GAA president Christy Cooney will officially launch Galway’s hosting of Feile na nGael 2011 in Loughrea this evening.
A host of local GAA stars will be attending the event at the Loughrea Hotel, and among the guest speakers are Cumann Camogiochta na nGael president Joan O’Flynn, Handball Association president Walter O’Connor, and Feile na nGael chairman Jerome Conway.
Members of the Galway senior hurling team will attend, including current All-Star Damien Hayes and Joe Canning, camogie All-Stars Sinead Cahalan, Orla Kilkenny and Ann-Marie Hayes, current All-Ireland and World champion handballers Martin Mulkerrins from Moycullen and Micheal Breathnachs Cianna Ni Churraoin, and former World champion Noel McHugh from Williamstown.
These stars of hurling, camogie and handball will be taking part in a question and answer session with the many feile under 14 players of 2011.
The All-Ireland club hurling and camogie trophies won by Clarinbridge and Killimor respectively will also be on display, along with the All-Ireland junior and senior trophies won by St Brigid’s Loughrea and the All-Ireland trophy won by Ballindereen.
The All-Ireland u-21 football championship trophy, won for the fourth time by Galway, will also be displayed.
The launch week starts with the national schools of the county being visited by the presidents of the GAA, camogie and handball associations along with some special guests and various players of the three feile codes.
Cosa Beoga, the traditional dance group from Abbeyknockmoy, will be providing dance and musical entertainment on the night.
Feile na nGael is the annual All-Ireland u-14 hurling, camogie and handball competition and it returns to Galway for the first time since 1993 - the fifth time Galway has hosted the event which takes place June 24 to 26.
