With the new season under way and the Saffron Gael well into its second year of publication we again make an appeal for financial assistance. While this may not be a particularly busy time of the year for most clubs there has never the less been a lot of activity on the GAA scene and we have been there to cover it all.
Last weekend we had photographers and reporters in Croke Park and Parnell Park to cover St. Enda’s bid for All Ireland Intermediate glory and Ruairi Ogs heart breaking defeat to St. Thomas of Galway in the All Ireland Hurling club championship semi-final. The same weekend we carried coverage of Cross & Passion Camog’s success in the All Ireland semi-final
We have covered all of Antrim’s McKenna Cup and National football league games and all the county’s hurling games to date as well as Antrim ladies National football league games and the camogs opening game in division 2.
The Saffron Gael has carried coverage of all the games at Creggan Kickham’s-Bank of Ireland-Paddy McLarnon Cup and we were there on Sunday for an excellent final between winners Dromore and Carryduff.
This weekend we also covered the opening of Davitt’s excellent new facilities along with a host of other events including the North Antrim U8 Indoor finals and the Airborne indoor hurling which was played at two different venues.
All enjoyable but incurring considerable expense as well as being time consuming! Over the last two weekends we have had up to eight photographers and reporters working and all need paying for their time and travel expenses.
Views on the Saffron Gael site reached 2, 250,000 this weekend so it is obvious by viewing figures and indeed by what you tell us that it is extremely popular with Gaels within the county and much further afield.
Clubs, including those mentioned earlier in this article have been very generous but unfortunately some clubs have continued to ignore our appeal for financial help. If you think this venture is worth your support please have a word with your club and ask if they have donated.
We are fortunate to have some excellent sponsors and without them we could not have continued to grow but we still need more and if you feel your business would like to sponsor us go to the link on the site or contact John on 07885226348 or at john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk or Paddy on 07511111378 or at ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk.
You can also make a personal donation through the link on the Saffron Gael site and all donations are gratefully appreciated.
We look forward to seeing you at a game or an event linked to the GAA or Irish culture in the coming year and we will endeavour to cover as many events as possible as we continued in our quest to promote and develop Gaelic games and culture within the Saffron County.
JUST A FEW OF THE EVENTS WE COVERED THIS WEEKEND
Indoor Airborne Hurling 
Dromore’s Peter Teague lifts the Bank of Ireland-Paddy McLarnon Cup at Creggan 
North Antrim Indoor U8 Hurling at Ballymena Leisure Centre 
All Ireland Scor success 
Antrim’s Conor McHugh in action against Westmeath’s Shane Clavin and Robbie Greville during Sunday’s Allianz NHL Div 2A game at Corrigan Park. Pic by John McIlwaine