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Limerick Youth Service Wins Inaugural Sr. Joan Bowles Shield

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Young people from Limerick Youth Service’s Community Training Centre win the inaugural Sr Joan Bowles Memorial Shield. Photo: Limerick Youth Service

Limerick Youth Service has won the inaugural Sr Joan Bowles Memorial Shield football tournament

Limerick Youth Service has won the inaugural Sr Joan Bowles Memorial Shield football tournament
Teams from Community Training Centres and Youthreach Projects at the Festival of Football in Limerick. Photo: Limerick Youth Service

Limerick Youth Service (LYS) won the inaugural Sr Joan Bowles Memorial Shield football tournament held at Summerville Rovers FC’s Ballinacurra Gardens sports complex recently.

The tournament saw young people from Community Training Centres (CTC) and Youthreach projects across Ireland enjoy an action-packed day in Ireland’s sporting capital as guests of LYS.

The event was organsied by learners at the LYS Community Training Centre who were keen to meet other learners and students who are participants in this area of further education i.e., CTCs and Youthreach projects.


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After several conversations with staff and fellow learners, the intrepid group of young people decided that the best way to get young people together was by holding a football tournament!

It was then that the hard work began as we began contacting our CTC and Youthreach colleagues, organising dates and of course, start training.

Finally, the big day arrived with over 100 young people from across Ireland gathering at the home of Summerville Rovers for the tournament that the learners decided should be named the Sr. Joan Bowles Memorial Shield, who founded LYS in 1973.

The day itself was an action-packed affair with skills aplenty on display on the football pitch. Meanwhile on the sidelines, the players were cheered on by some eccentric supporters!  

After a highly contested competition, it was the leaners with the LYS CTC that were victorious ensuring that the Sr. Joan Bowles Memorial Shield will reside in LYS on its debut event.

Skills on show with Limerick Youth Service. Photo: Limerick Youth Service

‘It was a great day and we were delighted to see young people from CTCs and Youthreach get to know each other and have fun, while taking part in highly competitive football tournament,’ said John Flanagan, LYS.

‘The standard of football on show was very high and the young people deserve great credit for all their commitment, particularly with the hours of training they have put in,’ said John, instructor, LYS CTC.  

LYS sincerely thanked the young people, staff and volunteers who organised, supported and took part in the Sr. Joan Bowles Memorial Shield. 

The CTCs and Youthreach Projects were Athlone CTC, Blackpool CTC, Discovery CTC (Dublin), Limerick Youth Service CTC, St. Vincent’s CTC, Tullamore CTC, Youthreach: Hospital, Youthreach: Killmallock Rd Campus and Youthreach: O’Connell Avenue Campus.

CTCs and Youthreach Projects provide alternative further education and training opportunities for young people who have left school early.

LYS CTC is supported by the Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board and, in 2023 is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

LYS is a member of Youth Work Ireland and the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations and is now in its 50th year.

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