Eight competitions with four 40 x 20 events for boys and three for girls along with a 60 x 30 competition for boys ensures that some competitive action will be seen over the Feile weekend, which will be hosted by Carlow and Kilkenny from June 15th to 17th. Hurling, camogie and handball officials, led by GAA President Nickey Brennan, Handball President Tom Walsh and Camogie President Liz Howard, attended the launch at Hotel Kilkenny last week. The event was hosted by well-known sports commentator, Michael O Muircheartaigh, with Provincial Council Officers, national and local Féile organisors, representatives from sponsors, Coca Cola and Féile officials from the host clubs in Kilkenny and Carlow also in attendance.

GAA President, Nickey Brennan said: “I am delighted to be afforded this opportunity to extend a special Céad Míle Fáilte on behalf of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to everyone associated with the great Festival of hurling that is Féile na nGael. “There is a deep and passionate grá for the national game in the county and I have no doubt that the clubs of Cill Chainnigh will do their utmost to ensure that this year’s Féile is a resounding success,” said Brennan.

Féile na nGael is a national festival of Hurling, Camogie and Handball for boys and girls under 14 years of age and is based on the GAA club unit. Féile na nGael 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 in this festival. 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 1 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.