History is set to be made next week as a Laois school are set to compete in the Cumann na mBunscol finals for the first time ever.
Cosby National School, in Stradbally, entered the football competition for the first time ever this year.
They put teams into the boys and girls sections with the boys making it all the way to the final.
Cosby National School, which first opened in 1872, has undergone rapid expansion in recent years.
The building where the school is currently located on Main Street opened in 1962 and contained two classrooms.
However, a new extension, completed in 2022, brought two extra classrooms, an SET room, an office, disabled toilet and a kitchen.
When Vice-Principal Laura O’Neill arrived in the school a few years ago, it was home to 24 students.
But with the expansion, that number is now 64 and hence an endeavor into more sporting activities was mooted.
Ms O’Neill explained: “I have a big sporting background myself as I played camogie and then hockey in Kilkenny where I am from.
“I went on maternity leave and when I came back, we now had 64 students so I thought, surely we can get some sort of a team going.”
With Laura’s background, she did initially think about starting hurling and camogie but the expense of getting everyone hurls and helmets was prohibitive.
So instead, she decided to go for football and from humble beginnings, things have blossomed.
She said: “David Walsh-Kemmis got involved, David Graham got involved. The parents took interest because the boys all play.
“I was just very conscious that we have an awful lot of children from India, from Africa, from Brazil.
“We had to show them videos of hurling and Gaelic football. They had absolutely no sporting experience whatsoever.
“But the lads went and won their first blitz. It was absolutely incredible.”
The winning streak continued for the boys team after that and they have qualified for the finals which will take place on October 21 and 22.
Cosby National School also entered a girls team and while they didn’t qualify for the final, Ms O’Neill says the entire school is incredibly proud of them.
She said: “While the lads had some players who play for clubs, the girls had none whatsoever.
“When we went for our first blitz, they were very nervous and unsure but by the third game, they were starting to figure it out.
“And by the time their final blitz came about, they marched onto the pitch with purpose and played some great games.
“These girls were getting the chance to represent their school and it meant so much to them and all of us.”
Ms O’Neill also praised the collaboration between Cosby National School and St Colman’s NS right next to them.
She said: “We have a gate between the schools that connects us and we train on their astro.
“We have played games against their teams too. Principal Bryan Lynch and all of the staff have been extremely helpful.”
Ms O’Neill also thanked the local businesses who have come on board to sponsor the school teams.
“Aquatic Harvesting LTD, which is owned by David Graham, Stradbally Ladders, McKeowns Stone and Ballykilcavan, owned by David Walsh-Kemmis.
“They are our main sponsors and we can’t thank them enough for all they have done.”
Sport can be a hugely positive part of school life and Laura explained how important it has been for Cosby National School this year.
She said: “Sport brings that sense of pride in where you’re from.
“Being successful is great but it’s more about the memories that they’ll create.
“The memories that they’ll have from being the first ever group from Cosby National School to actually have a team.
“There was a teacher I used to work with up in Finglas and she always used to say ‘remember, they’ll never remember what you taught them, they’ll always remember the experiences you gave them.
“That’s always stuck with me and this is definitely something that they will carry with them forever.”
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