GAA Feile this weekend

This coming weekend Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July, Kilcullen GAA welcomes team Coralstown/Kinnegad from Co Westmeath to Féile Peil na nÓg Chill Dara 2009.

Féile Peil na nÓg is a national festival of Gaelic football for boys and girls under 14 years of age. Each year approximately 30,000 boys and girls from each of the 32 counties, and some teams from the UK, Europe and USA, participate in Féile. A preliminary competition is held in each county for the right to represent the county at the Féile finals. The winning club then travels to the host county which is Kildare 2009, where the players and mentors are hosted by all GAA clubs in the county. This great event emphasises the importance on team participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship.

The inaugural Féile Peil na nÓg took place in Cavan in 1982 with 25 visiting teams, representing 21 counties. This year Feile Chill Dara look forward to welcoming over 160 teams, their mentors, families and supporters, from every county of Ireland, especially our overseas participants. Féile has grown over the years and is without doubt one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.

It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of football among the youth of our country. This weekend in Kildare promises matches of great drama and quality, played in a fantastic spirit with unrivalled hospitality. This is only possible thanks to the many volunteers, parents, mentors, GAA clubs and especially host families throughout Kildare for their time and effort in preparing for Féile Chill Dara.

Kilcullen GAA club have the pleasure of hosting a boys Feile team this year from Co Westmeath, but in previous Feile competitions we hosted teams from St Brendan’s from London in 1987 and St Loman’s from Westmeath in 1988.

The Feile team will be presented with their new gear this coming Thursday night at 7.30pm in the clubhouse.

On Friday 3rd, the events start at 1.30pm with the arrival of the hosted team from Coralstown/Kinnegad and the first game is at 2.45pm. At around 5pm both teams, mentors and supporters head over to Newbridge for the main parade.

On Saturday 4th the second round of games start at 9.30am until 12.30pm at the clubhouse. Also the Skills competition will be held at 11am, where each team in their division will put forward one player to test his skills.

All are welcome to come and be part of the buzz.

Jennifer Shortt.