team on a School Trip to America. The idea of the trip is for the girls to promote the Irish Culture using their own experiences.
I hope the following information enables you to understand what these girls, their teachers and coaches have to offer the local people of New York. The School
St Patrick’s College Maghera is a bi-lateral school with approx 1300 pupils. The school puts great emphasis on Gaelic Games –
Gaelic Football, Ladies Gaelic, Camogie and Hurling. The school has had great success in Gaelic Games in Ulster and throughout Ireland. The senior boys have won 13 MacRory cups and 4 Hogan - All Ireland titles in Gaelic Football, 12 Ulster Mageean and 2 All Irelands in Hurling. St Patrick’s College is the most successful Camogie team in Ulster Colleges. The girls have won have won 16 Senior titles in the last 26 years. The most recent victory just last December 2015 when the girls lifted the Corn na Uladh for the sixteenth time. The girls have competed in 4 All Ireland finals. I, myself, am a tutor for Cumann Camogaíochta nGael in Croke Park and am available to run a Foundation Coaching Award and Level One for any coaches wishing to participate. I have played Camogie from the age of 8 for my club Glenravel/Loughgeil. I have also represented Antrim, Ulster and Jordanstown at Senior Level. My greatest achievements were winning a Junior All Ireland title with Antrim in 1997 and winning three Ashbourne Cup medals with Jordanstown in 1992, 1993 and 1997. I joined St Patrick’s in 1998 and took up the mantle of Senior Camogie coach along with Anne Quinn. Anne is Head of the Learning Support Centre in the College catering for pupils with a wide range of disabilities. She won the Northern Ireland Special Needs Teacher of the Year in 2007. Anne, a past pupil of St Patrick’s, has been involved in Camogie both
as a player and a coach for over 30 years. She achieved All Ireland success as a player in 1980 when St Mary’s College Belfast won the Purcell Cup. Anne has been involved with the Senior Camogie Team since 1994 and previously with the Junior Team. Dermot McNicholl joins our teaching staff this year for the trip. Dermot has been teaching in the College since 1994 and has coached all levels in football including MacRory and Hogan winning teams. Outside of school Dermot has played for his club Glenullin and represented his county Derry, Province and Ireland at Senior level. He also has 3 Sigerson (Gaelic Football) medals with Jordanstown. He has won Minor and Senior All Ireland medals with Derry but pride of place is the Senior Championship medal in 1985 with his club. Dermot also travelled to Australia for two years playing professional Aussie Rules with St Kilda. This year two past pupils joined the Senior Camogie management team bringing great energy and different ideas. Frank McEldowney is studying a BSc (Hons) Sports Theory and Practice at the University of Ulster Jordanstown. Frank is a sports enthusiast and plays Gaelic Football and Hurling for his local club, Slaughtneil. Frank has thrown himself into many challenges within the College giving his time freely to help coach numerous sporting teams in Camogie, Hurling and Gaelic Football. Sean Cassidy has recently qualified from university with a degree in BSc (Hons) Sports Science. He is employed with Club Derry as a Gaelic Football and Hurling coach to the primary schools coaching both fundamentals and skills required to play these sports. He has played both Hurling and Football for his club Slaughtneil reaching an All Ireland football club final in 2015. Sean won a Hurling All Star this year for his performances with county and club. The 38 girl’s are very experienced with Scór and Irish culture activities which include : Fluent Irish speakers, Irish dancers, Tin whistlers and Fiddlers. Other qualities include singing, hip hop dancing, guitar, flute, piano and harp. The girls are hoping to put together a show to raise funds for our trip, which we could also perform in America. They are also very keen to pass on the basic skills in Irish music, Irish language and Irish dance as well as sport to the local people of New York. There are 38 girls hoping to travel with an age range of 15-18 years old. I cannot speak highly enough about this group of girls, they are very talented, committed, dedicated and enthusiastic in everything they do.
