Under 13 Academy Launch
The launch of the Under 13 Football and Hurling Development Initiative took place at The Annebrook House Hotel on Tuesday 8th April before a very large crowd of participants, parents and guests. This initiative between Westmeath GAA and Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) is designed to set up an academy to nurture and develop highly skilled young players. Up to 80 players will be selected annually to participate on a development programme which will run for five years. The initial focus for 2014 is on young hurlers and footballers playing at under-13 level. 

The players will receive high quality coaching and sport science support on a weekly basis from experienced coaches and professionals. Recruitment for the Westmeath GAA/AIT Academy has been in progress since February 2014 and following a training and testing session in AIT in March, the boys participating in the academy were present at Tuesdays event with a remarkable 100% turnout.  

Minor Hurlers bow out to Kildare:
Westmeath Minor Hurlers bowed out of this years Leinster Minor Hurling championship when they were defeated by Kildare on a score of 3-11 to 1-13 at St Conleths Park Newbridge on Saturday 12th April. Westmeath were the better team in the opening quarter leading by 1-3 to 0-2 midway through the opening half but two goals in the final minutes of the half saw Kildare hold a 2-7 to 1-6 interval lead. A third goal for Kildare saw the lilywhites extend their advantage but Westmeath brought the gap back to two points at 1-11 to 3-07. However, the concession of those goals proved costly and it was a very disappointing way to exit the Leinster Championship Manager Johnny Greville and the backroom team have put a lot of work into the minor hurlers this year and to be fair the panel has worked very hard throughout the past number of months. The result last week doesn't reflect the effort put in by the team and it's a pity that they didn't get through to the next round as there are some really talented players on the panel. Unfortunately, there is no second chance so it will be a long wait until the 'B' championship later in the year before these guys get a chance to perform as a team again.
Minor Footballers at Home to Kildare next Saturday.
For the second week in succession, Westmeath will face Kildare in the Leinster Minor Championship but this time it is the Minor Footballers who face Kildare at Cusack Park on Saturday 19th April. In 2013, both counties met in the Leinster final where Kildare prevailed by 2-15 to 2-07 to claim the Leinster title. Both sides then lost in the All Ireland Minor Quarter finals but went no further as Westmeath were defeated by eventual All Ireland champions Mayo while Roscommon defeated Kildare. Tommy Carr used the Leinster Minor league to experiment this year and while there were some poor results, there was a major mitigating factor in that a number of players were college tied at the time and there was never a full hand to pick from. Kildare too have had poor results over the spring with a 2-10 to 0-4 loss to Wexford in the Leinster Minor league being their lowpoint but one would be very foolish to read too much into that. Bryan Murphy, the Kildare manager has a talented team to work with and two years ago when Under 16's they won the Leinster championship defeating Dublin in the final. Saying that, the Westmeath team will have a good supply of the team which reached the final last year and they certainly will have a fair degree of confidence of progressing to the next round. Throw in at Cusack Park is at 3-00pm.
GAA Charities announced:
The GAA has confirmed its five official charities for 2014. The Association at central level will make a monetary contribution to each of the five charities in addition to helping to raise the profile of the excellent work they are involved in and looks forward to partnering with them.
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill said: "We are delighted to be in a position to highlight the excellent work that these five charities do and hope to be able to assist them in promoting their activity not just amongst our membership but across the country as a whole over the course of the remainder of the year.
The nominated charities are as follows;
Peter McVerry Trust
Peter McVerry Trust was established in 1983 by Fr Peter McVerry to tackle homelessness, drug misuse and social disadvantage. Since then it has supported thousands of vulnerable young people on the margins of Irish society and in 2013 worked with 3,586 people.
Down Syndrome Ireland
Down Syndrome Ireland provides a nationally recognised voice for people with Down syndrome and their families and also provides information and advice, influences policy, raises public awareness and works towards the improvement of education and services for children and adults with Down syndrome.
DSI represents and supports 3,500 members through a national team and 25 local branches nationwide. 
Samaritans The GAA has confirmed its five official charities for 2014. The Association at central level will make a monetary contribution to each of the five charities in addition to helping to raise the profile of the excellent work they are involved in and looks forward to partnering with them.
Irish Autism Action
Irish Autism Action is a young, dynamic, innovative and passionate charity formed in 2001. We are the lead charity in Ireland in the field of autism with our primary objective to increase understanding and awareness in Ireland and transform the lives of families living with autism by providing help, hope and answers.
Ciarán Carr Foundation
The Ciarán Carr Foundation was set up following the sudden death of Round Towers GAA player Ciarán Carr in January 2012. His death was attributed to what is commonly known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). 
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