Wheelie busy summer ahead for Buncrana Gaels
July 06, 2015A weekly insight into the GAA in Inishowen, our peninsula's beating heart.
Wheelie busy summer ahead for Buncrana Gaels
By Gaelscéalai Inis Eoghain
Four Inishowen 100's with an extra 14 miles on top!
That is the challenge facing the intrepid members of Buncrana GAA's Charity Cycle team who are peddling Ireland, from Mizen to Malin next week.
"It is a mighty undertaking alright," agreed Aidan Mulholland, his admiration apparent. "The team have been in training for months. The cycle is to raise much needed funds for special education within our local Scoil Íosagáin and also for Buncrana GAA's development fund. Donations can be made online at www.buncranagaa.com or by contacting Áine on 0863953380.
"On July 5, on the final leg of their gruelling journey north, the cyclists will be calling into The Scarvey, where our annual Bord na nÓg Sport's Day will be taking place as part of Buncrana's Feel Good Fortnight festival. Then it's once around the town and off to Malin Head, in the company of the North Pole Cycling Club!
"The Sport's Day begins at 2pm and as well as football and hurling skills, we will have the usual races, face painting, darts, throw-the-wellie and sumo suits. At five euro per child it's great value as well as great fun, whatever the weather," added the optimistic Bord na nÓg chairperson.
Buncrana GAA is extremely proud of its facilities, which include two state-of-the-art floodlit pitches, five changing rooms and a fully equipped indoor gym.
"We also have a first aid room, complete with a defibrillator, a kitchen, laundry room, function room and a viewing gallery," said Aidan, who trebles up as Buncrana GAA's vice chairperson and its u-15 and u-16 boy's football coach.
"We are more than able to cope with the 25 teams we are currently fielding. These include senior and reserve men's football, senior ladies football, u-21 boy's football, u-18 minor boy's and girl's football, u-16 boy's and girl's football, u-15 óg sport football, u-14 boy's and girl's football, u-12 boy's and girl's football, u-10 boy's and girl's football, u-8 boy's and girl's football, u-6 fundamentals, u-8 hurling, u-10 hurling, u-12 hurling, u-14 hurling, u-16 hurling and u-18 hurling.
"The Scarvey is definitely going to be bursting at the seams this summer! We are organising two summer camps, which will run from August 10 to 14 for the u-6's and August 17 to 21 for the u-8's, u-10's and u-12's. We have 17 brilliant coaches rearing to go over those two weeks. The focus of Buncrana GAA's summer camps will be on the development of basic football and hurling skills but with the emphasis very much on fun," said Aidan.
Buncrana GAA is also hosting a Cúl Camp for hurlers, camogs and footballers aged 6 to 13, from July 6 to 10. Anyone who is interested in signing up should contact Leo Gill on 860868260.
Aidan attributed the Buncrana GAA's recent success, across all codes and age groups, to the hard work of its coaching volunteers.
He said: "We try to ensure that our juvenile members get the opportunity to develop their football and hurling skills and, equally importantly, their social skills. All of our coaches are fully qualified and take part in continuous improvement through official GAA coaching courses.
"In the last couple of years Buncrana GAA coaches have acquitted themselves extremely well on the Donegal stage. Paul McGonagle, Ronan Walsh and Dave McLaughlin were valued members of the backroom team which supported Donegal's Ulster and All Ireland winning team, including our own Darragh O'Connor. In addition, Sean Noonan is a fitness coach with the Donegal minor football team, on which John Campbell and Caolan McGonagle, both Buncrana GAA members, currently play.
"This week Buncrana GAA is tremendously proud of clubwoman Caroline Gallagher, who received an all Ireland medal last week as part of the Donegal u-21 team, which had an outstanding victory over Longford!" added Aidan.
Obviously passionate about Buncrana GAA, Aidan said the club was the best kept secret in the Parish, before adding: "We have the likes of Dylan Duffy playing for Buncrana GAA, a talented young hurler who captained the Donegal team to the u-15 all Ireland title. We have special guests such as Kilkenny's Aidan Fogarty and Meath's Graham Geraghty at our under-age prize-givings. We have a focus on the welfare of young people involved in multiple teams or multiple sports.
"Buncrana GAA is also successful in Scór na nÓg. I could go on and on but I definitely must give a shout out to Elizabeth Anne who is responsible for selling all merchandise associated with the green, white and gold's," concluded Aidan, a man who is Buncrana GAA to the core.
ENDS
