In Episode 6 Shane & Dean discuss:

* Primary Schools Activity

* Athletic Development Course

* Academy's up and running

* Post Primary Coaching & Games

* Hurling Nua Program

* Club Surveys

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In Episode 5 Shane & Dean discuss:

*Primary School Cumann na mBunscol Finals Review & 2nd/3rd class blitz preview

*Club Athletic Development update

*Academy Trial Season Begins

*O'Mordha Og wind down

*GPO End of Year Reviews

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Laois Games & Gaels Podcast brings you inside the heartbeat of Gaelic Games in Laois, with honest chat, practical insight, and the stories that really matter across schools, clubs, and communities. Hosted by Shane Keegan and Dean Malone, the show looks at what is happening on the ground every week, from the Centre of Excellence to classrooms and club pitches around the county.

Episode 4 captures the buzz of a busy stretch. The lads open with a nod to a new show intro from media man Paul Dargan, proof that the podcast is stepping forward in small, steady ways. Listener feedback is strong, some agree, some disagree, everyone is engaged, which is exactly the point.

The main focus turns to a big week for Cumann na mBunscol football at the Centre of Excellence. There is real excitement around headline finals like Graiguecullen vs Holy Family in the girls championship, a throwback to last year’s drama, and Holy Family’s boys taking on Portarlington BNS. There is pride too in emerging schools and first timers aiming for a Shield final, a sign that growth is spreading county wide.

From there, the chat moves to the Heritage Flag programme in primary schools. Heads of Hurling and Football, Dan and Donny, have met teachers, pencilled upskilling sessions under Croke Park hours, and shared plans that help schools run better coaching, with teachers leading, and GPOs supporting.

Post primary activity is lively.

The Centre hosted a secondary schools hurling blitz with strong competition and a great response. S&C continues to build, with structured weekly sessions, and coaching support across schools like Haywood. There are fixtures for Knockbeg, a good win for CBS senior footballers, and plenty of games on the slate.

The participation pipeline gets special attention.

A county U10 and U11 programme wrapped up with jerseys for 300 kids and a final night blitz, organised chaos, and unbelievable enthusiasm. U12s continue with detailed session plans led by John Sugru, a reminder that elite coaching detail can reach every corner when the structure is right.

There is community colour too, with U9 halftime games on county final day, big smiles, and big cheers.

The episode closes with the Coach Recognition Awards, a national initiative inviting every club and school to nominate the people who keep Laois moving, nursery to talent academy, classroom to club.

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📚 Classrooms are switching on and kids are switching up. Shane Keegan and Dean Malone dive into two new primary school pilots making coaching simpler, faster, better.

🖥️ Gaelic Time arrives on interactive whiteboards – ready-to-teach sessions that cut prep for teachers and lift participation. St Abban’s Killeen leads the way with GPO Jason Woods, weekly skill plans, and clear delivery.

🏑 Come On wristy hurls land in Castletown NS – 50 mini hurls, smiley-face cues, a “power button” grip – clever, fun, and building habits early. GPO Sean Murphy gets 5th/6th classes to paint the hurls before passing them to juniors and infants.

🏳️ Heritage Flag sees 13 schools signed up across hurling and football, year-long support and flag day celebrations.

🏐 Post-primary football blitz lights up the Centre of Excellence: six schools, ten teams, Portlaoise CBS v Knockbeg rivalry renewed. Knockbeg’s long-lunch model packs 150 players into training twice a week.

🪓 Clubs get a lift with Hurling Nua gear packs for Mountmellick & Clonad.

👦 O'Moore Óg thriving: 120+ at U10, 70+ at U11, U12s wrap up with a Faithful Fields trip to Offaly.

📊 Academy reviews with Chris Conway & Trevor Kelly focus on what worked, what needs fixing.

🏆 County final picture sharpens – Portarlington v Courtwood confirmed – and U9 halftime games return, two mini pitches, huge crowds, big memories.

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Games & Gaels Episode 2

Féile 2026 lands, Go Games rethink, and schools & clubs powering up

In episode two, Shane Keegan and Dean Malone open with a big win for the county: Laois & Carlow will co-host Féile 2026. The first prep meeting is already pencilled for next week, with both hurling and camogie strands involved. Expect major volunteer coordination, venue planning and a welcome boost for local businesses as the marquee underage festival returns.

Listener input is front and centre this week. Shane invites feedback directly — by phone — and dives into two live Go Games debates: should competitions begin at U8 rather than U7, and should underage hurling trial a no-soloing rule to encourage quicker decision-making and more striking off both sides? He’ll see that rule in action at an U11 tournament this weekend.

Schools are moving too.

The Laois GAA Schools Heritage Flag returns after a strong first year; applications are already landing, with last year’s participants showcasing noticeboards, skill “homework,” lunchtime leagues and guest visits from club/county players. On the club pathway, Athletic Development Leads are now named in around 80% of clubs, with an online info evening on Wednesday, October 1 to outline supports, resources and the new GAA athletic development course running across October–November.

Dean reports a fast start to the TY Future Leaders roll-out, combining Intro to Coaching, safeguarding and Young Whistlers accreditation — a real pipeline for nursery and Go Games refereeing and coaching. Finally, the team recaps a lively first-year hurling blitz featuring 6 schools and 8 teams, highlighting talent and enthusiasm as pupils pull on their new school colours.

Got a suggestion for Laois GAA? Reach out — the lads want your ideas.

Contacts (feedback & info):

📞 Shane Keegan — 087 657 7256

📞 Dean Malone — 085 202 1161

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🎙️ Episode 1 — Laois Games and Gaels Podcast

In our very first episode, Shane and Dean take us on a journey through all the exciting work happening at underage level in Laois GAA.

They discuss:

• A full Academy Review, looking at how our player pathway is developing.
• The new Post Primary Plan aimed at strengthening links between schools and clubs.
• The action-packed COE Blitz Days bringing young players together from across the county.
• And the launch of Ó’Mórdha Óg, a key initiative to nurture the next generation of Laois stars.

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