Training Times and Contacts for 2026

The Garrycastle Dragons (football nursery for under-6 Boys and Girls) will train on SUNDAY mornings, from 10:00am to 11:00am on the Astroturf in the club starting on SUNDAY MARCH 1st.

Contact for the nursery is Eoin at 086 193 3774.

The nursery caters for Girls and Boys born in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

[2025-09-24]

On Wednesday evening, the 6 year olds from the Nursery made the short trip to Páirc Chiaráin to play an end of season blitz against their counterparts from Athlone, in a graduation of sorts for these youngest players in the club. For most of these players, it was their first time to put on a club jersey and they wore the green and red with great pride!

No doubt they will continue to do so next year at Under-8, and hopefully for many years to come! Huge thanks to Athlone GAA for hosting a great evening. 

Mol an Óige! 💚♥️ 

[2024-09-29]

Our nursery hosted its last "One Club, One Family, One Community" event of the year by welcoming community heroes, An Garda Síochána. 

It was an absolutely brilliant day, with over 50 boys and girls having the opportunity to meet our local Gardaí and check out their top-class cars, SUVs, and motorbikes! Not only will we have future all-stars, but I suspect after today we will have future Gardaí in the club!

Thanks to everyone for making today so special, especially the Athlone Community Policing Unit, Athlone Gardai and the Westmeath Roads Policing Unit who gave up their time to ensure each child had a memorable day.

[2024-09-01]

The Garrycastle Nursery was thrilled to host Tubberclair for a friendly Under-6 blitz on Sunday morning. With over 50 young footballers participating in five exciting mini-matches, it was a fantastic event, and great fun was had by all. The football and teamwork skills honed throughout the year were on full display for everyone to enjoy. 

After the games, players, parents, and coaches from both clubs enjoyed some welcome ice creams, generously sponsored by ETS.

[2024-07-07]

To celebrate the opening of our new gym at the weekend, the Garrycastle GAA nursery hosted a sports day. 

From egg and spoon races to sack races, the children had a wonderful time. 

[2024-06-09]

Garrycastle GAA Club Nursery in full swing on Sunday Morning! Great fun had by all!

Athlone Fire Brigade

The nursery welcomed the Athlone Fire Brigade on Sunday morning, making it a truly memorable day for both parents and kids alike. Special thanks to the firefighters who gave up their time to ensure a wonderful experience for each child.

[2024-05-12]

To mark "Earth Day", our football nursery group have started their own nursery by sowing seeds. 

This supports the club's green initiative, and we look forward to an abundance of flowers on display around the club in the coming months.

[2024-04-21]

Nursery March 2024 (click on image to see all the photos)

The Garrycastle Nursery Pathway

Our nursery section is for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 years old and we concentrate on four major skills each year.

Under 5: Catch, ground kick, throw and bounce.

Under 6: Catch, punt kick, handpass and solo. In May/June (weather permitting) some of the under 6 training sessions will be on grass.

The Garrycastle Ethos

The emphasis is on participation and enjoyment – learning through fun. Our approach is to build confidence through encouragement while making the games as enjoyable as possible, following approved GAA coaching methods.

Our ethos is “having FUN, making new FRIENDS and learning new SKILLS in a SAFE environment for players and coaches.

The season is almost at a close, but still time for lots of fun down in Garrycastle Nursery this morning!

Time: 

Training for this age group is normally on Sunday mornings, from 11:00am to 12noon.

Location:

During March up to September: Astroturf Pitch at Garrycastle GAA Club grounds 

During October, November, January and February: AIT Multi-Purpose Indoor Hall (to be confirmed)

Purpose:

The purpose of the nursery is to introduce girls and boys to Gaelic games in a safe and fun environment. 

Organisation:

Contacts for the nursery is Catríona Fagan on 087 698 2651. She will be assisted by a large team of mentors and parents. Mentors are Garda vetted and have completed a fitness to practise course. All parents are encouraged to get involved in helping out in the nursery; no experience is necessary, and a series of training courses will be provided.

Age Groups:

The nursery caters for children age 4-6 years old, born in 2018 or later.

Joining the Nursery:

If you want your child to participate in the nursery, simply come along any Sunday morning at 10.50 am and join in the fun. All children are welcome. If after a period of time, you decide you want your child to continue in the Nursery, then we would ask you to take out club membership, details of which are available on the website on the Registration page.

