After much planning and preparations by a diligent and hard working committee, Southern Gaels will celebrate a milestone moment with a hurling festival week in recognition of the club’s founding in 1973.
Events commence on Saturday, June 17, with the John Maher Cup. This is an adult tournament with Southern Gaels hosting the Civil Service form Dublin at 6.30pm in Pairc Chiaráin. The game will be followed by a BBQ in The Bounty at 8.30pm with music until late. Tickets are €10 and all are welcome.
A Family Fun Day for all takes place in Pairc Chiaráin from 3pm-5pm on Sunday, June 18. It will be followed at 6pm by an U17 hurling tournament where the club’s recently crowned league Champions will play a team from Offaly.
Monday, June 19, sees the hosting of a road hurling competition. This involves teams hitting a sliotar along the road from Coosan School to Coosan Point and back again with the winning team being the one that completes the course in the fewest strikes. Family teams are welcome to play. Proceedings begin at 7pm.
The Frank Young (Under 11 ) and the John Martin (Under 15 ) hurling tournaments take place in Pairc Chiaráin on Tuesday, June 20, from 6.30pm. The Army Band will also give a recital in Pairc Chairáin from 7.30pm in what promises to be a great evening of entertainment.
A Junior Talent Show takes pride pf place in Pairc Chiaráin on Thursday, June 22, from 7pm, followed at 9.30pm by a Pop Up Gealtacht. This will feature music, singing, ceol, caint agus craic and all should have an enjoyable cultural night. All musicians are welcome to attend.
Athlone Golf Club is the location for a golf scramble event on Friday, June 23, with tee times from 11am-2pm. Booking is available from Gerry Brennan who can be contacted on 087 2323307 with prizegiving to take place in The Olive Bar from 9.30pm.
Friday also sees the hosting of camogie tournaments, the Under 10 Corcoran Cup and an adult camogie game. There will be hurling with the Artie Pyke Cup (Under 13 ) and the Darren O’Donnell Trophy (Under 9 ) tournaments. All of these games will take place in Pairc Chiaráin from 6.30pm with the adult camogie commencing at 8pm.
Finally, on Saturday, June 24, the hurling festival week will conclude with a Gala Dinner Dance from 7pm in the Sheraton Hotel at which Larry McCarthy, GAA President, will be in attendance. An exciting night will be in store to close the week of activities.
There will be a book on the club’s history specially commissioned for the occasion on sale for €10 with a hurling museum open in Athlone Town Centre during the week of celebrations.
All are welcome to attend any of the week’s activities. Bookings for the BBQ and Dinner Dance can be made through Kevin Jordan who can be contacted on 087 7989941.
Thanks to all those who have helped to arrange, sponsor, organise and volunteer to run the activities during the coming week.
Camogie
Camogie continues to flourish and grow in the first year the club has entered teams. The Under 8s attended a blitz in St Oliver Plunkett’s, Mullingar, last weekend. Castletown Geoghegan and the host club were also in attendance. The girls played three Go Games and had a wonderful morning of camogie Well done to all.
The Under 14s played a challenge against Drumraney last Saturday and enjoyed a great game. Their standard is continually improving and all are looking forward to the championship which starts next month.
