Gaelscoil Chill Dara footballers capture Leinster title

 The young footballers of Gaelscoil Chill Dara won the Leinster title at the recent Féile Peile Gael Linn 2017 held in Ráth Chairn in county Meath! In a sporting final, there was no stopping the Gaelscoil Chill Dara team who came out tops against opponents Gaelscoil Cheatharlach in the final. Teachers Seán de Paor and Esther Ní Chonchradha were delighted with their young charges’ victory!  Team captain Cormac Breathnach accepted the Gael Linn Cup on behalf of the winning team from Crotanstown outside Newbridge.

Gaelscoil Chill Dara captain Cormac Breathnach receiving the Gael Linn Cup from Maidhc Ó Conghaile who refereed the final

Organized annually by Gael Linn as a ‘get together as Gaeilge’ for students from Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht national schools, with funding from Foras na Gaeilge, this year’s tournament took place over Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 May, and was a resounding success ! Almost 150 students, along with their teachers, from Scoil na gCeithre Mháistrí, Athlone, Gaelscoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, Mullingar, Scoil Uí Ghramhnaigh, Ráth Chairn, Scoil Santain, Dublin, Gaelscoil Chill Dara, Crotanstown, and Gaelscoil Cheatharlach, Carlow, took part in the two-day festival. Teams of nine players per side were comprised of boys and girls from the senior classes in the schools. Each of the eight teams played at least three matches during that time, and those with the highest points progressed to the semi-finals and then on to the final.   The visitors were accommodated in the local houses, and many of them availed of the opportunity to visit places of interest in the area during their stay. Aside from the football, there was also great sport at the table quiz, concert and céilí, organized for the young footballers in Rath Chairn’s Community Hall.   This provincial tournament was the first of five which are held in Gaeltacht areas in Counties Meath, Donegal, Kerry, Galway and Waterford during the months of May and June.  Commending all the participants for their skilful and sporting play, Seán Ó Ceallaigh, National Schemes Manager, Gael Linn, said: ‘Our aim is to provide enjoyable events such as this for young people, to enourage and enhance their use of Irish. We are very grateful to the people of Ráth Chairn for their welcome and for affording us every facility at the event.   The jubilant Gaelscoil Chill Dara team were given a great welcome back to their school in Kildare and will no doubt be celebrating their great win for some time to come!