History: Post Primary Schools
Senior Post Primary Schools A competition has been up and running at National level since 1985. In 1989 Mercy Convent, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon represented Connacht the first school from Connacht to reach and win the final by beating Tarbert Comprehensive, Co. Kerry.
Two years later (1991-1995 Inc) Ballinrobe Community School, Co. Mayo made it five titles in a row when they beat three schools from Co. Clare and two from Co. Wexford. 1991and 1992 Salesian Convent Cahercon Clare, 1993 Bridgetown Community School Wexford, 1994 Colaiste Bridge Enniscorty Wexford and 1995 Spanish Point Clare.
In 1997 Colaiste Mhuie, Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo made it to the final but was beating by Spanish Point, Co. Clare. 2001 Tourmakeady got to the final again with Colaiste na Sceilige, Cahirsiveen, Co. Kerry and again the Southern girls were too strong for the girls from the West.
Presentation College Currylea Tuam, Co. Galway contested the 2003 and 2004 finals. Presentation College Currylea Tuam beat Colaiste na Sceilige of Kerry in 2003 and St. Louis Monaghan beat Tuam in 2004. St. Joseph's Summerhill Athlone, Co. Roscommon met Colaiste na Sceilge, Co. Kerry in the 2005 All Ireland Semi-final but ended up second best on the day by 2-14 to 2-4. Convent of Mercy Roscommon Town took the Connacht and All Ireland finals of 2009, they beat Loreto Fermoy Co. Cork in the All Ireland final.
Junior Post Primary Schools A competition was set up in 1994. Once again Ballinrobe Community School, Co. Mayo contested and won the first two titles 1994 and 1995 where they beat St. Joseph's College, Kilkee, Co. Clare in both finals.
Presentation College Tuam Co. Galway contested the final in 2003 but were beaten by St. Mary's Macroom, Co. Cork. Loretto College Omagh Co. Tyrone beat Dunmore Community School Co. Galway in the 2008 final.
2011 Glenamaddy Community School Co. Galway was runners up in the Tesco Post Primary Schools Junior A Championship All Ireland Final to Scoil Mhuire Secondary School Longford which was played in Glenamaddy.
2003 four more All Ireland finals were introduced for the Post Primary Schools.
Senior and Junior B, Senior and Junior C.
Senior B Connacht schools won the first two All Irelands, Holy Rosary Mountbellew, Co. Galway in 2003 by beating Killorglin Intermediate School Co. Kerry and St. Joseph's Athlone, Co. Roscommon in 2004 by beating St. Marys Mallow Co. Cork.
Coola Post Primary, Co. Sligo was beaten in the 2005 Semi-final by St. Joseph's Spanish Point Co. Clare.
2006 Community School Dunmore Co. Galway met Loretto Secondary School Fermoy Co. Cork in the Pat The Baker All Ireland final, Fermoy took this title. Convent of Mercy Secondary School Castlebar Co. Mayo defeated Cathar Dun Iascaigh Cahir Co. Tipperary in the 2009 final.
2010 Mount St. Michael Claremorris Co. Mayo won the Tesco Post Primary Schools Senior B Championship Final by defeating St. Patrick's Acamady Dungannon Co. Tyrone.
2011 Holy Rosary College Mountbellew Co. Galway was runners up in the Tesco Post Primary Schools Senior B Championship All Ireland Final to Colaiste Iosagain Stillorgan Dublin.
We have three schools that won Junior B All Irelands to date; Holy Rosary Mountbellew Co. Galway won the Junior B in 2003 by deafeating St. Marys Edenderry Co. Offaly. Community School Dunmore Co. Galway won in 2007 when they defeated Loreto Grammer Omagh Co. Tyrone. Holy Rosary Mountbellew Co. Galway again won in 2009 by beating St. Marys Mallow Co. Cork.
St. Joseph's Athlone Co. Roscommon were beaten in the Junior B All Ireland semi final in 2004. 2005 Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Co. Roscommon 1-2 was beaten by Presentation Castleisland, Co. Kerry 1-19 in the semi final.
For the first five Senior C All Ireland finals Connacht have won four.
2004 Coola Post Primary of Co. Sligo beat St. Brigids Killarney Co. Kerry. 2005 Community School Dunmore, Co. Galway 7-10 beat St. Joseph's Doon, Co Limerick 1-3 in the Semi-final and in the final they did the business against Fermanagh College of F. E. & H.E 4-3 and Dunmore 9-4.
2006 St. Brigids Convent of Mercy Tuam Co. Galway beat Portmarnock Community School Dublin. 2007 St. Josephs Secondary School Castlebar Co. Mayo became champions over Ard Scoil na Deinse Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. In the All Ireland final of 2009 Scoil Mhuire & Padraig Swinford Co. Mayo were beating by St. Josephs Abbeyfeale Co. Limerick.
2010 Scoil Mhuire Strokestown Co. Roscommon was runners up to Mercy Heights Skibbereen Co. Cork in the Senior C Post Primary Schools All Ireland Championship final.
2003 saw the commencement of All Ireland Junior C finals and Connacht schools have played in seven and have won five to date. Coola Post Primary of Co. Sligo won the first against Mercy College Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath
In 2004 Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Co. Roscommon by defeating St. Josephs Castleisland Co. Kerry.
2005 saw St. Brigids Convent of Mercy Tuam, Co. Galway 4-9 play St. Joseph's Doon, Co Limerick 4-7 in the Semi-final and they beat St. Comghalls Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh in the final by 7-13 to 2-4.
Community School Dunmore, Co. Galway beat Moyne Community School Co. Longford to take the 2006 final. Scoil Mhuire & Padraig Swinford Co. Mayo won in 2008 against De La Salle Carlow. 2007 Ballinamore Post Primary Co. Leitrim was very unlucky not to take the title against St. Catherines Armagh.
2011Presentation College Athenry Co. Galway was runners up in the Tesco Post Primary Schools Junior C Championship All Ireland Final to St. Joseph's Navan Co. Meath.
In the early days we had very little schools taken part in the Post Primary competition, which was run by the County Boards. In fact some Counties did not participate at all. For the last number of years its run by our Connacht Council Board where there has been an enormous amount of work put in. We have a rising number of schools taken part each year and for the last number of years we are averaging approximately 75 schools each year in Connacht. Also in the last number of years quite a few of our schools have amalgamated. There is no dough but our Counties are benefiting from the input from the schools and they are proving this on the national stage.
At present we run 12 competitions in Connacht the following grades are:
Junior and Senior A.
Junior and Senior B.
Junior and Senior C these six competitions go to All Ireland finals.
Group 2 C senior and junior began in 2006, 11 a side D competition and U-14 A, B and C competitions finish at Connacht.
We also host a number of 1st year blitzs anything between ten and twenty.
For 2011 season our Counties have the following number of schools taken part. Galway have 31 schools out of 40 participating, Leitrim have 7 out of 7, Mayo 21 out of 23, Roscommon 8 out of 8, Sligo 10 out of 12.