English boys in Feile action in Swatragh
Hertfordshire GAA will be one of the sides taking part in Saturday’s Feile in Swatragh and Saffron Gael caught up with their team and management after an overnight stay in Co. Antrim.
The Hertfordshire side flew into Dublin on Friday night and made the trip to Antrim where they were greeted by Slemish Barn owner Maeve Bird and suitably catered for by local woman, Cecilia McDermott.
The Hertfordshire team chose Slemish Barn, in Aughafatten for their stopover prior to their pickup on Saturday morning and the relatively short journey to the Co. Derry venue where they will be taking part in division 5 of the football Feile.
The Hertfordshire side is made up of players from St. Vincent’s, St. Dympna’s, St. Colmcille’s and Eire Og and Keith Jackman, Community Development Officer for the county brought me up to date on the state of Gaelic games in the English County.
Keith visits schools in the county to coach Gaelic games and tells me that they have upwards on 350 children participating in the coaching sessions.
The panel who will be taking part in Saturday’s session at Swatragh are made up entirely of English born boys, an indication of the growth of our games across the sea.
Amongst the management party was Rebecca Carroll, the Hertfordshire Feile Co-ordinator who has been in the post for 16 years and her enthusiasm for her job and her knowledge has been a major factor in development in the county.
John Gaughan and Tony Crawley made up the backroom team accompanying Hertfordshire and they have promised to keep the saffron Gael updated on today’s Feile proceedings.
