Balla are embracing the busyness

‘Grease’ the musical opened at Balla Secondary School last night (Tuesday). You’re The One That I Want wouldn't be a bad shout as the anthem of the school's footballers as they travel with the intent of claiming the Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup next Saturday.

A busy school is a great school agree Teresa Walsh and Conor Walsh, principal and vice-principal, and whether it be the theatric or sporting stage, or mock, practical or oral examinations, times don’t come much busier than what the students and teachers in Balla are negotiating at present.

“The minute you walk in the door you have that really great feeling about the place,” beams Teresa Walsh. To say her attachment runs deep is an understatement; the principal is also a past pupil of the school and sees hers and indeed that of all the staff as much more than a job.

“It’s more a religion in some ways, that provision of education. It’s a great gift to be able to give and provide education to our community. And as a past pupil, that really makes a difference for me in the sense I feel so invested in what I do.” 

The excitement of seeing both the senior boys football and soccer teams reach national finals in the space of two weeks is something that is contributing massively to the culture of Balla Secondary School believes Teresa.

“To bring it to that next level, where you can also provide and have staff who are willing to engage in sport and provide extra-curricular activities for students, it’s huge. While football is one of the things we do, there’s quite a lot of other extra-curricular activities available as well to students.” 

Conor Walsh agrees that the importance of sport to the school cannot be overstated.

“It’s massive. Education is obviously the core guiding principle of a school but what you can learn in terms of life-skills through sport is endless really. You can see how the lads have matured from first years through to Leaving Certs and sport has had a massive part in that in terms of building leadership, the way they communicate with each other, the way they work together, all the type of stuff that will stand them in good stead when they leave here.

“Like any extra-curricular activity in a school, it’s only as good as the staff who run it and who are giving of their time. We’re incredibly lucky with that here in Balla in that we have staff who are very invested in the kids and when the kids see investment from the staff like that, they give it back in spades and they develop relationships which are great for both,” says Conor who as a footballer himself has enjoyed a stellar club career with Balla GAA club. He hasn’t been surprised at the school’s senior team progression to an All-Ireland senior final.

“Even since first year, they gelled as a year group very, very fast. They’ve been quite successful, they’ve won titles at juvenile, were competing in juvenile ‘B’ Connacht finals twice in three years and along with that, outside of school the clubs have been quite successful at a high level, so when you merge three clubs like that and bring them together, and they’re used to that level of success with the different teams that they’re playing on, it leads itself to a team that is made of the right stuff.

“I think that was typified in the performance in the Connacht final where it wasn’t an evening made for tactical football or skills, it was more about team spirit and togetherness which these fellas have in spades.”