Cluichí na gCarad. The Dublin-Antrim Friendship Games. 1932-2023.
A glorious June day welcomed the travelling hordes from the capital as the Dublin schools select teams arrived to do battle with their Antrim counterparts in what was the 91st edition of the ‘Friendship Games’ between Dublin and Belfast/Antrim primary schools. Dating back to 1932 when the first games took place in McCrory Park Belfast followed in 1933 to the first return games in Croke Park the games have been restored to their brilliant best in recent years. There was a great buzz in the air as the teams arrived in the same parish as the first games, when the Dublin juggernaut arrived in Corrigan Park, only a few hundred yards away from McCrory Park where the inaugural games took place. The day was opened by organiser in Chief and Cumann na mBunscol Aontroma, all-county secretary Paudie Shivers as he commenced proceeedings by thanking his organising committee and welcoming the visit of Dublin.
The day commenced with Amhrán na bhFiann echoing through the Whiterock and Ballymurphy skies as Bunscoil Phobal Feirste music teacher Ciara McElheran sang the National Anthem. Then it was game on! All codes were catered for as the Dublin Handballers commenced battle against the Antrim select at the fantastic Gort na Móna facility where multiple All-Ireland, World senior champion as well as Ulster GAA Handball Development officer Fiona Shannon officiated proceedings.
On the hallowed turf of Corrigan Park at the same time, the Antrim boys crossed swords or Camáns with their Dublin counterparts as the boys hurling select teams then battled it out. Then it was the chance of the boys’ footballers followed by the Camógs and Girls footballers of both counties. A brilliant day of GAA was had and the standard of play across all codes was a joy to behold and a great credit to the work going on in the schools and clubs of Baile Átha Cliath and Aontroim.
Top class officiating from Antrim GAA top referees Brendan Toland and Sean Elliot ensured a great flow to games as the action was end to end with never more than a score or two between the teams. But the real focus of the day was maintaining and strengthening the wonderful historical links between Ireland’s two biggest cities and building friendships for life as we already look forward to next year’s visit to Dublin and Croke Park.
Indeed whilst the tremendous venue of Corrigan Park was the perfect setting and facility for this year’s games, it continues to be the aspiration of Cumann na mBunscol Aontroma that the future friendship games, particularly with centenary games approaching in 2032, be held at a state of the art Casement Park and we look forward with great hope and excitement to this being realised soon.
Many people and organisations work in tandem to help ensure a brilliant day was had by our young Gaels and all-county chairperson Seán McManus brought the day to a close heaping praise and special thanks to the various groups who helped make the day special, including, Naomh Eoin CLG, Colin Glen Leisure Facility, Black’s Road Dome facility who provided additional activities for our visitors between games and a huge go raibh maith agat also went to the Balmoral Hotel for the exceptional hospitality, providing hot food and refreshments for all players and coaches/organisers and of course to Bourke Sports GAA equipment for their continued and generous ongoing sponsorship, as they continue to help promote primary school GAA in Antrim, determined to ensure that each player have their own custom made Antrim kit to play in during the games and to keep as a lifetime memory of the fantastic honour of representing their county. Go raibh mile maith agaibh a chairde.
The day also included a historical visit to McCrory Park, the site of the inaugural ‘Friendship Games’ in 1932. This visit was facilitated by Cardinal O’ Donnells GAC and arranged by Cumann na mBunscol Aontroma South West Chair and All-County committee member, Jim Brady, for the Dublin Cumann na mBunscol Committee members, who included Croke Park announcer and avid GAA Historian Jerry Grogan. Jerry’s voice can be heard over the tannoy at Croke Park each year during championship games when announcing teams, news, as well as addressing the crowds. Jerry met his match however as he was greeted by Joe McVeigh of O’Donnells, who updated Jerry and the committee members on the fascinating history of McCrory Park from 1932 to the present day and everything in between.
