An Rith 2014

Waterford Sports Partnership in conjunction with the Irish office of Waterford County Council and Waterford County Comhairle na nOg delivered a week of activities to promote the Irish language and increase physical activity in schools.
The Rith 2014 schools programme included Scoil Mhuire Abbeyside, St Marys, St Josephs and Scoil Gharbhain and culminated in 70 primary school children running a kilometre as part of the national relay run on Saturday 8th March.

The schools programme began on Monday 3rd March, when 4th – 6th class teachers were given exercise resources in Irish with students picking cards at random during the day and then performing the action that was written in Irish e.g. warm up, run 500 metres etc. As part of the programme, pupils also designed a motivational poster As Gaeilge with winners being awarded prizes donated by Seachtain na Gaeilge and Rith 2014.

Paddy O’Dea, teacher in Abbeyside School said "the ‘Active as Gaelige’ programme was a great initiative to get schools and the community involved in a healthy and cultural way. Beidh an paróiste go léir ag teacht le chéile i slí sláintiúil, le cultúr.” A sixth class pupil from Scoil Gharbhain said
"rásfaidh mé i gcoinne an mhúinteora ar an Satharn" ( I'll race the teacher on Saturday).


Waterford County Council Irish Officer and Rith coordinator Maire Seo Breathnach said “It was great working with WSP to deliver the ‘Action as Gaeilge’ programme to the local primary schools. Kids had great fun exercising while learning the ‘cúpla focal’ at the same time. Míle buíochas freisin to all the teachers and children for turning up on the day to support Rith 2014 na nDéise. Ní neart go cur le chéile, mar a deir an seanfhocal.” (there’s strength in numbers)

Waterford Sports Partnership would like to thank the fourteen volunteers from Comhairle na nÓg who delivered a pulse raising warm up to participants as Gaeilge. Comhairle Na nÓg coordinator Jamie Moore said "The Comhairle members were very happy with how the day went. Many of them had no experience working with primary school children or coaching so it was great for them to gain an insight through Rith 2014. It was also a first for many of them using the Irish language outside the classroom. Being able to communicate with the children successfully was a real confidence boost, especially for members who are in exam years."


Check out the blog here from one of the Comhairle na nÓg members...
http://blog.waterfordcomhairle.org/post/79254802197/ugi-ugi-ugi-rith-rith-rith