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Local Sports heroes officially open Scoil Chóca Naofa playing field and running track

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Scoil Chóca Naofa Kilcock officially opened their new playing field and running track at an event hosted by the school on Thursday morning, October 24th.

Local Athletics legend Bobby King and current top class runner Paul Robinson were both on duty to cut the ribbon, with Robinson aslo joined by Kildare Ladies Captain Grace Clifford in giving a talk on sport to the kids, parents, teachers and fellow dignitaries in attendance.

School principal Mrs Daly addressed the large crowd in the school’s sports hall, introducing the teachers and parents who worked so hard over the past few years to fundraise to ensure the school could reach its goal of putting in a playing field with goals and a catching net at either end, as well as a running track around the perimeter of the field.

One way in which the parents association fundraised was by holding the very successful ‘Colour Run’ in 2017, 2018 and again this year in 2019.

The very progressive school are not hanging around in putting their new facilities to good use, with the students today completing a marathon that they have been chipping away at since they returned to school in September, running the final mile alongside King and Robinson, as the crowd made their way outside to cheer them home.

The kids started running three times a week, before upping it to four and then five times a week, before completing their final mile today. Mrs Daly commended the students for their hard work and endeavour and couldn’t stress enough how important exercise is in their daily routine. She went on to say that the teachers had noticed how alert the students were when they would come back in from their run to continue with the remainder of their lessons for the day.

It was clear to see how much energy and excitement these new facilities along with the exercise and fresh air had brought to this very productive school.

Mrs Daly singled out certain people, thanking them for their hard work, including Ms Diggin for helping the kids complete the marathon. Val Herbert was also thanked for her part in training the kids in Gaa and caretaker and clearly the very popular caretaker Tommy Simms for his hard work in looking after the new surface and the school in general. Members parents association both past and present including Sarah Acton Keene were also thanked for their hard work in making everything possible.

This is a school that seems to be only going one way and that is forward. Congratulations to all. Here’s to the next marathon.

LGFA Volunteer of the year Sheena Byrne shocked but honoured at award

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Kilcock LGFA secretary and senior footballer Sheena Byrne, who was last week announced as the Ladies Gaelic Football Association volunteer of the year for 2017 has exclusively told extratimesportlive.com how she was shocked and very honoured to win the award.

Sheena, who will receive the Lulu Carroll award at a February 17th Croke Park function, first heard the news when the school at which she teaches, Scoil Choca Naofa Kilcock, congratulated her over their intercom system, told us of her shock but at the same time immense honour upon hearing the announcement.

“I’m totally honoured to win this prestigious award but very shocked at the same time, given the amount of brilliant work done by hundreds of fantastic volunteers in the LGFA around not only the country but the rest of the world. I am delighted to be a part of such a great association and one of the most rapidly growing sports in the country.

I would like thank everyone at Kilcock Ladies and the club in general. It was a lovely, completely unexpected surprise to get last Thursday at work. I am delighted and honoured to receive the award & represent the club

There are so many people to thank at Kilcock Ladies that have helped in one way or another over the years that I wouldn’t know where to start. Myself and my sister Linda started the underage back in 2004 to secure the future of the club and to ensure we would have a steady flow of players coming through to join us on the senior team in the future. I could never have imagined how successful it would turn out and the caliabre of some of the players that came through like Grace White, Aisling O’Connor and Caoimhe Fagan make it worth the while.

I am currently secretary of the club and in truth I am only one cog in a wheel that works extremely hard to keep turning. My sister Linda, Val Herbert, Bernie Durkan, Noelle Conlon, Robert Cox and Sandra Doyle McGonagle to name only a few are the reason we are where we are. I may have won this award this year but anyone of the aforementioned people could have won it.

Honestly I just enjoy the game as a whole, both on and off the field. I also enjoy training the kids at school, where I use it as a springboard and a way to keep them involved.”

A club spokesperson said of Sheena; “Sheena has been volunteering for 14 plus years and fulfils a number of roles. She is club secretary, coordinating and fundraising activities for our adult and juvenile sections and remains an active playing member. She is renowned for her outstanding communication and organisational skills throughout the club and the county of Kildare.”

Lulu Carroll,who passed away in 2007, was a committed servant to Ladies Football at club and county levels, and one of the game’s most popular and well-known figures.

Lulu, a former All-Star recipient, also won eight Leinster titles with Laois, along with six county senior titles and a provincial crown at club level with Timahoe.

The awards event on Saturday, February 17, should be something to really savour and it will serve as a fitting tribute to the work carried out by all volunteers at home and abroad.