WHAT WE DO...
We aim to contribute to the promotion of Hurling, to highlight the benefits of participation to our young players and to encourage children of all abilities and backgrounds to reap the benefits of participation by continuing in the sport into adulthood. We will promote the GAA Code of Behaviour for young players, mentors, coaches, parents and supporters to help ensure that our players can play and train in an enjoyable and safe environment.
Encourage and inspire young people to take up the game, primarily by supporting those who coach children at primary school level. We are committed to providing ongoing help to our local schools through the provision of funding, sportswear and equipment. We aim to encourage increased participation at under 8 and under 12 levels by providing support to parents, initially through funding and/or organisation of camps.
SUPPORT
Support our clubs by contributing to the many resources required to help with the ongoing development of our young players. We aim to provide assistance to our local under 14 and under 16 teams, where specific needs are identified, e.g. help with travel costs or gear for teams representing our counties at Féile.
PROMOTE
ENCOURAGE
The Shane Mulholland Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. The Foundation was established in October 2015 with the aim of raising funds to help build upon the work that Shane had begun in Hurling Development in Fermanagh and Cavan and to contribute to the ongoing work in our local clubs and schools in Antrim where Shane grew up and played at juvenile level.
Shane had many happy years as a young hurler and benefitted greatly from the work of his own coaches, teachers and mentors as he was growing up. He had a great desire to coach young players and help to develop the game in the Ulster counties and worked hard to gain his coaching awards with the Ulster GAA. He only had a few short months to enjoy his new role as a Hurling Development Officer in Cavan but it was clear that he had every intention of making a career in coaching and development in GAA.
Through the work of the Foundation we hope to be able to offer ongoing support to those who are coaching and working at underage level. We hope that all those who share Shane's passion for the game will join us, that by working together we can contribute to the development of the next generation of hurlers, and that this will serve as a fitting and lasting tribute to Shane in the years to come.
"Without the passion of people like Shane Mulholland the GAA cannot exist because, for all of us, we trace our DNA as GAA people back to where it all began and the work that was done at juvenile level in clubs where someone invested time in us to teach us how to kick a ball from our hands or how to grip a Hurley."
MEET OUR TRUSTEES
The activities of the Foundation are overseen by a board of three Trustees. Shane's mother Maria, his wife Vanessa and sister-in-law Kelly. Together they formed the Foundation to help keep Shane's memory alive and to ensure that his hurling knowledge and expertise would be passed on to youngsters in Fermanagh and beyond.
Vanessa explains "the mission statement for the foundation includes the words 'promote, participate, support and encourage' and that is primarily what it is all about - specifically the promotion of Gaelic games - at under-age level throughout the local communities."
"Shane was due to start hurling training with the U10's in his local club Derrylin the day after he sadly passed away. It was something he was very passionate about and keen to get up and running. Unfortunately, there has been no one to stand-in in his place, or anyone with his coaching expertise, hurling knowledge and willingness to give up their time voluntarily to do this, so the coaching never began. Through the work of the Foundation we hope to change this in the years ahead."
Vanessa Mulholland
Maria Mulholland
