Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn are celebrating their win, for the second year in a row, at the recent Féile Peile Gael Linn held in the West Kerry Gaeltacht area of Corca Dhuibhne.
In a closely fought and nailbiting final, the young Tralee footballers won out over opponents, a combined team from local schools, Scoil Eoin Baiste, Lispole and Scoil Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh, by just one point, 1-7 to 1-6.
Organised annually by Gael Linn as a ‘get together as Gaeilge’ for students from Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht national school, this year’s tournament took place on Wednesday May 20 and Thursday, May 21, and was a resounding success.
Most of the organization at ground level was done by Liam Ó Rócháin, while Cumann Caide na Gaeltachta provided facilities at Gallarus pitch. The visiting teams stayed in local guestouses, and not only took part in football matches, but enjoyed the evening social events held in Ventry hall that included a tablequiz, concert and céilí.
Seven teams ( and almost 150 pupils ) took part in this two-day event, and they were divided into two groups.
In the first group were the Gaeltacht schools, in which some of the smaller schools had linked up in order to field teams – Scoil Naomh Eirc/Scoil An Ghleanna/Scoil Maolchéadair, S.N. Lios Póil/S.N. Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh, along with S.N. an Chlocháin.
Teams from Gaelscoileanna made up the second group – Gaelscoil Aogáin, Castleisland, Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn, Tralee, Gaelscoil Faithleann, Killarney and for the first time, Gaelscoil na Dúglaise, Cork.
The teams were mixed, with nine players per side, made up largely of boys and girls from 5th and 6th. classes in the various schools.
Each team played at least three matches over the two days, and a shield was presented to the winners of each group.
The Lispole/Baile an Fheirtéaraigh team took the shield for the Gaeltacht schools group, while the Gaelscoileanna shield went to the team from Tralee.
An exciting final was subsequently played out between these two teams, with Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn coming out on top in the end.
Teachers Déaglán Ó Cuill, Colm Ó hAiniféin and Cáit Uí Churraín were thrilled with their young charges’ victory.
The cup was accepted on behalf of Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn by team captains, Tom Breathnach and Aoife Ní Dhiolláin from Siún Ní Shé, Ard a’Bhóthair, who works with Gael Linn.
Domhnall Ó Murchadha from An Rinn, County Waterford, was the games administrator for the event, and Caoimhín and Éanna Ó Conghaile from Connemara were the referees. They commended all the young players for their sporting play over the two days.
This tournament was one in a series of five to be held in Gaeltacht areas of Meath, Kerry, Donegal, Galway and Waterford during the months of May and June.
Congratulating the winners, Seán Ó Ceallaigh, National Schemes Manager, Gael Linn, and Féile Peile organizer commented: ‘Our aim is to provide enjoyable events through the medium of Irish for pupils from Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools’.
The jubilant Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn team were given a great welcome back to their school in Tralee on Friday and will no doubt be rejoicing for some time to come.