Ranelagh Rockets

.. proudly continues support for Ranelagh Rockets

Hall Pyke is thrilled to announce our ongoing sponsorship of the Ranelagh Rockets as they celebrate their fifth birthday in September 2025! This inspiring team, part of the Ranelagh Gaels GAA club, provides a vital opportunity for children with additional needs to engage in the wonderful game of GAA football.

Every Saturday morning, boys and girls aged 6 to 18 participate in three dedicated coaching sessions, enjoying one-to-one support in a safe, inclusive, and fun environment. The Ranelagh Rockets not only foster athletic skills but also promote social interaction and community spirit, making a significant impact on the lives of these young athletes.

At Hall Pyke, we believe in the power of community involvement, and we are proud to support an initiative that enriches the lives of children and their families. Here’s to another fantastic year for the Ranelagh Rockets! Together, let’s continue to celebrate the joy of sport and the incredible benefits it brings to our community.

#hallpyke

www.hallpyke.ie

Rockets training takes place every Saturday morning (rain, hail, or shine) at the following times:

09:15 – 09:45 – Juniors

10:00 – 10:45 – Intermediates

11:00 – 11:45 – Seniors

The season runs from September – June.

The Rockets train at an outdoor, enclosed artificial pitch, located at Herzog Park in Rathgar (just beside Rathgar Tennis Club):  

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EeMpZUx9d8pWbSfH9

We currently have a waiting list for each of our 3 groups, but if you contact the relevant lead coach below, they can advise of upcoming spaces and how your child may be able to get involved:

Juniors (6 – 9 years): Colm Gilmore (087 160 0808)

Intermediates (10 – 14 years): Stuart Banks (087 370 7012)

Seniors (14 years +): Ian Kilty (086 197 2371)

Yes. Your child must be a member of the club to join.

Membership information can be found on the Foireann website here: https://www.foireann.ie/

No sports kit is necessary, whatever your child feels comfortable in wearing, though we do recommend shorts / tracksuit bottoms, a comfortable top and trainers (not football boots as we play on an Astroturf pitch).

Thanks to our generous sponsors, Hall Pyke, each Rocket receives a club jersey at the start of each season, and we encourage them to wear it each week to feel part of the team and the Rockets community.

it is our ambition that every child coming into the Rockets program will develop new skills in a fun, enjoyable and safe environment. Our goal is to help the kids learn the fundamentals of the game (bounce, handpass, kick, solo), develop those skills in a team environment (sharing, collaborating, playing with teammates) and feel the pride of pulling on a Ranelagh Gaels jersey as part of a team.

We have developed a set of drills (stations) that focus on all the basic elements of Gaelic football and build on those core skills by weaving them into game play activities. Each session begins with a set of warmups / stretches before a series of races. We then move on to the 4 colour-coded stations (Red – handpass; Blue – kicking; Yellow – bouncing; Green – shooting). We finish the session with Circle Time and the (famous) Rockets Parachute. Oh and jellies, of course!

The sessions have been developed to align with the GAA Player Pathway Framework that all teams within Ranelagh Gaels follow. Our aim is to develop each individual player appropriately along the pathways over time so that they can progress from Junior – Intermediate – Senior.

Becoming a volunteer coach with The Rockets is a life-changing thing to do. We are biased, but we think it is one of the best decisions you will ever make.

By becoming a Rockets coach, you will allow us to take a kid off the (long) waiting list and join Ranelagh Rockets. They will now have the opportunity to experience the sense of community, friendship, teamwork and, above all, the joy that happens every Saturday morning in Herzog Park.

In addition, you will provide a valuable social outlet for that Rocket’s parent/guardian – the chance for them to have a break, grab a cup of coffee and, crucially, catch up with other parents of children with additional needs in the local community, on a regular basis.

The kids that we coach are extraordinary – enthusiastic, excited, fun-loving, engaging and above all, unique. Each Rocket is special and deserves the chance to feel special, to feel welcome, to feel included.

We can’t make all those kids feel special without the coaches, so thank you for helping us do that for them.

Coaching with the Rockets is the most rewarding 45 minutes you can spend in a week – especially knowing that you can help make a real, positive difference to the kids, their parents, and their families..

Absolutely!

We coach on a 1:1 basis, meaning that every Rocket gets to know and trust their coach and that coach in turn can help each child develop, grow in confidence, learn new skills, and feel included as part of a team.

To provide 1:1 coaching for the kids, we always need more coaches. No experience necessary – energy and enthusiasm will go a long way and we provide all the support you will need to get you up and running even if you have never played football, coached in any capacity, or worked with children with additional needs before (as is the case with most of our coaches).

