07 May 2014
Ulster GAA are delighted to be playing host to the GAA Féile na nGael finals in June.
Following competition commencing on Friday 20th June, and two Opening Ceremonies in Armagh and Owenbeg, Dungiven, the Finals will be held on Sunday 22nd June in Tyrone and Derry Centre's of Excellence at Garvaghy and Owenbeg respectively.
Féile na nGael is an international festival of under-age Hurling, Camogie and Handball for both boys and girls. The four-day tournament for Under-14s, will bring in tens of thousands of visitors to the Province from all over the island and beyond. The competition is sponsored by Bus Éireann. The Feile is expected to generate more than 10,000 overnight stays in the region and will generate approx £2 million for the local economy.
Each year as many as 25,000 people will visit this festival representing all of Ireland's 32 counties and overseas units such as London who also participate in this festival. When the preliminary competition is completed in each county, the winning club then travels to the Host County or Province where they are hosted by families and engage the host club in football games.
Since 1971 over one million boys and girls have participated in this great festival. The GAA Féile events have the primary objective of facilitating and enabling the personal, social and cultural development of young people. It also emphasises cultural and community activities, leadership and training through sport. It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of football among the youth of our country. It also has the full support of the GAA, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department of Education, Department of Education and Science, Irish Sports Council, Sport NI and other Government bodies and cultural agencies.
Feile places great emphasis and importance on proper participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship. It reaches throughout the nation by involving the whole community – clubs, schools, social and cultural groups, Gardaí, PSNI bands, civic and religious authorities and families. It helps to bond communities, forge friendships, provide educational opportunities in addition to enhancing participation in both Camogie and Hurling at Club level.
Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney highlighted that hosting the Finals has been part of Ulster GAA's ongoing Hurling Development Plan:
"Securing Feile na Gael for two consecutive years in Ulster has been a long term goal of our Hurling Development Committee. Ulster GAA are investing significant time and resources into the development of Hurling and Camogie at youth level and this event will serve as springboard to both strengthen and assess our progress. Our plans will see Ulster's largest ever Hurling and Camogie event organised across one weekend. This will be significant and important milestone in our going Hurling Development plan and I look forward to a great weekend of fun and success."
For more information contact:
Jimmy Darragh – jimmy.darragh.ulster@gaa.ie / 028 (048) 3752 1900
