2004 Events.

Whitechurch GAA School Poster Competition.

Whitechurch GAA organised a poster competition in conjunction with Whitechurch National School. The theme of the competition was a slogan to encourage people to join the Club. Below are the 3 winning Posters.

Left to right: First Shane Cronin, Second: Brid Brosnan, Third: Kate Murphy.

Whitechurch GAA would like to congratulate the winners and all who took part in the competition.

Under 8 Team play in "Croagh Park"

Whitechurch under 8 team finished off the summer schedule with a bus trip to Croagh, Adare Co.Limerick where they took on the hosts in a hurling match. All enjoyed the day, congratulations and well done to those who organised the trip. These events are vital for the success of future teams. In recent weeks the under 8 team have played friendly games against Carrigtwohill and Douglas.

Whitechurch and White's Cross Gaa Summer Camp 2004.

The Summer Camp was a huge success again this year with 77 children taking part from August 16th to August 20th. All children got the chance to learn and practise the skills of Football and Hurling. The coaches this year were Danny O'Neill (Brian Dillons), John Keating (Cobh)and Mary Guilfoyle (Cobh). Whitechurch Gaa would like to thank the coaches on a job well done. It was an enjoyable week for the children, especially on Thursday when they were visited by Cork Hurling Star John Gardiner (Na Piarsaigh). John was kept busy for an hour signing autographs on jerseys,hurleys and posters. Our thanks to all who took part and special thanks to John on taking time out to visit the Camp and to the club members who made it all possible.

Photographs from the Summer Camp 2004.

League Presentation of Medals.

The Whitechurch 2003 Under-16 Hurling Team were presented with their medals at a function in Whitechurch and Waterloo Community Centre on Friday February 06th. Cork duo Pat Mulcahy and Gerry O'Connor were invited guests on the night. Due to a soar throat on the night!!! Gerry left the speach for Pat Mulcahy to perform. Pat spoke about the importance of parent participation in the under age and related this in part as to the success of the current Newtown teams. A good vibrant under age structure is vital to the clubs future. Pat congratulated the Whitechurch juvenile league success and wished the club success in the future. Club Chairman John Brosnan and Under age Chairman Kevin Downing congratulated Newtown on their success to date in wininng the Munster Club Hurling final and wished the lads and the team well in their upcoming All Ireland semi final against the Kilkenny Champions. On the night Club Treasurer Tom Carr presented Fr Sonny O'Sullivan and Declan O'Riordan (on behalf of his uncle Fr Dick O' Riordan) with cheques from the proceeds from the Annual Long Puck held on St Stephens Day. The Long Puck event is a fun day with all proceeds going to charity. Whitechurch Gaa Club would like to thank all those who helped out in the preparation of this function. Great credit is due to these people who continually work behind the scenes ensuring events run smoothly. Thanks to all and well done for a superb night.

The Whitechurch Under-16 Hurling League champions with Pat Mulcahy and Gery O'Connor. The three cups in picture are L to R: Cork Senior Hurling Cup - Munster Senior Hurling Cup - Under-16 League cup.

Front Row L to R: Alan Corcoran - Jonathan O'Sullivan - Gerry 'OConnor - Peter O'Driscoll (Captain) - Pat Mulcahy - Paul O' Sullivan - Ian Kavanagh

Middle Row L to R: Brian Cahill - Brian Boland - Richard Sherlock - Colm Keane - Jonathan Scanlon - Paul Walsh- Shane Cahill - David Hegarty - Brendan Murnane.

Back Row L to R: Eric O'Sullivan - Brian Conway - Eoin O'Sullivan - Ian Lee - David Kiely - Don Duggan - Paul Whooley - Sean C Burke - Seanie Buckley.

Missing from picture: Dylan Burke - Denis O'Regan - Ross Gallagher - Olan Aherne.

Photographs from the Night.

Above Left Colm Keane and Right Don Duggan receiving their medals from Pat Mulcahy and Gerry O'Connor.

2003 Events.

Photographs taken at the visit to the Na Piarsaigh indoor hurling hall. (Saturday December 06th 2003)

Young Players meet Cork Hurling Star John Gardiner.

On Saturday December 06th last Whitechurch Under 8 and Under 10 Hurlers played teams from Na Piarsaigh in the fabulous indoor arena recently built by the Na Piarsaigh Club. A great day was had by all and at the end of the games John Gardiner paid a visit for autograph signing and photographs. Whitechurch Gaa Club would like to thank the Na Piarsaigh club and John Gardiner for a great day.

Whitechurch Under 8 Hurlers with Cork Star John Gardiner.

Whitechurch Under 10 Hurlers with John Gardiner.

Photographs taken from the Indoor Coaching.(Saturday Nov.22nd 2003)

Teams for the Future.

Under 8 Indoor Hurling Training Saturday 29/11/03.

Under 10 Indoor Hurling Training Saturday 29/11/03.

Whitechurch Summer Camp 2003.

