Month / February 2024

by thesaffrongael

From Feystown to the Big Apple

History will be made in May of this year for Shane Uí Neills of Glenarm when their Senior team and Junior teams, along with club referee Pete Hyndman, club members and some fans make the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to compete in two hurling games against clubs from New York. The first game will be played on Friday 6th May, in the iconic venue “Gaelic Park” in the heart of the Bronx. The hosts will be a New York Junior Select Team.

On the Saturday the group will enjoy a trip round some of the site’s round New York. Sunday will see the hurlers and entourage make their way across the city to Orangeburg, in Rockland County to face home club Rockland GAA. After the game there will be refreshments and craíc, and a lot of stories to be told with our American cousins!!   On the Monday we return to Ireland with memories to keep and new friends forever.                                                                                                                                                              The trip was the brainchild of ex-Shane Uí Neill player, Kevin Mc Kay who left the green of Ireland in 2001, to the hustle and bustle of New York!! 

Kevin started hurling for our club when he was 12. Here is Kevin’s story.               

Alex Emerson was my first coach at St John’s PS in Carnlough. I inevitably began playing underage hurling for Shane O Neills Glenarm, our local club.

Nicky English would have been the player back then I most admired and I practiced every day to be like him as a child.

I played in the 1995 Intermediate County final at Casement Park and that same year represented Antrim Minors who where narrowly beaten by Kilkenny in the All Ireland semi finals at Croke Park.

Club honours followed in 1998 with winning the Intermediate County Final and also the same year Captaining Antrim U21 to an Ulster Championship and another narrow defeat to Cork in the All Ireland Semi Finals at Parnell Park.

In 2001 I left the Glens of Antrim to play hurling for a summer in New York for the Kilkenny club based in the Bronx. I met  a lot of great people there and little did I know it at the time but I was never to live back in Ireland again.

Unfortunately a few years later that Kilkenny NY club had to fold so I transferred to Offaly NY again playing with fantastic team mates.  I won the New York Championship in 2006 and 2007, also receiving a New York Hurling Allstar award in those years.

I represented New York hurling in the years of 2002 through 2006 and actually played against Antrim and formed team mates and friends in a Senior Ulster Final between New York and Antrim played in Boston, because so many of the New York panel that year were illegal to travel in and out of the USA!

My hurling career finished up around 2013 and now I coach my sons team with my local club in the suburbs of New York called Rockland GAA.

I continue to be active in GAA circles and keep a close eye on club and county results and achievements.

Our son Conall has actually represented New York as well in the 2023 U15 Hurling Feile held in Galway.

I met Emily who is a native New Yorker from Irish decent in 2002. We were friends for a while before started dating and eventually got married in 2004.

We have 3 amazing children together, Hannah (18), Conall (16) and Kiera (12) who are proud of their Irish connection.

I trained as a joiner before I left Ireland and continued with that industry when in New York.

I began my own Carpentry and General Contracting business in 2013 called: An Trim Inc.

Custom Carpentry and General Contracting and continue working at this today.

It’s very exciting to be able to host the Shane O Neill’s trip to New York in May and I’ll feel very proud to watch my boyhood club represent themselves and Antrim hurling at Gaelic Park, New York while also playing a game against my current club Rockland GAA a few days later.

This is a clear definition of how unique and important the Gaelic culture is when living abroad yet can combine these clubs for the common reason of sport and comradely. Kevin also is donating towards the trip to N.Y. along with fellow Gael Sean Mc Mullan who is living in North Wildwood, New Jersey.

Sean is the owner of The Anglesea Pub in North Wildwood, he is sponsoring a shirt for the fixtures during the trip. The club also thank Henry Dobbin for a generous donation.

Keep an eye on the Shane O’Neill’s Facebook for further news on the trip.

by thesaffrongael

Wolfe Tones want to hear from anyone who has memories of the old club

Greencastle Wolfe Tones GAC are very keen to hear from anyone who has any memories of the old club prior to it folding in 1971.

As you’ll know, Wolfe Tones was based in the Greencastle area between North Belfast and Newtownabbey for around 40 years. Unfortunately, the club folded in the early 1970s as the conflict took hold.

Nevertheless, since the re-establishment in 2019, the club has been able to call on former players and members who have shared their stories about the old club. We’ve been able to piece together that the club won the 1950 Junior Hurling Championship, just as this year the Greencastle men will retake to the hurling field.

But it’s now more than 50 years since the old club played it’s final game, and whilst other clubs are celebrating their centenaries and other major milestones, that history of the GAA is in danger of being lost to living memory in this part of County Antrim.

Anyone, even from other clubs, with any memory of the old Wolfe Tone GA&CC is urged to get in touch by emailing pro.wolfetones.antrim@gaa.ie  

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel’s Caitrin Dobbin on Camogie Club Team of the Year

AIB, proud sponsor of the Camogie Club Championships has today announced the players selected for the 2023 AIB Camogie Club Championships team of the year. An unforgettable season unfolded in 2023 featuring some matches where underdogs stood tall and old stalwarts showed us why they so often claim the biggest prizes in what was a fantastic season of AIB Camogie Club Championships action. The team of the year features players from all four provincial champions and is a testament to the brilliant Camogie played throughout the length and breadth of Ireland this season. The players selected will receive their awards on March 2nd in Croke Park and the AIB Camogie Club Championships player of the year will be announced on the night.

