| GAA shorts Artane
Boys Band up for the match
Every year since 1886 the Artane Boys Band have played at GAA finals in
Croke Park. The band used to be selected from boys in the Artane Industrial
School which was a home for boys who had been in trouble or who were orphans
or who’s families could not look after them. The band built a great
reputation. Their music and their scarlet and blue uniforms were part
of the scene at big matches in Croke Park. In the 1990s it emerged that
life for some of the boys in Artane was very lonely and often cruel.
The school closed down in 1969 and in the same year a fire destroyed their
instruments, uniforms and music. But they began again and now band boys
are enrolled from schools across Dublin’s northside. They meet in
the Artane School of Music and continue to entertain at Croke Park to
this day. Past members of the band have formed a senior band and they
march in navy uniforms behind the boys in Croke Park. Larry Mullen of
U2 fame played with the Artane Boys Band for a short time.
GAA goes International
February 3 was an historic day for the GAA as it was the day that the
lights went on in Croke Park and the first floodlit game took place with
a match between Dublin and Tyrone. There was a party atmosphere and Cummann
na mBunscoil, the primary schools GAA in Ireland, had a big part to play
in the festivities. An international squad representing 18 different nations
took part in the pre-match lighting ceremony along with young players
dressed in the 32 County colours. The players from places such as Poland,
Kosovo, the Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, South Africa and Angola, also formed
the guard of honour for the teams and for the first time at Croke Park
they marched in the pre-match parade behind the Artane Boys Band. The
young players had a further thrill in store when they played at half-time
— a reward for their love of Gaelic Games and their top performances
in the recent Cumann Na mBunscoil football finals. Children from 40 different
countries are now participating in the various activities of Cumann Na
mBunscoil.
Lifting the Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup is the prize for the winners of the senior All-Ireland
football final. It is the most famous trophy in Irish sport and has a
magic all of its own. People from all countries love to see it, touch
it and be photographed with it. It was first played for in 1928 when Kildare
beat Cavan in Croke Park. Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon was the very
first captain to receive it. Kerry won it for the first time in 1929 and
have won it more times than any other county. Cavan were the first Ulster
county to win it in 1933. A Connaught county won it for the first time
in 1934 when Galway were victorious. The Sam Maguire is copy of the famous
Ardagh Chalice. It is 40.3cm high and ha a diameter of 43.4cm. It is made
from silver and weighs 12lb but the base is over twice that weight at
28lb.
Sam Fact! The person the SamMaguire Cup was named after was born in Dunmanway,
in Cork. He worked in London and was very involved with the GAA. He was
a very good footballer and won 3 All-Ireland with London in 1900, 1901
and 1903. He was captain of the team in 1901 and 1903. After his death,
some of his friends gave the Sam Maguire Cup to the GAA so that his great
work in promting our games would be remembered.
GAA News from Britain
Local Heroes find success in Croke Park
Former Roger Casements clubman Steve Ormsby is the most recent local hero
to win a GAA medal at a big final in Croke Park. The Roscommon Gaelic
football Youth star found success after defeating Kerry in a replay in
the All-Ireland minor final. Ormsby family has a long and proud tradition
because his grandfather Jim Brown was the chairman of the Roger Casements
club in Coventry and his Dad Steve Ormbsby Senior was captain and secretary
of the club. Steve Junior recently got a boost when he was called up to
the U-21 Roscommon side and at the age of 18 he looks set to claim the
left corner back slot for years to come.
Sticking with Casements of Coventry current club man and Warwickshire
senior hurler Paddy Hoey was a special guest of honour at Croke Park recently
when he receives a Nicky Rackard All-Star. The Warwickshire senior hurling
star was rewarded for his achievement in leading the Warwickshire hurling
side to success in the competition.
London set for the windy City
The London minor panel this month will be busy putting the final touches
to their plans to conquer the windy city of Chicago in North America.
The successful Gaelic football side qualified for the Continental Youth
Competition by defeating Warwickshire in the final late last year. London
are no strangers to the CYC Games because they tasted success by clinching
the minor title in the summer of 2006. All eyes will be on the exiles
as they attempt a historic double and demonstrate to the rest of the world
the rapid growth of Gaelic Games here in Britain.
I don’t believe it…….funny moments in Gaelic sports
The “point” that never was (1995 Leinster football tie) :
Laois’ Mick Turley kicked the ball over his head with 42 seconds
remaining and the ball was deemed to have gone over the Carlow bar. But
video evidence showed that it had gone wide. Laois won by a point. Laois
later offered Carlow a replay and won in the re-fixture.
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