Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB)  presented All-Ireland winning school captains Seán O’Donoghue from Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig and Tomás Ó hÁileasa from Coláiste Ghobnatan, Baile Mhuirne with awards honouring their recent sporting success.

It was a GAA All-Ireland double win for Cork, with Coláiste Choilm Ballincolling winning the All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Final at Croke Park becoming the Paddy Drummond Cup champions, and Coláiste Ghobnatan claiming the Dr. Eamon Ó Sullivan All-Ireland ‘C’ title in Ó’Moore Park Portlaoise.

Cork ETB, which provides significant funding for sports amenities in schools across Cork city and county, recognised the outstanding achievement of the Cork teams at national level, and praised the Cork players and captains for their drive, professionalism and sporting prowess.

“Cork ETB is committed to the development of the pupil not just on the academic front, but in many other areas including sport and outdoor activities. The achievement of these teams exemplifies our ambition for schools in this Region, and we will continue to provide significant funding and support for physical activities and sports education in Cork,” said Cork ETB’s Chief Executive, Timothy Owens.

Cork ETB actively supports schools in the Region, through the development of sports facilities and building projects. The unique PVC and aluminium gym at Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig is the only one of its kind in the country. This support is not only of benefit to the schools and pupils but also to the community at large who also benefit from the use of the facilities.

The All-Ireland win for Coláiste Choilm follows a magnificent year of sporting achievement, as the team also won the Cork Colleges Simcox Cup and the March Rebel Óg award.

Coláiste Ghobnatan is currently working with Cork ETB and a local Community Group on a floodlit walkway project on the school grounds which will have various weights machines and sports facilities on the route. This project commemorates the tragic death of Briain O’Tuama, who was a former pupil in Coláiste Ghobnatan.

Another example of Cork ETB’s commitment to the Region, is evident in its involvement in Páirc Réigiúnach na gColáistí in Charleville. Munster GAA and Cork ETB jointly manage lands that have been developed to provide a Regional centre dedicated as a colleges GAA playing facility. Located at Dr. Mannix College, Charleville the centre is strategically positioned in the geographical centre of the province of Munster. It provides ball-stop netting and pitch fencing enclosing a full-sized sand carpet pitch, fully protected and serviced by state of the art dressing rooms, and significant off-street car parking. Floodlights, viewing embankments and spectator stands are also envisaged in later phases. What makes this unique is that it is available to all Colleges not just to those under the aegis of Cork ETB.

These ongoing projects, along with the completed projects across the Region, emphasise the close links between ETB schools and colleges and their local community. This investment by Cork ETB benefits the students of schools, colleges and training centres, but also the local communities.