County Monaghan VEC: the heartbeat of Monaghan GAA
December 30, 2010It's almost impossible to emphasise just how integral County Monaghan VEC is to the overall wellbeing of Monaghan GAA. We met up with Martin O'Brien to take a closer look…
As CEO of County Monaghan VEC, Martin is responsible for the management and administration of six schools and three Youthreach centres, with an annual budget of approximately 30 million euro and over 600 employees. Within the auspices of the VEC, there is also a theatre with up to 10,000 patrons and an outdoor education centre providing education to 11,000 participants each year.
Furthermore, an extensive adult and community education programme provides training and supports for around 8,000 people per year. County Monaghan VEC also provides a range of support and advice to others involved in education within the county.
A former principal of Bush Post Primary School in the Cooley peninsula (2000-2005), Meath native Martin served as CEO of County Sligo VEC between 2005 and 2007 and has been in his present role in Monaghan for the past three years. His position carries massive responsibility as VEC schools account for over half of the total secondary schools in the county (six out of 12) as well as the Institute of Further Education in Monaghan town.
He is delighted with the progress being made not just in the sporting arena but in promoting education in general. A five-year education plan (2005-2010) was set in place and all of the objectives of that plan have either been realised or are in the process of being realised. Some of the stand-out successes since 2007 have included the purchase of Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre; the purchase of Monaghan Military Barracks for development into a multi-user education campus to provide education at primary, post-primary and further education levels; the acquisition of further land at Castleblayney College; and the purchase of a site and new building for Castleblayney Youthreach.
In addition to this, an extensive programme of upgrade, refurbishment and development works has occurred at all schools, with examples including the complete upgrade and refurbishment of Ballybay's sports gymnasium and fitness suite. Ballybay Community College has also undergone two new extensions and the development of a new playing pitch.
At Beech Hill College in Monaghan town, we have witnessed the provision of three new state-of-the-art computer suites; the complete refurbishment of three science laboratories, two engineering rooms and two home economics rooms; and substantial electrical re-wiring including new fire alarm, CCTV and video conferencing facilities. There has also been an upgrade and refurbishment of all toilet facilities.
At Castleblayney College, the VEC is advancing proposals for the provision of a new extension, a new gymnasium and football pitches. The school has benefited from a complete re-wire similar to that at Beech Hill, an engineering room upgrade, and a complete toilets refurbishment. At Inver College in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan VEC in partnership with the Parents Association and school board of management undertook the development of a new sand-based all-weather Gaelic football pitch. These works are now complete and the pitch has been officially opened by GAA director general Pauric Duffy.
Largy College in Clones boasts a new school building, gymnasium, fitness suite and gaelic pitches, all provided by the Department of Education and Skills under its PPP programme.
Colaiste Oiriall is the all-Irish second-level school, which has now been awarded permanent recognition by the Minister for Education & Skills. This has enabled it to employ staff on a permanent basis. Enrolment at the school is up by 50% and results of their first Leaving Certificate class have exceeded the national average in all subjects.
Monaghan Youthreach Centre has been completely redesigned and was officially opened recently by Minister Sean Haughey. Castleblayney Youthreach is currently waiting to move into new state-of-the-art facilities in the New Year. County Monaghan VEC has also secured a grant of two million euro from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport towards the construction costs of its new theatre on the new education campus site on the outskirts of Monaghan town. The new campus, on the former site of the Military Barracks, will comprise a 16-classroom all-Irish primary school for Gaelscoil Ultain; a 400-pupil all-Irish Post Primary school for Colaiste Oiriall; an Institute of Further Education that will replace the existing PLC college and theatre; and a sports hall to be shared by all users on the campus.
Planning permission has been granted and the campus should be ready for occupation in September 2012.
Needless to say, the GAA is of critical importance to County Monaghan VEC. As the CEO observes: "The provision for sport and physical fitness for young people - both in and out of school - is one of the biggest challenges facing communities in this time of economic erosion."