No specialist equipment needed, just comfortable clothing, a gum shield and a bottle of water. Parents/Guardians must stay for the entire session. 

Activities: 

In Garrycastle GAA nursery girls and boys take part in the following activities:

• Agility, balance and coordination.

• Running, jumping and throwing.

• Kicking the ball (left and right)

• Bouncing (left and right)

• Hand-passing (left and right)

• Fun small sided matches

Further Information:

For more information please contact Catríona at 087 698 2651. 

Garrycastle Junior Nursery players with Westmeath's 2019 silverware, the O'Byrne Cup and the Allianz NFL Div3 Trophy (Sunday June 9th)

Garrycastle and Westmeath player, James Dolan, brought the silverware won so far this year by the Westmeath team, the O'Byrne Cup and the Allianz NFL Div. 3 trophy, to Garrycastle on Sunday morning to show them to the Junior Nursery players.

Huge thanks to James for taking time time to bring the trophies to the club!

Nursery fun in AIT ! (Sunday March 24)

The Garrycastle Under-6 / nursery group of boys and girls got a special treat on Sunday morning, with a special training session in the AIT International Arena!

(Click on photo to see a larger version)

Welcome back to all those that were involved in 2018, and a huge welcome also to all of those who are just beginning in 2019!

Nursery fun, Sunday November 25th, at the Indoor running track in AIT.

Click on the image to see more photos!

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Athlone!

The Under-6 group marched proudly in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Athlone this year. 

For details and photos, please see the St. Patrick's Day page!

New Kit Sponsorship from Grovelands Childcare, Athlone!

The Under-6 group will have an all new kit this year, sponsored by Grovelands Childcare, Athlone!

Under-6 End-of-year party, Bowling Alley, October 19th

The Under-6 group held their annual end-of-year party in the Bowling Alley on Monday evening.

Under-6 Football Blitz, Garrycastle, September 12th

We held our first home under-6 blitz in Garrycastle on Saturday morning, with teams from Athlone and the Moate All-Whites in attendance. Despite missing a number of key players, the Garrycastle boys and girls gave a great account of themselves.

They played two great games, with plenty of determination and skill on view from the youngest players in the club. Particularly prominent for Garrycastle were Jack Tucker, Erin McHugh, Tadhg Mulvihill, Jack Kilmurray, Ella Sweeney, Rory O'Connor, Doireann Keena and James Earley.

After the  games all the players were treated to crisps and drinks in recognition of their efforts.

Many thank to the mentors and players from Athlone and Moate for coming in and to the Garrycastle players and their parents for the great support from the sidelines.

Challenge match v. Athlone, August 31st

Our under 6's played their first ever match last Sunday morning in a friendly against local rivals Athlone. A large crowd were treated to an exciting match with both teamsshowing great skill and sportsmanship. 

Athlone had the better start with a couple of early scores. However the Garrycastle boys and girls settled into the game and defended well for the remainder of the half. The second half was a closer affair and a goal from Senan Nugent got the crowd to their feet. The final score of the game went to Garrycastle with a fine point from a free by Jack Dowling. Thanks to Athlone for a good sporting game, which no doubt be the first of many times these youngsters will meet.

Match Report : Colin Clyne

Challenge match v. Tubberclair, October 9th

End of year party, 2012

The under-6 age group had their well deserved end-of-year party on Wednesday evening in Krazy Kids, in Blyry. A fantastic turnout saw more than 50 of the clubs youngest members have a ball on the astro pitch, slides, climbing areas, etc. After a healthy (!) feed of chips, chicken nuggets and sausages, washed down with "purple" (as one of the kids called it), everyone of the players was presented with a medal to mark their year by Club and county senior players Doron Harte and Des Dolan.

Our thanks to Doron and Des in taking time out from their busy training schedule leading up to the senior final on Sunday, (c'mon the Castle!).

Huge thanks also to all of the group mentors and parents for helping out during the year, to the transition year students from the Marist College, (Micheal and Donal), who helped out as part of their Gaisce award, and to Cornamaddy NS for the use of the school pitch.

We look forward to do it all over again next year!

A slideshow of pictures from the party is included below (thanks to Des & Deirdre McEnery for all of the photos) ...