As another school year comes to a close, Hockey Ireland’s Development Officers have been reflecting on a hugely successful few months of introducing more children to hockey across Munster and Connacht.
In Munster, a new Teacher Coaching Workshop initiative, delivered in collaboration with Cork Sports Partnership and Munster Hockey, has helped lay strong foundations for sustainable hockey programmes in primary schools.
Two teacher workshops were delivered during November and December 2025, with 21 primary schools taking part. Each school received resources and equipment to support the introduction of hockey within their school community.
Remarkably, only two of the participating schools had an existing hockey programme in place. The workshops not only helped the remaining schools begin their hockey journey, but also supported those with established programmes to become more sustainable by empowering teachers to lead sessions themselves, rather than relying solely on external coaches. Ongoing support from Hockey Ireland’s Development and Coach Education teams has further strengthened these programmes throughout the year.
To celebrate the progress made, all participating schools were invited to Hockey Ireland’s first-ever primary school hockey blitzes, which were delivered across two exciting days. The first blitz, held on April 29 for 1st to 3rd class pupils, welcomed 130 children, including 80 girls and 50 boys. A second blitz for 4th to 6th class pupils followed on June 8, attracting a further 105 participants. Graduates of Hockey Ireland’s Young Hockey Leaders programme also played an important role in ensuring both events ran smoothly, providing invaluable support throughout the days.
Meanwhile in Connacht, schools from across Galway came together to enjoy mixed hockey blitzes, giving boys and girls who were new to the sport an opportunity to experience hockey in a fun and welcoming environment. Ahead of the blitzes, teachers attended a workshop delivered in collaboration with the Galway Education Centre, helping to connect schools with Hockey Ireland’s Development Officers and providing teachers with the confidence and support to introduce hockey in their schools. With the sunshine making a welcome appearance, more than 200 children took part on the opening day, creating a fantastic atmosphere and highlighting the growing enthusiasm for hockey in the region. The events were further supported by Transition Year students from Salerno and Coláiste Iognáid, whose enthusiasm and assistance helped make the blitzes a memorable experience for all involved.
With even more blitzes planned for the 2026/27 school year, the future of school hockey continues to look bright.
Hockey Ireland would like to extend a sincere thank you to Cork Sports Partnership, Galway Education Centre, Munster Hockey and Connacht Hockey, as well as all of the teachers, Transition Year students, Young Hockey Leaders, volunteers and schools who helped bring these programmes to life. Their commitment and enthusiasm continue to play a vital role in growing hockey in communities across Ireland.
If your school or club would like to get involved in one of Hockey Ireland’s many programmes and initiatives designed to grow the game across Ireland, please contact the Hockey Ireland Development Team to find out more.
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