Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Cornmarket National Awards 2024

A delegation of staff will head off to Mullingar tomorrow night for the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Cornmarket Awards as we have been nominated for a prestigious award for the promotion of gaelic games and culture in our school. This is a major achievement for our entire school community! Check out our promotional video on the school website.

                    Awards Night in Mullingar
Over 250 teachers from all parts of Ireland will gather in Mullingar on Friday March 8th for the 2024 Cumann na mBunscol Awards, sponsored by Cornmarket Group Financial Services. ‘The Awards recognise excellence in the promotion of Gaelic Games in primary schools,’ according to Joe Lyons who is National Chairperson of Cumann na mBunscol. ‘They give recognition to the work of teachers on and off the playing fields. The Awards cover a myriad of activities from Public Relations to Promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture and also the work of individual schools, large and small.’ Former Westmeath footballer John Keane is guest speaker.  John, twice chosen as an All Star, has many happy memories of playing in Cumann na mBunscol competitions in his childhood. Today, John is a primary teacher in Ardnagrath NS and is very active in Cumann na mBunscol.   Eimear Conroy of Cornmarket Group Financial Services will join Chairperson Joe Lyons on stage to present the Awards to the successful entrants. John Boyle, General Secretary of INTO and a former Chairman of Cumann na mBunscol in Dublin will be among the guests as is Frank Mescall, Chairman of Westmeath County Board GAA. Frank, a retired teacher, is a former Chairman of Cumann na mBunscol in Westmeath. The Awards cover many different categories including Public Relations, Best Publication, Promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture as well as awards for the School of the Year. The latter award is split in two sections, one for schools of 200 pupils or more and another for schools with enrolments of fewer than 200 pupils.
‘The category of Promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture is very popular. Entries had to be submitted in digital format,’ says PRO of Cumann na mBunscol, John Manley. ‘This attracts great interest as this category is not confined to promotion of games but also encompasses Gaeilge, ceol, damhsa, and any other activities that are Gaelic in nature.’ The 2024 Pat Trainor Award for Lifetime Service to Cumann na mBunscol goes to Manus Ó Dómhnaill and there could be no more popular winner than the genial Donegalman who has given over a half a century of dedicated commitment to promotion of Gaelic Games in his native county. Manus is Secretary of Cumann na mBunscol Ulaidh and numbers among his former pupils Nora Stapleton, former rugby international and Georgie Kelly, a professional footballer with Rotherham United.   Cornmarket Group Financial Services have been associated with the Cumann na mBunscol Awards for many years.     “We’ve been committed sponsors of the Cumann na mBunscol National Awards since 2009” said Ivan Ahern, Managing Director at Cornmarket. “These annual awards recognise the teachers and schools who passionately promote Gaelic games in their schools. Cumann na mBunscol does immense work on the ground, promoting Gaelic games in primary schools. We recognise the influence of Irish sport in the lives of children. Coming from a GAA background myself, I feel strongly about the importance of promoting Gaelic games – not only to keep Irish tradition alive amongst children, but for its huge health and social benefits. Cornmarket got involved in the awards to help honour the dedicated teachers, and Cumann na mBunscol representatives, for their tireless efforts over the year. These awards recognise the individuals who nurture young Irish children, instilling the true heart of Gaelic games”

It promises to be a busy weekend as the Annual General Meeting of Cumann na mBunscol takes place the following morning, also in the Mullingar Park Hotel, with proceedings getting underway at 11 a.m.