Summer Camp 2003 in Whitechurch was a huge success. The camp ran from August 18th to 22nd. The numbers this year were the largest ever with over 90 boys and girls taking part. Cork hurler Gerry O'Connor took some time out to sign some hurley's and jersey's. The weather was particularly good this year which helped make the event a huge success. A special word of thanks to all those who helped out and made this a special occasion.

Photographs from the Summer Camp

Gerry O'Connor with Coaches and organisers.

Gerry O'Connor with young Cork Fans

Gerry O'Connor giving advice to young players

Gerry O'Connor signing a young fans jersey.

Under-8 Training Panel in Whitechurch September 2003.

Whitechurch Under-10 Hurling Team who played in the East Cork League 2003.

White's Cross Under-11 Football who played in the Garda League 2003

Whitechurch U-12 Hurling Team 2003.

Whitechurch Under-13 Hurling Team 2003

Whitechurch Under-15 Hurling 2003.

White's CrossUnder-16 Football 2003.

Sciath Na Scol.

St. Patrick’s National School, Whitechurch, Co-Cork

Whitechurch N.S. first participated in Sciath Na Scol competitions in September 1978. This coincided with the appointment of Mr. John Brown (R.I.P.) as school principal. The earliest school jersey was a striped red and blue and while early results were not wonderful the team made steady progress. They travelled to away matches ( in GREAT NUMBERS ) in an old battered Ford Cortina.

Whitechurch won their first Sciath Na Scol title in September 1981. This was the U-13 Hurling Final, which was played in Whitechurch against our old rivals New Inn. This final became known as ‘The Final of the Long Grass’. This was in reference to our unique tactic of allowing the grass to grow to a height of at least two inches before the final, so our star corner forward (who was quite small) could hide in the long grass before suddenly appearing to strike home the winning goal.

Between 1981 and 1988, Whitechurch won a succession of finals. This was a great period for the boys Hurling and Football teams. Indeed they were so successful that in one year they won all four finals, U-11 Hurling and Football, and U-13 Hurling and Football. During this period the finals were transferred (from the old home and away basis) to Páirc Ui Chaoimh and this greatly enhanced the importance and sense of excitement generated by the children’s achievements

By 1991-92, there were just two boys competitions in that season, and we won them both! The shield competition had been introduced at this time and this pitted all the Sciath Na Scol group winners against each other to determine the best team overall in the county. As our Hurlers were playing in a 13-a-side group, they were not eligible for the Shield Competition, but our 15-a-side Football team qualified. This was our only time in this competition. Despite the small size of our school population, we were quite unlucky to go down in the final to a very good Dublin Hill outfit.

In 1993-1994, we made our first tentative steps in Ladies (Girls) Football - little did we know what a wonderful adventure lay ahead. In 1994, we won our first Girls Sciath Na Scol title in a marvellous match against a gallant Ovens side. Since then we have progressed to the top section in Girls Football, and have contested five of the last seven finals, including this year when we won an unprecedented four-in-a-row of titles.

In 2001-2002, our school achieved our first double when both our Boys and Girls Football teams won their respective finals at Páirc Ui Rinn on the same day. In 2000-2001, our Girls teams also completed a double by winning both their hurling and Football Sections that year.

The recent introduction of Indoor Hurling/Camogie has created a new interest during the winter period. Whitechurch Community Hall has been the venue for many group finals and county semi-final qualifiers. Our third class boys reached the county final in 2001. We also had the great honour of winning the 2000 county final for fifth class girls in Neptune Stadium.

Over the years many talented players form the school have gone on to represent Cork at various levels in both codes. Virtually every year we have been fortunate enough to have a representative on the Cork Primary School’s Teams. Jerry Dennehy was the first way back in 1982, and Denise Murphy our last in 2002. Among the other notable players who went on to represent cork were;

                     ·      Brian O’Connell (Cork minor hurling and football)

· Padraig Kissane (Current Cork Senior Football Panelist)

· Valerie Mulcahy (Midfielder on the current Cork Senior Ladies Football)

· George O’Callaghan (Striker for Cork City F.C.)

These are just a few of the many wonderfully talented boys and girls who have represented Whitechurch National School with pride and honour, over the last 25 years.

As a school we have tried to engender love of all games and insist that the main benefit is to compete in a sporting manner and be dignified in defeat or victory. The benefits derived from participation in the Sciath Na Scol competitions are numerous. We have over the years learned much more from defeat than victory. Friendships have been forged, characters have been chiselled, a positive work ethic has been instilled and great joy has been brought to our school and parish. The memories which have been shared, will remain with those who have shared our Sciath Na Scol adventures, for the rest of their lives. Indeed, many players have gone on to play with the local clubs.

Above the Whitechurch boys winning team of Sciath na scol group 4 after defeating St Josephs of Cobh in the final on 21/10/03

Above the Whitechurch Girls Runner's Up of Sciath na scol Group 1 having lost to Glenville in the final on 21/10/03

Boys Presentation

Girls Presentation