Developmental Stages of the PEAI

The main developments in Physical Education between 1964 - 1974 in Ireland were:

• Council of Europe courses to train teachers.
  
• Two female Physical Education Training Colleges in Ireland: St Raphael's College, Sion Hill, Ling College.
  
• Appointment of P.E. Inspector.
  
• Founding of the P.E.A.I.
  
• I.C.H.P.E.R. in Dublin.
  
• Irish students to Strawberry Hill.
  
• Primary and Post Primary Syllabi.
  
• Opening of N.C.P.E.
  

Despite its activities throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, the P.E.A.I. remained a small organisation. Its first president was Joe Lennon, a Gaelic football star and the first Irish man to obtain a higher degree in the newly emerging field of recreation management. Courses on the teaching of various physical activities were organised by the P.E.A.I and the association received an annual grant of £250 from the Department of Education.

During the years 1974 - 1984, the following Physical Education development may be noted:

• N.C.E.A. graduates.
  
• Appointment of 3 P.E. inspectors
  
• Employment of P.E. teachers
  
• Syllabus Committee
  
• Demise of P.E.A.I.
  

For the P.E.A.I it was a time of change. The need for greater professionalism became apparent. Reports to the executive were in writing, high standards were set in recording executive minutes. Greater contact between the various agencies involved with Physical Education and Sport were fostered.

The first of three National Conferences were organised. These conferences brought together the different Physical Education traditions and "it was a great credit to the exceptional organisational powers of Mr. Kieran Dowd that these conferences were a wonderful success" (Anne Donnelly, President P.E.A.I.), and thus brought many interested in the promotion of Health, Physical Education and Sport together.

However there were some tensions, notably how the new breed of degree holder with a teaching qualification in "two areas", would be accepted and accept those already existing in the profession. The Association of Lectures and Inspectors and Physical Education, (A.L.I.P.E.)

Many felt the P.E.A.I. needed a clearer focus and the number of members in the association fluctuated greatly from year to year.

In 1982, only twenty three members attended the A.G.M. of the association and at this time rather than disband the association a caretaker committee decided to adopt a holding policy. "This weekend's A.G.M. was the death of the annual meeting of the P.E.A.I."

The significant developments in Physical Education between 1984 - 1994 were:

• 'Draft' P.E. syllabus
  
• Revival of P.E.A.I.
  
• Annual 3 way conference
  
• Action Research Projects
  
• I.C.H.P.E.R. in Limerick
  
• N.C.C.A. Working Party
  
• N.C.C.A. Course Committee

Within twelve months the P.E.A.I. came back to life. "Its rebirth" - a conference held in the Imperial Hotel, Cork. 5th-7th October 1984, by the Physical Education Inspectors, Department of Education and the Inservice Education Department of Thomond College. On the last day of conference a meeting was held which resulted in the election of an executive committee of the P.E.A.I. The Chairperson (President) of the committee was Mr. Pat Duffy. For the next number of years Mr. Pat Duffy was to lead the P.E.A.I. as its President. This new committee revitalised the organisation in an impressingly inspiring manner. The Association grew from strength to strength. At the A.G.M. on the 8th October, 1989 in the Mount Brandon Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry, the President Mr. Duffy welcomed everyone and opened the meeting which would be an historical one as it was to see the P.E.A.I. becoming P.E.A.I. incorporated.

(Thanks to Anne Donnelly, Past President of the P.E.A.I. for collation of the above material).