Southern Gaels set to mark 50 years with hurling festival
After the year-long planning and preparations for the Southern Gaels 50th anniversary celebrations, the week of celebration is finally upon the club.
Events kick off this weekend on Saturday, June 17th with the John Maher Cup. This is an adult tournament. Southern Gaels host Civil Service from Dublin and the game throws in at 6.30 in Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone GAA. It is followed by a BBQ in The Bounty at 8.30 with music until late. Tickets are €10 and all are welcome.
Sunday, June 18th will see a Family Fun Day for all in Páirc Chiaráin from 3pm to 5pm. It will be followed at 6.00 by an Under-17 hurling tournament where the club’s recently crowned U-17 League champions will play a team from Offaly.
Monday, June 19th will see a road hurling competition. This will involve teams hitting a sliotar along the road from Coosan School to Coosan Point and back again with the winning team the one that completes the course in the fewest strokes. Family teams are welcome to play. Proceedings begin at 7.00.
Tuesday, June 20th will see the Frank Young (Under-11) and the John Martin (Under-15) hurling tournaments take place in Páirc Chiaráin form 6.30. Also, the Army Band will give a recital in Páirc Chairáin from 7.30 in what promises to be a great evening’s entertainment. Wednesday, June 21st will see a much need break for all.
Thursday, June 22nd will see a Junior Talent Show in Páirc Chiaráin from 7.00 followed at 9.30 by a Pop-Up Gaeltacht. This will feature music, singing, ceol, caint agus craic and all should have an enjoyable cultural night. All musicians are welcome to attend.
Friday, June 23rd will see a golf outing in Athlone Golf Club in a fun event with tee times from 11.00 to 2.00. The format is a team of four scramble. Booking with Gerry Brennan, 087 2323307. Prize giving will be in The Olive Bar from 9.30.
Also, on Friday there are camogie tournaments, the Under-10 Corcoran Cup and an adult camogie game. There will be hurling with the Artie Pyke Cup (U-13) and the Darren O’Donnell Trophy (U-9) tournaments. These will all take place in Páirc Chiaráin from 6.30, with the adult camogie at 8pm.
Finally, on Saturday, June 24th there is a Gala Dinner Dance from 7pm in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel and Larry McCarthy, GAA President, will be in attendance. An exciting night will be in store to close the week’s activities.
There will be a book on the club’s history specially commissioned for the occasion on sale during the week for €10. There will also be a hurling museum open in the Athlone Town Centre all week. So why not pop in and see some interesting items and photographs in relation to hurling and Southern Gaels.
All are welcome to attend any of the week’s activities. Bookings for the BBQ and Dinner Dance can be made through Kevin Jordan on 087 7989941. The club thanks all who helped to arrange, sponsor, organise and volunteered to run the activities during the coming week.
“The hope, for this fantastic milestone for the club, is that we will see as many as possible of the players who donned the Southern Gaels jersey since 1973, the officers, mentors, volunteers and supporters who served and supported the club from its foundation right up to today at the various events during the week and the dinner dance on Saturday, June 24,” said Southern Gaels chairperson Kevin Jordan.
Southern Gaels was formed back in 1973 following the amalgamation of Athlone and Walderstown hurling clubs.
The first meeting of Southern Gaels was held in February 1973 at Páirc Chiaráin and the first club committee included Patsy Norton (president), Frank Young (chairman), Mick Ward (vice-chairman), Bill Stacey (secretary), Brendan McCormack, Joe Ryan and Ken O’Neill.