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| June Edition 2007 |
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Schools GAA |
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Festival Fever Returns to Birmingham By Brian Roberts Feile
Peile International 2007, was held in Birmingham on Friday 1st,
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June. |
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| The impressive line up of GAA giants from Ireland, included Eire Og from Carlow, Ratoath of Meath, Ballymum Kickhams of Dublin, Portlaoise Ladies from Laois and many many more. The Feile Peile International also had plenty of home grown talent on display with teams from Lancashire, Hertford-shire, Yorkshire, Scotland, London as well as host county War-wickshire. GAA of Ireland President Nickey Brennan spoke recently at the launch of the event- ‘The weekend is the culmination of much hard work and organisation on the part of the GAA in Britain’. He added, ‘Since the Féile was first held three years ago, the competition has continued to grow and this year 33 teams from across Britain and Ireland participated. I sincerely hope that the boys and girls who will take to the field enjoy themselves thoroughly and that initiatives such as this will encourage young players to progress to play our games in Britain’. | ||||
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| Backed
by the overseas unit in GAA headquarters in Croke Park, Dublin
and leading Gaelic sportswear specialist O’Neill’s,
Feile Peile International kicked off on the evening of the Friday
for visiting Irish teams and local Warwickshire sides with an official
reception led by GAA President of Britain John Gormley and a host
of local sports stars at the Irish Centre in Digbeth. Special guests
from Ireland were on hand to launch an official welcome to teams
from Britain on Saturday at 11.00am before teams took to the field.
After a full day of competition, host clubs from around the midlands
extended a warm Brummie hospitality with a series of social events
for visiting Irish and British teams. GAA Players also had the chance to put their individual skills to the test when they competed in the skills competition. Skills comp-etition qualifying rounds took place on Saturday before group winners come head to head for the Feile Peile International skills finals and team knock-out championship and shield competitions on Sunday morning. The girls and boys finals began at 3.00pm followed by the closing ceremony at 4.00pm. At the closing ceremony of the Féile Peile International 2007, Brian Roberts thanked the 25 Year 10 and 11 students from Bishop Challoners who had acted as Field Marshals, umpires and assistant referees. He also thanked Seán Shore who looked after the IT and scoring. Eddie O’Connor who ran the skills tournament was also thanked. The referees for the weekend were Martin Langan, Michael Donovan, Martin Coen, Eoin Reynolds, Michael Hayden and Michael Quigley. Facilities and staff at the university playing grounds were praised as were mentors and parents of all the team members. Brendan O’Brien, Mentor of the Tullamore Ladies complimented the organisation of the event and the welcome they received from the organisers and the host families and clubs who looked after them, fed and transported them. Seamus McGarry from the Ireland Fund of GB said that the future of the GAA in Britain was on the field before him, that the organisation was in good hands – he congratulated all participants. John Gormley, President of the Provincial Council in Britain, thanked the organisers and the people who came along to support the event. He thanked the teams from Ireland and the respect they showed to GAA in Britain. Their expertise showed what the British-based teams could aspire to. He hoped that the young people have had a good time and made friends as that is what GAA is about. He hopes that there will be 40 teams taking part next year. |
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