Jerry Grogan is the current National development officer and Dublin PRO for Cumann na mBunscol. He is also a member of the youth committee and schools development workgroup as well the Leinster Council public relations committee. In addition, Grogan is involved with Dublin's Hill 16 magazine and GAA Yearbook.
Cumann na mBunscol is the national organisation for promoting and developing Gaelic games at primary-school level, with more than 300 schools around the country now involved. The Dublin branch, founded by six city-centre schools in 1928, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.
Membership: There are now 7,000 primary teachers promoting the games in national schools on a voluntary basis. That's about 120 schools taking part in the football league which takes place in the autumn term, 90 schools playing hurling, and about 40 girls schools each playing football and camogie.
Status: We organise football for boys and girls as well as hurling, camogie and athletics. We don't encourage any All-Ireland championship and every inter-county game we have is on a friendly level, because they're too young for a knock-out competition. Our aim is mostly promotional in that we try to get as many kids playing the games as possible and to be honest we try to down-play the competition angle.
Honours: The main success has been in the GAA's National Coaching and Games Development structure where there are now 90 full-time officers, mostly in primary schools. We have also seen a massive increase in girls participation and the introduction of indoor hurling.
Finest Hour: From my point of view that would be Dublin winning four categories in the inaugural Roadstone National Awards this year, including best Games Development - a fitting tribute in our 70th year.
Worst Moment: Whenever Dublin are not regularly successful it is very difficult to focus attention on the children and it is vital that the games are strong and vibrant in our capital city.
Club Hero: Tom Fitzpatrick from Clare has been appointed the country's first full-time coaching and promotion officer and his work is a major boost to promoting the games, especially in the city.
