Full steam ahead for Féile na nGael

AFTER months of preparations, Coca-Cola Féile na nGael has finally arrived. Laois/Offaly will jointly host the 39th Féile na nGael Festival this weekend - today (Friday), June 19 to Sunday, June 21. The counties previously co-hosted Féile na nGael last year and also in 1988/"89. O"Moore Park, Portlaoise, just like it was in 1989, was the venue for the various divisional finals in hurling and camogie in 2008 and, this weekend, Tullamore will play host to the finals and Birr will be the centre for the grand opening parade. O"Connor Park, Tullamore, will play host to six finals, starting from 10am on Sunday and there will also be four finals on the nearby O"Brien Park, also beginning at 10am. While on Friday evening, the streets of Birr will be awash with colour and filled with music performed by marching bands from throughout the country as the Coca-Cola Féile na nGael parade takes place. Féile na nGael is the national festival of Hurling, Camogie and Handball for boys and girls under 14 years of age and is based on the GAA club unit. It is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ire) Ltd. and they have been sponsors since 1971. This is the longest running sponsorship in the GAA or of any other sporting event in this country or even in Europe. Each year some 25,000 boys and girls take part in this festival in all 32 counties. London and Warwickshire also participate. 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 hurling, camogie and handball games. Since 1971, over one million boys and girls have participated in this great festival. Féile na nGael is a national movement with 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 hurling, camogie and handball among the youth of our country. It also has the full support of the GAA, the Department of Education, Irish Sports Council and other Government bodies and cultural agencies. Féile na nGael places great emphasis and importance on proper participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship. For details of Féile hurling, camogie and handball fixtures check out the Féile web-site - www.feilenangael09.gaa.ie. Participating Clubs 2009 Division 1 Hurling Section A: Eire Óg Nenagh, Ballyboden St Enda"s (Dublin), Roscrea, Clarecastle (Clare). Section B: Birr, Durlas Óg (Tipperary), Shinrone, Doon (Limerick). Section C: St Rynagh"s, Courcey Rovers (Cork), Kilcormac/Killoughey, Kilnadeema Leitrim (Galway). Section D: Loughrea, Blackrock (Cork), Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry, Rapparees (Wexford). Section E: Craughwell, Dicksboro (Kilkenny), Liam Mellows, Dungarvan (Waterford). Division 2 Hurling Section A: Rathdowney/Erill, St Brendan"s Ardfert (Kerry), Lorrha, Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow). Section B: Kilcotton/Borris-in-Ossory, St Jude"s (Dublin), Camross, Carnew Emmets (Wicklow). Section C: Clough/Ballacolla, Kiltale (Meath), Portlaoise 1, O"Donovan Rossa (Antrim). Section D: Tullamore, Raharney (Westmeath), Ferbane/Belmont, Robert Emmets Slaughtneil (Derry). Section E: Coolderry, St Patrick"s Portaferry (Down), Portumna, Naas (Kildare). Division 3 Hurling Section A: Abbeyleix, Kickhams Creggan (Antrim), Harps Gaels, Tooreen (Mayo). Section B: Seir Kieran, Lucan Sarsfields (Dublin), Ballyfin/Mountmellick, Muinebheag (Carlow). Section C: Naomh Eamann, Kilmessan (Meath), Colt, Castletown Geoghegan (Westmeath). Section D: Tinnahinch, Lixnaw (Kerry), Shamrocks, Four Roads (Roscommon). Division 4 Hurling Section A: Kiltormer, Laotrim Fontenoys (Down), Ahascragh-Fohenagh, Bray Emmets (Wicklow). Section B: CRC Gaels, Cuchulainn"s (Armagh), Drumcullen, Coill Dubh (Kildare). Section C: Na Fianna, Buncrana (Donegal), Clara, Padraig Pearse"s (Roscommon). Section D: Kinnitty, St Mary"s Banagher (Derry), Lusmagh, Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon (Tyrone). Division 5 Hurling Section A: Portlaoise 2, Clonguish Óg (Longford), Timahoe, Naomh Feichin (Louth). Section B: St Fintan"s Mountrath, Moytura (Mayo), Clonad/Ratheniska, Lisbellaw (Fermanagh). Section C: Brosna Gaels, Clontibret O"Neill"s (Monaghan), St Oliver Plunkett"s Mullingar, Naomh Eoin (Sligo). Division 6 Hurling Section A: Edenderry, Warwickshire, Ballinamere/Durrow, Woodford Gaels (Cavan). Section B: St Joseph"s/Ballylinan, Glencar-Manorhamilton (Leitrim), St Paul"s Gaels, London. Division 1 Camogie Section A: Toomevara, St Lachtain"s (Kilkenny), Thurles, Loughgiel (Antrim). Section B: Burgess-Duharra, Douglas (Cork), Kilruane MacDonagh"s, Newmarket-on-Fergus (Clare). Section C: Sarsfields, Ballinascreen (Derry), Killimor, Rathnure (Wexford). Section D: Davitt"s, St Vincent"s (Dublin), Eyrecourt, Kilmallock (Limerick). Division 2 Camogie Section A: St Rynagh"s, Lough Lene Gaels (Westmeath), Shinrone, St Brenda"s Ballymacnab (Armagh). Section B: O"Moore"s, Bredagh (Down), Camross, Lismore (Waterford). Division 3 Camogie Section A: St Brigid"s, Kerry, The Harps, Four Roads (Roscommon). Section B: Tullamore, Maynooth (Kildare), Kilcormac/Killoughey, Myshall (Carlow). Section C: Drumcullen/Lusmagh, Glenealy (Wicklow), Birr, Kiltale (Meath). Section D: Naomh Brid, St Peter"s Dunboyne (Meath), St Cillian"s, Cavan. Division 4 Camogie Section A: Clonad, Na Brideoga (Mayo), Portlaoise, Erin go Brath Warwickshire. Section B: Clonaslee St Manman"s, St Kevin"s Dunleer (Louth), St Sinchill"s, Burt (Donegal). Section C: Kinnitty, Castleblayney (Monaghan), Seir Kieran, Carrickmore (Tyrone). Handball Boys Division 1 40x20 Group 1: Kells (1), Kilkenny; Tulla, Clare; Brackey, Tyrone. Group 2: An Charraig Mhór, Tyrone; Kilkishen, Clare; Moycullen, Galway; Tuamgraney, Clare. Boys Division 2 40x20 Group 1: Friary/Abbeyside/Ballinacourty, Waterford; Ballyhogue, Wexford; Indreabhan, Galway; Downpatrick , Down. Group 2: St Coman"s, Roscommon; Newport, Tipperary; Tinryland, Carlow; Williamstown, Galway. Boys Division 3 40x20 Group 1: Monavea, Laois; Windgap, Kilkenny; Bridgetown (A), Wexford; Kiltimagh, Mayo. Group 2: Coolboy (A), Wicklow; Garryhill, Carlow; St Canice"s (A), Kilkenny; Monaghan Harps, Monaghan. Boys Division 4 40x20 Group 1: Brian Boru, Dublin; Castleconnor, Sligo; Bridgetown (B), Wexford. Group 2: Burt, Donegal; Kells, Kilkenny; Coolboy (B), Wicklow; Na Fianna, Dublin. Boys Division 5 40x20 Group 1: Clara, Offaly; Abbeylara, Longford; Cullohill (B), Laois; Goresbridge, Kilkenny. Group 2: St Canice"s (B), Kilkenny; Crinkle, Offaly; Clogh, Kilkenny; Cullohill (A), Laois. Girls Division 1 40x20 Group 1: Garryhill, Carlow; St Coman"s, Roscommon; Moycullen, Galway. Group 2: Indreabhan, Galway; An Ghaeltacht, Kerry; Clogh, Kilkenny. Girls Division 2 40x20 Group 1: Leixlip, Kildare; Ballydesmond, Cork; Friary/Abbeyside/Ballinacourty, Waterford; Naomh Mhíchíl, Derry. Girls Division 3 40x20 Group 1: Goresbridge, Kilkenny; St Canice"s, Kilkenny; Burt, Donegal. Group 2: Na Fianna, Dublin; Drumkeeran, Leitrim; Kells, Kilkenny. Boys Division 1 60x30 Group 1: Tuamgraney, Clare; Ballina, Tipperary; Mullinavat, Kilkenny; Castlebridge, Wexford; Clogh, Kilkenny. Boys Division 2 60x30 Group 1: Fahy"s Cross, Offaly; Mothel, Kilkenny; Crinkle, Offaly; Collooney, Sligo; Cashel, Tipperary.