Aghagallon win Disability Sport Inclusive Club of the Year

Above – Janet Gray and Jim Rose of Disability Sport NI with members of the Aghagallon winning team

St Mary’s Aghagallon have been awarded the Disability Sport NI Inclusive Club of the Year Award (Mainstream) for 2023 / 2024. The award recognises and celebrates sports clubs that have made significant improvements or taken noteworthy measures to positively include disabled people within the club environment. It was presented to club chairman Columb Walsh, as well as player and coach representatives from the Aghagallon GAA for All ‘All Stars’ team at the Disability Sport Ni AGM on Tuesday night. St Mary’s All Stars team was launched in April 2023 and has gone from strength to strength with almost 50 players registered. The training sessions are held on a weekly basis, every Saturday morning, for all age groups and the aim of the team is to promote fun, fitness, friendships and fundamental GAA skills.

Aghagallon club chairma Columb Walsh with the award

Club chairman, Columb Walsh states, ‘When the idea of introducing an All Star section was first mooted we had no idea of the impact it would have for young people within the Parish who previously had no access to our games or opportunity to represent their club. Over the last 2 years it has been incredible to see the enjoyment within this group, but also to see these young people, not only develop their sporting skills, but grow in confidence and independence. The Disability Sport NI Inclusive Award is recognition of the dedication, commitment and support given by our All Star coaches, our parents and our All Stars.’

Indeed, plenty of fantastic work is going on behind the scenes within our overall Antrim GAA for All set up. Creggan Kickhams, home of the Antrim All Stars, recently hosted the Ulster GAA for All day which was a phenomenal success. Aghagallon, in collaboration with Gaelfast, hosted the first ever GAA for All Cúl Camp in the county this summer. St Brigid’s have recently formed a team in Belfast and St Teresa’s are currently in the process of setting up. Of course our own county photographer, Bert Trowlen, has been instrumental in publicising the good work going on throughout the county and beyond. Bert, a proud granda of a GAA for All player, never misses an event or occasion, and is dedicated champion for all GAA for All teams. His photography showcases the pure and infectious joy that GAA for All brings to so many.

Antrim GAA for All county representative Tony McCollum says, ‘GAA for All throughout Ulster is thriving and it has been wonderful to watch the growth of this sector, not only throughout the province but in Antrim too. It is wonderful for a club in our own county, St Mary’s Aghagallon, to receive deserved recognition for their efforts with the establishment of their team last year. The benefits and enjoyment that GAA for All brings to players, their families and the wider community is beyond measure. I would encourage every club in the county to strongly consider getting involved and establish their own GAA for All team.’