Two under 12 teams, representing Ballymahon National School and Ballymore National School participated in a symbolic football match this week to mark the launch of a unique initiative aimed at reactivating Gaelic games in Argentina.
The areas of Ballymahon and Ballymore in particular were affected by a wave of emigration to Argentina from the end of the famine right up to the 1930s. Some 30,000 Irish emigrants travelled to Argentina, resulting in the South American country providing the unlikely home to the fifth largest Irish community in the world.
An initiative has been launched by private equity firm Capital Securities Corporation, in conjunction with the GAA, Midlands Gateway Chamber, the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society, and Athlone Institute of Technology to reactivate Gaelic games in the hurling club at Buenos Aires.
The symbolic match, which took place at AIT on Wednesday, began with focus on the children from the Irish community of Argentina, as respected Longford referee Derek Fahy passed around the match football which the children autographed and included their age and school. This ball will be sent out to Argentina in February, when a Gaelic Games Summer Camp will instruct 240 Argentinian children and teenagers in the fundamental skills of Gaelic football and hurling.
Captain of the Ballymore team, 11-year-old Eoin Ryan, put into context the importance of the initiative from a local and international perspective. “We have been learning all about the Irish emigrants who travelled over to Argentina about a hundred years ago. Gaelic games were very important to them but now they play more rugby and hockey than any other sport. I think it’s a good idea to teach children Gaelic skills, it doesn’t matter where they are from, they’ll probably love it as much as me and all my friends do.”
The two teams braved very cold and foggy conditions on the outdoor astro-turf pitch at AIT. Both teams made a very good effort, with the two captains Eoin Ryan and Ballymahon’s Danielle O’Neil providing their respective classmates plenty of encouragement. In the end it was Ballymore’s day and the team celebrated their 4-6 to 3-5 victory.
Support was proffered to the footballers in the form of a large contingent of parents, as well as the teachers of the two respective classes involved. Representatives of Capital Securities Corporation and AIT were on the sidelines to offer encouragement, along with much needed refreshments.
The match was part of a launch which took place officially at AIT on Wednesday and during which the participants of the match were formally thanked.
Guest speakers included investment director of CSC Pauric McShea, Chairperson of LWAS Mary Egan, and GAA expert and writer Eugene McGee. The event was officially launched by Mary Coughlan, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
