Colleges crisis no surprise

IT should come as no surprise that hurling in three of Cork’s premier colleges — North Monastery CBS, St Finbarr’s Farranferris and Colaiste Chriost Ri — has hit rock-bottom and all three lost their opening games in the round robin series of the Irish Examiner sponsored Dr Harty Cup this week.

Five years ago an in-depth study into the state of Gaelic games in our primary and second level schools was issued by a special committee, set up by the then GAA president Joe McDonagh.

Representatives of Sciath na Scoil, who were consulted during this wide-ranging study, pointed out that they were especially concerned about the state of hurling and indeed went so far as to say: “Gaelic games at primary schools level are dying.”

At that time Cumann na Bunscoil were highly critical of the area of coaching and suggested a serious look had to be taken at this area. They considered the provision of an adequate number of competent, enthusiastic coaches to be an absolute necessity.

At the time, it was considered some of the coaches visiting primary schools in Cork were not up to the required standard and this was bound to be reflected at second level schools sooner or later. It appears this has happened.

The report commissioned by Joe McDonagh found that the increasing pressure for academic success, the popularity of other sports and a general apathy towards physical activity of any kind, were having a detrimental effect on the participation rate in Gaelic games.

Yesterday, the chairman of the schools development committee that compiled that report, Cork Central Council representative Bob Honohan said: “The many and varied problems in relation to the promotion of our games in second level schools especially, were highlighted in this report, which for whatever reason, was never the subject of discussion at executive or Cork County Board level.”