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Page 15 - O'Neills Blog
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In the GAA | June 22, 2018We spoke to our O’Neills ambassador Lee Chin who’s getting himself into Championship mode with Wexford. In his first conversation with O’Neills, Lee shares his memories of growing up in Wexford, starting out in his hurling career with his hurling club Faythe Harriers and his thoughts on trying to balance hurling and football in the modern game.
Wolfetone Villas
I played all sports growing up. It wasn’t any different to any other childhood that any person had I suppose. I grew up in Wolfetone Villas in Wexford, it was a very family oriented estate, and pretty much everyone that lived there when I was grown up was born there. You could head away for a holiday for a weekend and leave your front door open it was that kind of place. My mother grew up in the estate. Growing up there we got up to everything out on the street hurling, football, soccer, tennis basketball, my childhood memory is that you would be out on the street with your friends organising games. There were times we’d organise -
In the Zone | In the GAA | June 20, 2018Sarah Rowe started playing football at national school, and she loved the game from the very beginning. She joined the Mayo development squads at the age of ten playing for the county under 12 team, since then playing for the Mayo senior teams was a burning ambition. Sarah joined the senior panel to train when she was fifteen and made her debut a year later. Now one of the most recognisable players in Ladies football, her enthusiasm for the game she loves is clear to see.
“I started in National school when I was about nine or ten, so I originally started playing soccer first and then moved into the football. I gained a lot of interest from our first manager Hugh Lynn, he really brought me out of my shell. Like, I was interested in other sports like gymnastics, basketball and so on but he really brought it out of me.
“I would have trained with the lads at school, though we didn’t play together in National school, the boys were separated out. I continued then to play at secondary school -
In the Archives | March 14, 2018Brooklyn Shamrocks were founded in 1955 and as the only GAA club at the time in the NYC borough, the founders wanted to express their strong Irish identity and connection. To reflect this, Shamrocks was chosen as the name. Initially the club featured a strong Kerry influence but recently there has been an increasing Ulster influence in the club.
Origins
A New York Times edition of January 1, 1902, included an account of a Gaelic football game at Madison Square Gardens between the Kickhams of New York and the Emmets of Brooklyn. This is thought to be the earliest documented recording of Gaelic games being played in Brooklyn.
The modern day Shamrocks club however was founded in 1955 in the Bayridge / Sunset Park area which contained a very large Irish immigrant population at the time. The earliest chairmen of the club mostly hailed from County Kerry but the seat of power has shifted through the years around various counties in Ireland which epitomizes the strong cultural connection that the
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In the Zone | In the GAA | In the Archives | March 14, 2018The Toronto Gaels arose from the ashes of the old Garryowen club in 1987, with men such as Billy Millar, Billy Gilroy and Joe Matthews to the forefront of the new club. Other former Garryowen men, such as the legendary and sorely missed Tommy White (RIP), and Paddy Callan also played crucial roles in the establishment and growth of the Toronto Gaels over the years.
The club has faced some tough times, struggling for numbers in recent years, and came very close to folding in the 2010 season. Thanks in no small part to the dedication of backroom committee staff including Shane Watters, Sean O’Molloy, Paul Deeney, Greg Callan, and Keith Barry the club battled back and has seen a strong resurgence in the subsequent years. As a result, the squad of players has expanded to the extent that the Gaels have been able to field both Senior and Intermediate teams since the 2011 season.
Colours and Crest
The Gaels’ club colours are green, white, and yellow. The jersey was modelled on the Offaly jersey
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In the Zone | In the GAA | March 14, 2018The Ulster Gaelic Club is one of the best-known GAA clubs in North America. It was established in 1987 and since then has grown its base rapidly to provide gaelic games for the Irish community as well as immigrants and locals interested in our games.
In 2017 All Ireland winning captains Peter Canavan and Dara Ó Cinnéide travelled to San Francisco to help celebrate 30 years and were mightily impressed with the work being done there with underage players. Since 2012 the club has enjoyed a period of success culminating in a remarkable double in 2016 with senior and junior B successes.
