John West continues its sponsorship of the GAA’s U15 annual Féile Peile na nÓg (football ) and Féile na nGael (camogie and hurling ) competitions until 2025.
It will also continue its partnership with SuperValu to promote John West Féile in stores, in addition to a nutrition programme for young Gaelic footballers, camogie players and hurlers in Galway.
The competition, which is one of the biggest underage sporting events in Europe, will hold its finals this year at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence at Bekan, Co Mayo. The John West Féile na nGael finals will be played on Saturday, June 24, with the Féile Peile na nÓg finals taking place on Saturday, July 1.
To coincide with the launch of John West Féile 2023 at Croke Park, the company said its ‘Eat Strong Go Strong’ strength and resilience through natural nutrition message is part of a campaign to build awareness among young athletes of how and when to refuel, particularly before and after matches and training.
Developed in partnership with expert dieticians who are key opinion leaders in the nutrition field, John West said its high-quality natural protein products help optimise the physical growth and development of young players.
Regional finals in all four codes for counties outside of division one will also take place on the last Saturday in June (Féile na nGael ) and the first Saturday of July (Féile Peile na nÓg ), at venues nationwide.
John West Féile Peile na nÓg county competitions will be played over the weekend of April 15-16 with Féile na nGael county competitions taking place over May 6-7.
The importance of how and when young athletes refuel was stressed as John West Féile 2023 was launched at Croke Park by Féile Ambassadors and inter-county stars – Hurler of the Year Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick ), Galway’s Paul Conory (Gaelic football ), Meath All-Ireland winning captain Shauna Ennis (ladies’ football ) and Kilkenny’s Grace Walsh (camogie ).
Leading sports dietician, Noreen Roche, who has been involved with numerous All-Ireland winning teams, said nutrition intake before and after matches and training is critical to the physical growth and development of young athletes.
“Proteins are the building blocks within the body responsible for maintenance and repair of tissue, while leucine is used by skeletal muscles to provide energy during exercise. Proper fuelling before and after matches and training is key to optimising the physical growth and development of young athletes.”
This is the eighth year of John West’s sponsorship of Féile, which brings together thousands of young hurlers, camogie players and Gaelic footballers in a celebration of the GAA’s community ethos through underage competition.
Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy, said John West Féile is an integral part of the GAA calendar.
“It nurtures an enthusiasm for our games, where friendships and memories are made,” he said.
“Generations have experienced the joy of being a part of Féile na nGael and Féile Peil na nÓg, and I look forward to seeing this tradition continue this year.
Féile na nGael has been in existence since 1971, while Féile Peile na nÓg will mark 41 years this year. Last year, 170 club sides, comprising 4,000 players, participated in the John West national finals in Dublin and Meath.
Aaron Graham of Whitehall Colmcille with John West Féile 2023 Ambassador Paul Conroy of Galway at Croke Park. John West, sponsors of the GAA’s under-15 annual Féile Peile na nÓg (football ) and Féile na nGael (camogie and hurling ) announced details of its innovative nutrition programme for young athletes. The company also revealed the extension of its Féile sponsorship until 2025 and a partnership with SuperValu to promote John West Féile in stores across the country. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