There are two official requirements before starting as a Rockets coach. You must:

1) complete an online Garda vetting process

2) attend a child safeguarding and protection course If you would like more information about becoming a coach with The Ranelagh Rockets, please contact Stuart Banks (087 370 7012) or Colm Gilmore (087 160 0808).

We never knew that one football team could change a life — until Teddy joined the Ranelagh Rockets. Finding a place where your child feels accepted and encouraged is a gift. For our son Teddy, that place is the Ranelagh Rockets every Saturday in Rathgar. From day one, all the coaches welcomed him with warmth and patience. Teddy’s confidence, social skills, and joy have grown beyond anything we imagined. Gaelic football has given him not just skills, but friendship, belonging, and pride. We are so grateful to the Rockets for creating such a positive, inclusive space where every child is valued. The coaches’ dedication and the team’s spirit are truly something special.
Edwina (Parent)

We were lucky enough to join Rockets in its early days, and it has become such an important part of Eoin’s weekly routine. He literally skips in! There is a wonderful sense of community and friendship, and the dedication of the coaches and organisers is truly inspirational. They are ambitious for each and every child, while creating a no pressure environment. Something truly special happens in Herzog Park every Saturday morning, and we are so grateful to be part of it.
Marie (Parent)

Joining the Rockets as a volunteer/coach has been one of the most rewarding things I have done. My kids were Ranelagh Gaels players when they were younger and I loved the sense of community that came with being involved in the club. To be accepted as someone who could help the players with additional needs has been a privilege and an honour.Once I step onto the pitch on a Saturday morning, I immediately am part of a group of players, parents and coaches that are bursting with positivity, camaraderie, and enthusiasm. To then see the progress of the Rockets players week after week is truly rewarding. It has become the focal point of my weekend and I feel very lucky to be involved.
Robert (Coach)

The Rockets is not just about sport, it’s about belonging. Saturday morning is the high point of the week for my son and everyone in the household really enjoys being part of the wonderful Ranelagh Rockets community.
Bríd (Parent)

Ranelagh Rockets has given my little boy a chance to be part of a sports team and a wonderful, welcoming community. It took him 5 weeks to actually go in through the gate and now he runs in every week happily. It has been an opportunity for him to learn new skills and play a sport in an accepting, welcoming environment. Ranelagh Rockets offers an environment and space for so many children to engage in meaningful sports activities with their peers. This would not happen without the dedication and commitment of a wonderful team of coaches and volunteers.
Fiona (Parent)

I started as a coach with Ranelagh Rockets when it first began back in September 2020. I remember it was a nervous start for all of us, as no-one knew what to expect: kids, parents, or coaches! It is now one of my favourite things I do every week. It has been brilliant to see the kids’ skills and confidence grow each week and to be a part of that. The parents are really encouraging, and the coaches are an amazing team. It is great fun for all involved and the kids arrive with smiles on their faces every week. A great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Ciara (Coach)

The Rockets have been a wonderful part of our weekends for many years. Every Saturday morning, Jonathan bounces out of bed, full of excitement to get to training. Rain or shine, each session is filled with joy and fun — something I look forward to just as much as he does. We have seen huge benefits for Jonathan: his coordination, skills, and social interactions have all developed enormously. The training is thoughtfully structured, providing a supportive environment where every player can grow while having fun. We are so grateful to the Rockets for the positive impact they have had on Jonathan’s life — and ours.

Brian (Parent)

The Ranelagh Rockets have been a real game changer for our child and family. We had tried several other clubs and sports and they just didn’t work out. From the moment our little boy started at The Rockets, he has loved every minute. It is the most wonderful thing to see your child feel like they belong – which we have never experienced before. The one-2-one coaching is super and he progresses in his own time, at his own speed, and I suspect the jellies help in keeping him coming back also!! Our little boy now has his first proper friendship group, he is accepted as he is, and celebrated by the amazing coaches and volunteers. We feel very lucky to be part of the Rockets!
Ian (Parent)

Max was lucky enough to be one of the first 6 kids involved when The Rockets first began. Max’s ball skills have come on so much thanks to the training sessions and this has been really helpful for Max engaging with his peers in the yard. It has also become a very practical OT break during school where himself and another kid can kick a ball around together. The Rockets family has grown so much since the launch, but the organising team has continued with the same thoughtfulness and dedication that it started with. Rockets is so much more than just ball skills though. It has meant so much to us as a family to feel so included in a community that is so welcoming and supportive and where the kids and parents (and coaches!) are guaranteed to have a bit of fun. I can honestly say it is one of our favourite parts of our week and we never miss a session.

Renaith (Parent)