Preparations are well underway for this years highly anticipated Northern Community Gaelic Games. Upwards of 2,000 club and school children will descend on Broughton Park RFC in Manchester for the two day event which is going from strength to strength. The event incorporates Britain’s three northern counties – Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire.
- Friday the 13th of June – Primary & Secondary Schools
- Saturday the 14th of June – Clubs U7s-U18s (GAA Football, Hurling & Camogie, Ladies Football).
In attendance at this years event will be Neale Richmond, Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora. Neale will not only be taking in the games – he will be turning the sod on Lancashire GAAs new Centre of Excellence, with construction underway at the home of the Northern Community Gaelic Games in Manchester.
We also welcome Charlie Harrison, GAAs International Manager who will be attending the games over the weekend.
Exciting news is that The Sam Maguire & Liam McCarthy All Ireland Cups will be on show so make sure to get your team photo over the two days.
The event is in its third year at the new venue and the committee is chaired by Sean Hopkins, (Britain GAA President). Sean had this to say on this years event:
“It is my great pleasure to welcome everyone to the Northern Community Gaelic Games. “I would like to welcome Neale Richmond, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora and Sarah Mangan from Irelands Consulate in Manchester, Charlie Harrison GAA International Manager and our dignitaries from Manchester City Council.
This is the third year the Northern Games have been held at Broughton Park and the success of the tournament is clear to see and the participation numbers have increased to over 40 School teams taking part on Friday and 95 Club teams competing on the Saturday. The Northern Games is an integral facet in the British Provincial Council ( BPC ) games development calendar and it gives the opportunity to showcase the excellent work developing underage Gaelic games that is ongoing throughout Britain. The tournament could not happen without the endless efforts of our CDAs, coaches and volunteers who are at the heart of this effort and the support from our Twinning Partner, Ulster GAA, and the LGFA. I would like to thank all our sponsors for your continued support which is vital to keeping the development of homegrown alive and my last message is for everyone to have fun and enjoy yourselves.”
Sean made special mention to all the amazing event sponsors for their support:
PP O’Connor, Bethels – Tim Kilroe, Pioneer, OPUS Utility Solutions, JPB Utilities, Renaker, Pioneer Civil Engineering
Colin McNamara, Secretary of The Northern Community Gaelic Games committee, added – “It is our pleasure to host clubs and schools from across the North of Britain this weekend. This event is one of the highlights of the year to see our Northern Community come together for another festival of Gaelic Games and Irish culture.”
By Stephen Lavery Thu 12th Jun
