New Skibbereen school to wear classy GAA jersey

THIS is the GAA jersey that the new Skibbereen Community School will wear.

Excitement is building locally ahead of the new school opening its doors in September as three Skibbereen schools amalgamate – St Fachtna’s de la Salle, Rossa College and Mercy Heights.

Skibbereen Community School will field a team in the Munster colleges’ senior A football championship (Corn Uí Mhuirí) and the accompanying photograph shows the eye-catching GAA jersey that pupils from the school will wear.

St Fachtna’s has a very rich football history, having won an All-Ireland (Hogan Cup) and three Corn Uí Mhuirís in its time, and current Fachtna’s football trainer Colman O’Driscoll is eager to carry on the school’s proud tradition in Skibbereen Community School.

‘We are determined to take the legacy of football from St Fachtna’s and drive on in the new school,’ O’Driscoll said.

‘We are very enthusiastic about what the future holds. This is the closing of one chapter and another one is about to start.’ 

In preparation of this new beginning later this year, O’Driscoll recently organised a football blitz for local national schools – primarily sixth class pupils – to give them a glimpse of football in the new school.

‘The idea behind the blitz was to show potential first year students how importantly we treat football and give them a taste of what it will be like, while also having a good time,’ O’Driscoll said.

Over 200 students from ten local national schools took parts, as potential first year students from Union Hall, Castletownshend, St Joseph’s, St Patrick’s, Abbeystewery, Drinagh, Caheragh, Lisheen, Rath and Ballydehob competed in the blitz that had boys’, girls’ and mixed competitions. 

Drinagh Co-Op provided drinks for everyone on the day, Field’s SuperValu sponsored fresh fruit for all participants while everyone tucked into pasta from the West Cork Hotel before heading for home.