Teams Descend on Provincial Sports Direct Gaelic4Mothers&Others Festivals

The month of June sees summer festival season commencing and the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme, sponsored by Sports Direct, is no different.

The tutus and minion costumes were dusted off and it was evident that the skills and craic were not put away for the winter months.

There were six huge festivals across all the provinces in the month of June leaving participants in no doubt where the real festival fun is. First up the Sports Direct Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme travelled to north Leinster which was hosted by Simonstown Gaels in the Royal County of Meath where nearly 900 participants took to the pitches and they were also treated to a water fight courtesy of Mother Nature.

The puddles did not stop the participants slipping and sliding their way to an entertaining and full day of football that will live long in the memory. Huge credit must go to the club, volunteers and Leinster staff for their work in executing the day against the weather dominated odds.

Mallow in County Cork was the venue for the Munster offering with 76 teams taking to the field. LGFA President Trina Murray was in attendance to greet the crowds and set the tone for the day ahead. The fancy dress competition brought out the creative side of G4M&O where there were teams that would not look out of place when the steelers visit Croke Park later in the year. The sun shone as teams made new friends and no doubt they’ll be paying each other visits over the next months and years.

Mallow continues to be an incredible venue and club for Munster to partner with and huge credit to them for being such welcoming hosts. Huge credit also to the army of Munster LGFA volunteers, referees and excellent coordination by the staff.

For the third year running Ulster hosted two provincial festivals in the one day. A huge amount of credit must go to the staff in Ulster along with all of the Ulster LGFA executive. Planning one festival in a day is a huge undertaking so two festivals across the province is an unbelievable feat.

The participants themselves danced, sang and at times played football to ensure the carnival atmosphere could be heard all across the province from Beart in Donegal to Culloville in Armagh.

Later in the month it was the turn of Bray Emmets in Wicklow to host the Leinster south cohort of Gaelic4Mothers&Others clubs. What a difference a week makes as the weather was total opposite from north Leinster with the sunshine towering the Wicklow mountains providing a picturesque background setting.

Once again, an array of costumes and colours filled the pitches for the fun warm up that set the tone with big smiles the order of the day. With programme sponsors Sports Direct in attendance there were plenty of sideline chats and sharing differing perspectives and a whole kaleidoscope of offerings of #MYREASONWHY

Huge credit must got to the Leinster staff, referees and volunteers as well as the crew in Bray Emmets who hosted at the seaside event now affectionately known as Braywatch.

Finally, we went west to Leitrim where Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins hosted their maiden Connacht Festival. The Connacht offering is going from strength to strength since its return three years ago. Huge credit must go to the staff in attendance, along with the Connacht Executive, for their work in bringing a huge event to Leitrim along with the club for their innovation and welcome that the teams received.

The attention now switches to the National Festival that takes place on the 1st weekend of September and the annual pilgrimage to north Dublin. Stay Tuned…