Dublin Airport Authority Kick Fada - Saturday, 14th September, 2013

The annual All-Ireland Kick Fada competition, run by the Bray Emmets GAA club and now in its 14th year, will take on an international flavour in 2013 to coincide with The Gathering and appropriately, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) will act as main sponsors. Competitors from Britain, Europe, Canada and the United States will be among those flying into Bray for the 14th September event to take on kickers from all over Ireland in the hope of succeeding last year's winners Damien Sheridan (Longford) and Serena Hannon (Dublin). There is also no admission charge for people attending on the day with the event beginning at 3.00 p.m. with the Ladies Competition, followed by the Men at 4.00 p.m. Away from the action on the pitch, Bray Emmets will host a barbecue at 6.00 p.m. followed by music in the Clubhouse from 8.30 p.m. In between, we will also host a special presentation to honour the victorious Junior Hurlers of 1963 and Intermediate Footballers of 1973.

Preparations for the event have been ongoing for some time but the official launch took place on in late July when Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain took time out form his hectic schedule to assist the Club with its promotional campaign for what promises to be the biggest competition in the contest's history so far. Ó Briain, star of BBC shows such as 'Mock the Week' and 'The Apprentice: You're Fired' and a former footballer and hurler with Bray Emmets, was in attendance at Croke Park for the three Round 4 Football Qualifiers and said he was delighted to be part of the DAA Kick Fada weekend: "Over the years, this has become recognised as a genuine All-Ireland Gaelic Football competition and I am very proud that it is taking part in my old club, Bray Emmets".

Another aspect of the event is the DAA Kick Fada Hall of Fame Award and Bray Emmets GAA Club were delighted to announce that former Mayo star Willie Joe Padden is this year's inductee. At a ceremony in Croke Park on Tuesday, 27th August, Padden received the honour from Club Chairman, Dermot O'Brien who spoke about how the Mayo midfielder's swashbuckling displays will live long in the memories of everybody who saw him play. Padden spoke very graciously on receiving his award and thanked Bray Emmets for bestowing the honour on him. At the event, Padden was joined by previous Hall of Fame winners; Peter Nolan of Offaly, Billy Morgan of Cork, Jimmy Keaveney and Mickey Whelan of Dublin and Mick O'Dwyer and Donie O'Sullivan of Kerry.

As Saturday, 14th September approaches, the list of competitors for the Kick Fada contest is being finalised and some of the star names joining previous winners Mark Herbert (Kildare), former Offaly netminder Padraig Kelly and the afore mentioned Damien Sheridan will include Kerry shotstopper Brendan Kealy, Ross Munnelly of Laois, London's current No. 1 Declan Traynor, Shane Nallen (Mayo) and former Dublin forward Mark Vaughan. Local favourites Tony Hannon and Conor McGraynor will also be testing their long kick skills and are sure to be joined by a few brave players from Bray Emmets also!

Lots of other activities are scheduled to take place at Páirc Emmet Bhré on the day but you can keep up to speed with all the latest Kick Fada news and updates by checking out the Kick Fada 2013 section of the Club website, www.brayemmets.com. Members of the Club, both past and present, are invited to attend to ensure that Bray Emmets' Gathering event is one to remember! Tweet

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