The club colours are Black and Amber, reflecting the colours of Ulster representing the club’s name and reflecting the founders’ interests. Along with O’Neills the club recently updated the crest to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in 2017. The red hand represents Ulster and Golden Gate Bridge represents San Francisco. The club motto is “honour, celebrate, build”.
Foundation of the UlsterGFC San Francisco Club
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In the Zone | In the GAA | March 13, 2018Connemara Gaels GFC are based in Dorchester just outside Boston and have been providing Gaelic Games to the Irish community in the Boston area since 1961. They are a well-known club in the American GAA community.
The Connemara Gaels have strong links with County Galway in Ireland, with the majority of members coming from the Connemara region and the link with Galway GAA is obvious.
Beginnings
The Connemara Gaels club was set up in 1961. The first meeting was held in Doggin’s Pub on Columbia Road in South Boston. The elected chairman was Collie Conneelly from Carraroe in Galway. Pat Lydon from Carna in Galway was the team’s first manager and Collie Folan, from Carraroe in Meath, was the captain.
Colours and Crest
As is the case with any GAA club jersey, the Gaels take great pride in their white and green colours, and the crest is a Connemara Ram with the Rocky Hills of Connemara in the background.
Connemara Gaels Home from Home
The Gaels train just outside of Boston, at a local elementary
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In the Zone | In the GAA | March 02, 2018The New York GAA jersey is well known back in Ireland primarily through the county team’s participation in the Connacht football championship and previously the hurlers’ participation in the Ulster senior hurling championship. A star studded list of players have pulled on the famous blue, white and red shirt over the years. The New York County board is responsible for all games in the state as well as the inter-county teams. In the last couple of seasons the New York team has performed creditably against Sligo and Roscommon and it is widely considered only a matter of time before the county records a breakthrough championship success in Connacht.
In the 2006 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship New York scored a famous 1-18 to 1-12 win over Derry GAA. This entitled them to take part in the Ulster final, which had to be delayed because the New York players had trouble travelling due to some visa concerns. The final eventually was played in Boston in October of that year as a curtain-raiser
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In the GAA | February 23, 2018Since Stephen Cluxton arrived on the scene we all know that the position of goalkeeper has been changed utterly. Pulling on the keeper’s jersey nowadays is a vote of confidence from the manager. He’s looking for a player that can restart the game with pin point accuracy, go long or short as needed, stop shots and remain calm under pressure. Simple as that. Can you do it?
In Dublin BC – Before Cluxton - they had a history of superb keepers with the legend Paddy Culllen through to John O’Leary. Then Stephen Cluxton arrived and its all been changing utterly ever since. Since Cluxton became the latest recipient off the Dublin GAA Goalkeeper jersey, he has made it his own with his laser tracked kicking and brilliant distribution. His all Ireland winning free against Kerry GAA was the epitome of grace under pressure but in truth for Cluxton it appeared to be a bit like rewarding the post man for delivering the letters. Consistent delivery time and time again is part of his game. There was little
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In the Soccer | February 01, 2018Three-year deal announced for the O’Neills Foyle Cup
O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited, the leading sportswear manufacturer in Ireland, has signed a three-year deal with the Foyle Cup. The company, which employs over 800 people on the island of Ireland, will become title sponsor of Europe’s largest youth football tournament until 2020.
The new deal underpins O’Neills commitment to supporting grassroots sport across the UK and Ireland and builds on their already impressive credentials of supporting over 100 different sports worldwide.
Speaking about the sponsorship, Kieran Kennedy, O’Neills Managing Director commented: ‘O’Neills have a proud pedigree of supporting local sport and we are delighted to partner with the O’Neills Foyle Cup, a now world renowned tournament. Michael and his team do a fantastic job organising this prestigious event and we look forward to supporting him in 2018 in what is likely to be the biggest ever Foyle Cup.’
The O’Neills Foyle Cup