CRICKET4ALL CONTINUES TO GROW IN FINGAL

Work has been ongoing with various community groups in Balbriggan and Skerries with the newly announced Cricket4All pilot project.

The project is a collaboration between Fingal County Council and Cricket Leinster, which is funded by The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth through the Disability Participation Awareness Fund 2021. Sessions are being run in both Flemington Community Centre in Balbriggan  and St Michael's House School Skerries.

In Flemington, coaches are working with children who are members of the community group Ripples and Remember Us . Ripples are a group which work with children who have dyspraxia, aspergers, A.D.H.D and similar. Children who have attended these sessions have been playing and learning the game of Table Cricket since sessions began at the beginning of April. 

In St Michaels House school in Skerries, Cricket4All sessions have been delivered by auxiliary coaches in both table cricket and outdoor cricket sessions. Over 20 of the school's 30 students have taken part in cricket activities.

Kate Cullen, the deputy principal of the school has added 

“The pupils have really enjoyed the weekly cricket sessions. In the six weeks we can really see the interest growing, both for table cricket and outdoor cricket activities. Even the pupils with less ability are joining in and gaining confidence. We now have a core group of pupils who look forward with enthusiasm to our Friday sessions.”

Killian Molloy, the coordinator for the project has thanked the various groups for their engagement in the early phase of the programme. 

“It is great to see the participation of the various groups in this project. It is also pleasing to see that there is a continuing level of enjoyment from all children who are participating in this project. This initiative has allowed children and young people who may have not been able to access cricket sessions a chance to play and develop different skills of the game”.

Naomi Scott Hayward, the South Leinster Development Manager, who oversees the Disability Programmes in Leinster has commented on the work done since the beginning of the project.

"The work that Killian has been doing for Cricket Leinster and Fingal County Council has shown us what can be done in a short space of time when there is a focused and funded project. The increase of awareness for Table Cricket and adapted cricket has been excellent, with many new organisations that we have partnered with in the Fingal community. The key now, as we near the end of Stage 1 and enter Stage 2 of this pilot project, is buy-in from the clubs going forward and increasing our current and new cricket coaches' skill levels to be able to work with people with disabilities as well as older adults more effectively."

The project is further developing as Thursday June 2nd marked the beginning of sessions with older adults in Balbriggan Cricket Club and Brian O'Rourke, the cricket development manager for Fingal has said that he is pleased that Balbriggan Cricket Club have got on board with the project.

“Progress continues to be made in a very short period since Killian started this new role in Fingal. The latest initiative that appears to be working very well are the activities being rolled out for the older adult groups, with Balbriggan CC in particular welcoming new, local interested cricketers to partake in weekly sessions held at their club. We look forward to many more workshops and training sessions being delivered locally throughout the summer.”

It is hoped that these sessions can drive participation in the game among older adults as well as kids with disabilities in the local community around both Balbriggan and Skerries.