Bangor Erris NS in county Mayo are prepping their vocal chords for Sunday next Feb 9th when their small parish of Kiltane on the western seaboard, prepare to make history.

The three múinteoirí, all from the neighbouring Parish of Belmullet and more than familiar with much friendly rivalry between the parishes, will don the blue and gold in Croke Park for this historic occasion. The support has been immense. People are travelling from the States, Dubai and Germany for this wonderful occasion.

The club has risen from the ashes of relegation last year to an All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final next Sunday and the parishioners can hardly believe it is really happening!

From Doohoma to Geesala to Bangor Erris, every man woman and child can think of nothing else. For many, the prospect of a day out in Croker usually lies in the hands of their County Senior team yet who would have thought, that late last September as we left Croke Park we would be back again in another All-Ireland Final come February!

It truly is the stuff of dreams. Our rural area is a fabulous place but the winter nights can be long and challenging. This year there has been no winter in Kiltane. We are instead basking in the warmth of success that only those who are deadly passionate about the GAA can understand. One would have to visit the Parish to feel the sense of community that abides there. This management team and these players have done more for their parish, their community, both young and old than they will ever truly understand. Every man woman and child is involved in some way. The training is fierce, the dedication is absolute but the pride is almost tangible.

It is at times like these that we as a school understand the value of GAA in our primary schools. Indeed more than half of the panel of 25 players are past pupils of Bangor Erris NS. The other 12 honed their skills in the other two fine parish schools Geesala NS and SN Dubh Thúma.

The inter schools competitions, Cumann na mBunscol and more recently 'Go Games' are the cornerstone on which every one of these players' interest in GAA is built.
Mr. Liam Lavelle has trained the pupils in Bangor NS in rain, hail and storm over the years since he began teaching there in 2001 but we cannot speak about football in Bangor Erris NS without mentioning the former principal Mrs. Kathleen Doherty.

Her commitment and passion for the game is known the length and breadth of Kiltane, County Mayo and beyond. Her record of bringing teams to county and All-Ireland successes during her time with us as a teacher and principal are well documented. I have no doubt that her voice will be one of the loudest reverberating around Croke Park next Sunday!

All we have to do now is wait. The clock ticks on eternally. The Blue and Gold army will face their cars East next weekend and as they cross the Corrick Bridge on their return journey on Monday evening the whole country will definitely know that "The West's Awake" ! Kiltane Abú ! Tweet

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