The Glasgow based Tir Conaill Harps GAC were able to go ahead with their support for a primary schools hurling tournament when the Ulster Council intervened following the destruction of thousands of pounds worth of hurling equipment in an arson attack on their club mini-bus outside a community transport base in the north of the city.  The tournament at the city's Kelvin hall was the culmination of a coaching block in the schools run by Langside College's sports department as part of an HND sports coaching course.  All of the students had been supported by the Scotland GAA's fulltime Community Development Administrator, Ciaran Kearney, who also ran a Foundation level Coaching course for them.  "Within an hour of us discovering the bus was destroyed we had offers of help from both the Ulster Council and Croke Park. For this we will be forever grateful." commented club chiarman, Maurice Friel

  Meanwhile, the Harps club are now focused on raising the substantial shortfall in the insurers valuation and the cost of a new bus.  On Sunday they got a great response from the Glasgow public at a bag packing at Tesco in the east end  of Glasgow which raised £500.  The club will be meeting soon to outline their plans to raise the shortfall.  It already seems certain that the proceeds of their annual charity dinner in April which funds all of the club community development activities will now have to be set aside to finance the new bus.  "It is disappointing that we have to go down this road as the dinner usually covers all of our coaching, equipment and youth leadership activities for the next twelve months, but the priority for us is transport.  We are not set up like a traditional GAA club at home.  Our children are spread all over the city so transport is  the key " explained the club chairman.  Due to lack of games locally the bus is also used regularly to take teams over to Ireland for games. In the coming weeks the under 12 hurlers and under 10s footballers had planned to go on trips. These have now been shelved until the bus is replaced.

  The club have an online appeal set up on their website and anyone wishing to make a small donation can do so by linking to http://www.everyclick.com/fundraising/donate?id=9874&cn=Tir-Conaill-Harps-Gaelic-Athletics-Club /> 


Tommy Main
Project Manager
Harps Community Project
St.Patrick's Primary school
10 Perth st
Glasgow
G3 8UQ
Glasgow Office Tel: 0141 221 4553
Ireland Office: 00353 71 9630670

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