Laois Games & Gaels Podcast brings you inside the heartbeat of Gaelic Games in Laois, with honest chat, practical insight, and the stories that really matter across schools, clubs, and communities. Hosted by Shane Keegan and Dean Malone, the show looks at what is happening on the ground every week, from the Centre of Excellence to classrooms and club pitches around the county.
Episode 4 captures the buzz of a busy stretch. The lads open with a nod to a new show intro from media man Paul Dargan, proof that the podcast is stepping forward in small, steady ways. Listener feedback is strong, some agree, some disagree, everyone is engaged, which is exactly the point.
The main focus turns to a big week for Cumann na mBunscol football at the Centre of Excellence. There is real excitement around headline finals like Graiguecullen vs Holy Family in the girls championship, a throwback to last year’s drama, and Holy Family’s boys taking on Portarlington BNS. There is pride too in emerging schools and first timers aiming for a Shield final, a sign that growth is spreading county wide.
From there, the chat moves to the Heritage Flag programme in primary schools. Heads of Hurling and Football, Dan and Donny, have met teachers, pencilled upskilling sessions under Croke Park hours, and shared plans that help schools run better coaching, with teachers leading, and GPOs supporting.
Post primary activity is lively.
The Centre hosted a secondary schools hurling blitz with strong competition and a great response. S&C continues to build, with structured weekly sessions, and coaching support across schools like Haywood. There are fixtures for Knockbeg, a good win for CBS senior footballers, and plenty of games on the slate.
The participation pipeline gets special attention.
A county U10 and U11 programme wrapped up with jerseys for 300 kids and a final night blitz, organised chaos, and unbelievable enthusiasm. U12s continue with detailed session plans led by John Sugru, a reminder that elite coaching detail can reach every corner when the structure is right.
There is community colour too, with U9 halftime games on county final day, big smiles, and big cheers.
The episode closes with the Coach Recognition Awards, a national initiative inviting every club and school to nominate the people who keep Laois moving, nursery to talent academy, classroom to club.
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