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Féile Peile na nÓg - 2013
7th July 2013
Féile Peil na nOg is a national festival of Gaelic football for boys and girls under 14 years of age and has been running since 1982.
Each year approximately 50,000 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.
Féile Peil na nOg places great emphasis and importance on participation and sportsmanship. Féile involves players, mentors, coaches, committee, clubs, families and community. It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of Gaelic games among the youth of our country. Féile Peil na nOg helps to bond communities, forge friendships, provide educational opportunities and unearth new leaders.
County Derry currently being the cultural hub of the country had the great privilege of hosting this competition for the second time in four years. Similar to 2010, St.Mary's GAC accepted the offer from Doire Féile Peil na nÓg organising committee to host a team. County Sligo club Eastern Harps were chosen to be Rasharkin’s visitors and what a choice they turned out to be.
Doire Féile Peil na nÓg graded St.Mary's into Boys Division 4 along with Eastern Harps, North Derry club Slaughmanus hosted proceedings on Saturday with Westmeath Champions St Lomans completing the foursome.
The first game for Rasharkin was against Eastern Harps at Dreen on Friday 28th June. The game got underway slightly later than scheduled, but the time delay didn’t hinder our new Sligo visitors from an impressive performance. St.Mary’s were always going to have an uphill struggle in this Division but what they lacked in the scoring stakes they more than compensated in endeavour and determination.
The two teams and management then headed for the club rooms for some well-earned refreshments where sandwiches and tea were served up by an army of kitchen staff. The two coaches then pulled out for the traditional Feile parade in Derry city which was very well attended by St.Mary’s supporters and proud parents. The coaches stopped at Faughanvale as they were then ferried into Celtic Park where they joined the procession. The parade started at Celtic Park and made its way to Guild Hall Square via Lonemore Road, Lecky Road, The Diamond and Shipquay Street, where Uachtaran Liam O’Neill awarded team captains a Feile Crest. Pól Hardy collected for Rasharkin before everyone then made their way back to the bus for the journey home.
Both teams left for Slaughmanus on Saturday morning to take on St Lomans and Slaughmanus. Unfortunately neither team progressed any further in the competition but both did their respective clubs proud. A remarkable highlight of the weekend was the guard of honour by Eastern Harps players and mentors for Rasharkin following their last game against St Lomans, an honourable gesture which was greatly accepted.
Both teams and management, along with parents and host families met for Mass in St.Mary’s Church Rasharkin. A special mentor belongs to Fr Johnny Murray who as usual came up with the perfect sentiments for the occasion. Everyone then made their way to the Wild Duck Portglenone to conclude the evening with a delicious meal and entertainment. Mementos and gifts were exchanged from both clubs and everyone agreed that it might not have been successful on the playing field but it certainly was successful in terms of camaraderie, participation and making good friends.
The weekend didn’t end there as the teams met on Sunday morning to partake in a novel select game involving both clubs at Dreen before our newfound friends treated us to Sunday lunch.
This event simply wouldn’t have been the success it was without the hard work from both clubs, Rasharkin chairman Michael Hardy and Eastern Harps chairman Padraig Henry are to be acknowledged for their leadership and delegation. St Marys Rasharkin wish to thank Eastern Harps mentors, parents and supporters for their part in making this competition a weekend that will be etched in the memories of so many round Rasharkin. The young players of both teams are to be commended for their attitude, sportsmanship and support for each other.
Féile Officer Paddy Kelly is to be thanked for his tireless work along with his organising committee and fellow mentors Brendan Etherson, Dominic McFerran and Frankie O’Neill in the smooth running of the entire weekend. Ciaran Hasson and Dominic Kelly are to be recognised for their photography of the events (see website for photos www.rasharkingac.ie), the host families are also to be thanked for their hospitality in catering for the Co Sligo visitors, the referees who controlled the games, the sandwich makers and tea ladies who played a vital roll throughout the weekend, the bus drivers, the grounds men who as always put in the effort and did the club proud. Anyone who helped the club in any way please accept our appreciation.
