Sport in St. Joseph’s N.S.

St. Joseph’s NS has always enjoyed a reputation for its sporting excellence. The school provides a wide variety of sport for its pupils. Among the sports played in the school are football, hurling, basketball, soccer, rugby (tag and contact) tennis, swimming, chess and athletics. While our school teams have been very successful the emphasis is always on preparation and participation.

As teachers we realise the huge potential sport plays in the self-development of the boys. From an early age children are encouraged to engage in a wide range of physical activities. All children, ultimately, find their own favourite sport and activity and we then provide every support possible for them to excel at this.

Team sport is very important in developing important characteristics for growth. The ability to work and co-operate with others is critical in all aspects of sport and life. We instill confidence in the children during their physical activities and give them the knowledge that they are an important part of the team. Self-discipline and the ability to play within the rules are other vital life skills developed through school sporting activities.

At a time where our lives have become very sedentary the curriculum now provides a wide range of activities to encourage children to become more physically active. Every class level play sport and it is given a high priority by the staff within the school.

We are very fortunate to have a staff with a huge commitment and dedication to the development of sport in the school. Teachers train and prepare teams both during and after school time. In other cases teachers, with the support of some of the parents, travel huge distances to support our school teams in their competitions around the country.

Given its commitment to sport it’s no wonder the school has produced many famous national and international sports stars in all codes. Among the most famous ex-pupils are Noel Cantwell (Former Ireland and Manchester United captain), John Kerins (Former All-Ireland Football winner 1990), Ronan Curran (All-Ireland Hurling Winner and All Star), Frankie Sheehan (Heineken Cup Winner with Munster and Irish Rugby International), Niall Turner (US Colleges MVP 2005 for Golf), Paul Duncliffe (Irish International Boxer), Colin O Brien, (Cork City Soccer player), Evan Ryan and Richard Mc Carthy (Munster U-18 and Irish U-18 Rugby Players).

A love of sport and physical activity begins in school and we continue to do everything we can to promote and encourage all sporting activity within the school. Through the training, the playing, the winning and losing children learn valuable lessons about their own abilities and character. Above all else, sport helps keep the boys fit and healthy and if we can contribute to achieving this in school then we will be perfectly happy that we’ve achieved something very worthwhile.