What an event, what an occasion for Carlow GAA and what drama, excitement and amazing sporting talent on show. This Féile competition was one of the most incredible weekends of GAA action ever seen across the three host counties of Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow. With 559 games played from Friday to Sunday afternoon the logistics of the event alone is a daunting challenge. The National and Regional Féile Organising Committees deserve enormous credit for putting Féile together over the last few months. Huge praise and thanks to our own Michael O’Brien and Mick Murphy who ensured the Carlow end of things was in order, you did a superb job !
The concept of this new, inclusive Féile is something that has brought the GAA into so many homes across the country over the past few years. While the competition itself can at time be fierce, it really does pale in comparison to the new friendships forged between players, coaches, host families and of course, the Clubs themselves. Our own County really pulled out all the stops and has brought hosting the event to new levels with every Club looking so well both on and off the field. The Clubs did us so proud on the pitch too with the Myshall and Palatine boys emerging as winners in their respective groups and the Old Leighlin girls also bringing home silverware.
The hospitality afforded by host Clubs and families to their guests from all over the globe was on a scale rarely seen before with BBQs smoking, pots boiling and of course ice-cream flowing in the Mediterranean weather that blessed the sunny south east of Ireland over the three days. The term céad mile fáilte was never so appropriate with everyone from both juvenile and adult Clubs coming together to plan and deliver a GAA festival that will never, ever be forgotten.
To everyone from the grass-cutters, to the bottle-washers, to the players and the referees, to every single person who in however big or small way contributed to making Féile Peil na nÓg 2015 simply the best yet, we say a HUGE thank you to you all. Our bespoke hashtag states that Carlow GAA is rising; anyone who visited our beautiful County over the weekend would now understand the reason why !!!!!