Following their All-Ireland success, Dicksboro have been awarded eight places on the team of the year. It was a year of firsts for the Kilkenny club as they claimed their maiden Leinster title when they overcame St. Vincents of Dublin, and they followed this success with a victory over Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks of Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final before toppling the defending All-Ireland champions, Sarsfields (Galway) in the All-Ireland final. The Galway club have been awarded five places on the team of the year, having claimed a fourth county title in a row this season and defeating their namesakes Sarsfields of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final before falling just short in the final. Sarsfields (Cork) and Loughiel Shamrocks have both been awarded one place each on the team of the year, having claimed provincial glory in Munster and Ulster respectively.

The 2023 AIB Camogie Club Championships team of the year features Kirsty Maher (Dicksboro) in goal with Jane Cass (Dicksboro), Laura Ward (Sarsfields, Galway) and Katie Byrne (Dicksboro in the full back line. Half backs include Tara Kenny (Sarsfields, Galway), Maria Cooney (Sarsfields, Galway) and Ciara Phelan (Dicksboro) while Sarah Spellman (Sarsfields, Galway) and Aobha O’Gorman (Dicksboro) occupy the midfield positions. The half forwards comprise of Asha McHardy (Dicksboro), Amy Clifford (Dicksboro) and Lucy Allen (Sarsfields, Cork) with Aoife Prendergast (Dicksboro), Siobhan McGrath (Sarsfields, Galway) and Caitrin Dobbin (Loughgiel Shamrocks) in the full forward line.

AIB Chief Marketing Officer, Mark Doyle said: “AIB is delighted to join the Camogie Association in honouring the achievements of these players at the AIB Camogie club player awards, following another fantastic season of the AIB Camogie Club Championships. The awards recognise the talent, determination and commitment these players have shown this season and over many years to achieve this success for their clubs. In 2023 AIB celebrated our 11th year supporting the Camogie club championships and we look forward to continuing this support in 2024 and beyond. We would like to sincerely congratulate all the players who have so proudly represented their communities and look forward to honouring them at the awards this Saturday in Croke Park.”

Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta, Hilda Breslin added: “The 2023 AIB Camogie Club Championships were a fantastic showcase of talent and determination on the display throughout the season. All four provinces are represented on the team of the year which is a testament to the quality of Camogie displayed across the island of Ireland. On behalf of the Camogie Association, I would like to congratulate all the players who have represented their club this year with such pride and honour, and to those who have been named on the team of the year. We look forward to welcoming you all to Croke Park this Saturday evening to mark your achievements over the past season.”

To keep up to date with the AIB Camogie club championships, and for exclusive content from this year’s AIB Camogie club player awards, follow @AIB_GAA on Twitter and Instagram, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AIBGAA.

2023 AIB Camogie Club Championships Team of the Year

  1. Kirsty Maher (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  2. Jane Cass (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  3. Laura Ward (Sarsfields, Galway)
  4. Katie Byrne (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  5. Tara Kenny (Sarsfields, Galway)
  6. Maria Cooney (Sarsfields, Galway)
  7. Ciara Phelan (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  8. Sarah Spellman (Sarsfields, Galway)
  9. Aobha O’ Gorman (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  10. Asha McHardy (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  11. Amy Clifford (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  12. Lucy Allen (Sarsfields, Cork)
  13. Aoife Prendergast (Dicksboro, Kilkenny)
  14. Siobhan McGrath Sarsfields, Galway)
  15. Caitrin Dobbin (Loughgiel Shamrocks, Antrim)
by thesaffrongael

Criostái’s Heroes new jersey launch

The Connolly family have launched a new Jersey to help raise funds for the continued treatment their 16 year old son in America!

Criostái was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2013 this is a life limiting muscle wasting condition that has left Criostai a full time wheelchair user and effects all aspects of his life and his family’s life! For the last 2 years Leona and Art Connolly travel to America every 16 weeks for life changing treatment for their son at a cost of $12,000 every trip!

Jersey sponsors Shane Deery and Gareth Connolly

They are extremely grateful for the support of Criostái’s Heroes ambassadors

Paul Boyle, Enda Og McGarry, Stephen McAuley, Katie McKillop, Maria Lynn and Roisin McCormick

The new jerseys are sponsored by Shane Dreery SD plumbing and heating and Garath Connolly SDE painting and Decorating

By the way the Criostai’s Heroes jerseys can only be purchased through their Facebook page

Criostái’s gofundme page link

https://www.gofundme.com/f/life-changing-treatment-for-criostai?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

by thesaffrongael

P6 & 7 pupils show their skills at Dunloy GAA Academy

P6 & 7 pupils enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of fun games last week at the Dunloy GAA Academy. The games were organized by the NA Cumann na mBunscol committee and delivered by Gaelfast coaches Dominic McKinley, Paul Law, and Conor McKenna. More than eighty children showed off their hurling, camogie and football skills in an inclusive, non-competitive environment with the firm focus on friendship and fun! Everyone enjoyed the day and are really looking forward to the next Fun Games session later in the year.  Thanks to the Gaelfast coaches for their work planning and delivering the games and to Dunloy GAC for the use of their excellent facilities.