MIC Leading Gaelic Games certificate to support community development

MIC launches certificate in Leading Gaelic Games programme. (Back) Dr Richard Bowles, Leading Gaelic Games Programme Director and Lecturer in Physical Education at MIC; Cliodhna Flynn, Fourth Year Bachelor of Education (B Ed) student; Caitlin Kearney, Fourth Year B Ed student; Clodagh Sheppard, Fourth Year B Ed student; James Ryan, Head of Games Development with Limerick GAA ; Dr Angela Canny, Assistant Dean of Education at MIC; and Anne Horan, former President of the INTO. (Front) Seamus McNamara, Limerick GAA County Chairperson; Cllr Maria Donoghue, Mayor of Limerick Representative; Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at MIC, and Paul Foley, Treasurer of the Munster GAA Council

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) launches its new Certificate in ‘Leading Gaelic Games in Primary Schools and Communities’

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has officially launched its new Certificate in ‘Leading Gaelic Games in Primary Schools and Communities’. This is a Special Purpose Award designed to support the development of leadership, coaching and organisational skills in school and community settings.

The programme was launched on its Limerick campus on Tuesday, 21 April, marking the introduction of a new NFQ Level 6 qualification delivered as a 6-ECTS module. Initially offered to final-year MIC students through a blended delivery model, there are plans to extend the programme to external GAA participants from Autumn 2026.

The Certificate in Leading Gaelic Games has been developed in response to the growing emphasis on physical education, youth sport and wellbeing within the Primary Curriculum framework. It also builds on the cultural significance of Gaelic games, while supporting students in developing practical skills that can be applied to both educational and community contexts.

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The programme aims to equip participants with the ability to lead inclusive and engaging Gaelic games activities, with a focus on participation, wellbeing and child development. Students will explore key areas, including leadership approaches, skill acquisition, and the design of movement-based and game-based learning experiences aligned with both curriculum and GAA coaching pathways.

Paul Foley, Treasurer at Munster GAA, said, “Ongoing collaboration between Munster GAA and Mary Immaculate College is of significant importance to the Provincial Council. This course is highly valued for its focus on child development, while also delivering strong outcomes in leadership and personal development alongside its sporting content.”

Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at MIC, said, “This programme is a really positive addition to our academic offering, connecting students’ learning with the wider cultural and community context of Gaelic games. It reflects an approach to education that values not just knowledge, but the development of leadership, inclusion and wellbeing in practice. We see it as an important step in preparing our students to contribute meaningfully in schools and communities.”