As a young boy or girl in national school growing up around Corofin and Belclare, the most important competition in Gaelic football was the renowned Raftery Cup.
I remember playing with Belclare NS and being hugely disappointed when we did not win the competition, despite reaching a number of semi-finals and one final.
Nevertheless, all those enjoyable games, including victories and losses, steel you for the competitions to come, and more importantly foster a love for GAA that never leaves you. It has been that way for a life time.
This evening the Corofin GAA club and the Raftery family will celebrate a significant milestone with the 70th anniversary of the esteemed Raftery Cup competition.
John T Raftery presented the Raftery Cup to the Corofin club in 1947 to promote Gaelic football among the national school children of the parish and it has been an annual highlight ever since.
Generations of local families have taken part and many Corofin and Galway players, past and present, have been introduced to Gaelic football through the competition before going on to represent their club and county at all levels.
This year's finals are down for decision this evening (May 25 ) in the Corofin GAA pitch with six games, including schools and teams with different numbers of players such as Ballinderry, Belclare, Castlehackett, Sylane, Annaghill, St Colman's, Cummer and Currandrum.
Each year the Corofin club, with the help and cooperation of the national school principals and teachers, run off the competition during the months of April and May. Seven schools take part involving more than 300 children.
The Raftery family has been serving the community of Corofin with seven generations having worked in the family business. And they are very proud of their long association with Corofin GAA Club, and in particular the Raftery Cup competition.