A former Irish Teacher in Castleblayney from Donaghmoyne, Michael Markey, was instrumental in setting up the Ulster Vocational Schools Gaelic football competitions and in acknowledgement of this a perpetual trophy - the Markey Cup (U18) - is contested each year. In 2009, Castleblayney College reached the final, under the guidance of Shane Donoghue.
Martin continues: "Since I came to work in Monaghan in 2007, we have experienced great success. We've won three Ulster titles in a row and have contested three Vocational Schools All-Ireland finals, beating Galway in 2009 and losing to Cork in 2008 and 2010.
"Many of those players have progressed to play on our county teams. In fact, in 2001, when we previously won the All-Ireland for the first time, Paudie Finnegan was on the team as a pupil at Inver College and he's now a valued member of staff there, where he gives of his time to coaching school teams and to teaching Physical Education in the school. Paul Finlay - a student at Ballybay - was also on that 2001 team and he later went on to represent Monaghan, as did Edmund Lennon and Stephen Fitzpatrick. Ted Duffy from Castleblayney is another from that team who also played for the county.
"From our three recent Ulster title successes and the All-Ireland winning team, many have progressed to play on the Monaghan U21 and senior sides, including Christopher McGuinness, Colm Walshe, Dermot Malone and Ciaran Duffy. It's interesting to note that from last year's Monaghan MFC team that played in the Ulster championship, eleven of the starting fifteen are past students of County Monaghan VEC and past players from the three-in-a-row team. It's also interesting that Pete Dooney from Ballybay Community College captained the Monaghan minor team last year and several players from the Vocational Schools / minor team have won scholarships to third-level education, examples of whom are Jack McCarron from Largy College and Pete Dooney from Ballybay Community College, both of whom won sports scholarships to DCU.
"Facilities for sport within County Monaghan VEC are of a very high standard and the schools have built up excellent working relationships with their local clubs. An example of this is the relationship that Mr Gerry Hand, principal of Castleblayney College, enjoys with his neighbouring club, Castleblayney Faughs. Both are currently working on proposals for the development and sharing of sports facilities. Also, the new all-weather sand-based pitch developed at Inver College is another example of what can be achieved through partnership and collaboration.
"In addition to the VEC's own facilities, we are very lucky to have access to the facilities at Cloghan. These are made available to VEC teams and the central location and courtesy/cooperation of the managers of that facility is acknowledged and appreciated. We want to record our appreciation to all the clubs across the county and to referees for facilitating us in the past.
"We also acknowledge the drive, dedication and commitment of Paul O'Connor - the Games Development Manager - for his assistance in coaching our senior team and we want to acknowledge a number of coaches from the county development squad that visit our schools, coach students, and assist school coaches in the preparation of teams. We are very appreciative of Paul Turley, Colin Malone, Marty Corey and Con O'Hanlon, who have become regular visitors to our schools. We acknowledge the role played by Eamonn O'Hara, coaching officer, and appreciate the advice and support he offers to principals and team managers in the county.
"Last but by no means least, I want to compliment and acknowledge the teaching and ancillary and support staff at County Monaghan VEC for the roles they play in training, preparing and organising sporting activities for our students.
"When one casts one's mind back to the last time Ulster won the Railway Cup, Monaghan had four players on the team, all of whom were former VEC students, namely Paul Finlay, Dick Clerkin, Tommy Freeman and Eoin Lennon. Indeed, Finlay and Freeman have also played their part in the International Rules series.
"Many top-class Monaghan players who have now become household names once sat in front of our teachers in VEC schools - Tommy and Damien Freeman at Inver College; Conor McManus at Beech Hill College (where his father Frank is present school principal); Eugene 'Nudie Hughes' at Castleblayney College; Eoin Lennon and Paul Finlay at Ballybay Community College; and the current Monaghan Player of the Year and Ulster All-Star, Dick Clerkin, is a former student at Largy College.
"We are extremely proud to have been associated with these students and we will continue to support them in any way we can and to wish them every success in their future careers." Tweet
