Éire Óg set up academy

The games of hurling and football are not flourishing in the town of Ennis. This has led to a decision by Éire Óg to set up an academy, which is taking in boys and girls from six upwards.
That’s according to Éire Óg chairman Ollie Hanrahan, who was commenting this week amidst reports of a row between the club and the county board over the club’s decision to set up the academy.
“Discussions are going on with the county board, which we hope will continue in a constructive fashion. Our concern is with the declining standards in hurling and football in the town and a serious fall-off in participation rate. Other sports have stolen a march. We have been in various discussions with the board over the last three or four years. Setting up the academy will, we hope expose the young boys and girls to good-quality coaching for hurling, football, camogie and ladies’ football.
Asked if the decision to set up the academy was cutting across the board, the Éire Óg chairman replied, “At the moment, we do not see ourselves as interfering with anybody. We are providing an additional service. We have a responsibility to our club, our town and our members to develop the games in our town. The games are just not flourishing, as they should be.
“There are more kids in the town now than at any time in the past but fewer playing hurling and football. It’s our responsibility to do something about that. Our aim is to promote hurling and football and we hope to be the beneficiaries of this. This is something we feel we have to do and our members want us to do. We are not interested in confrontation,” the chairman said.
Éire Óg and county board officials are due to meet again this weekend.