Big Weekend Ahead for Boston GAA

By Rory O’Donnell

Next Sunday, November 22, sees the much anticipated Super 11s hurling exhibition at the oldest, most famous baseball stadium in the world, Fenway Park.  The event is sponsored by AIG, the Fenway Sports Group, and the GPA and follows Saturday’s sold out (American) football game between Notre Dame and Boston College at the same venue.  Galway and Dublin will meet as part of a weekend celebrating Irish culture that will also feature Boston’s Dropkick Murphy’s providing some added entertainment to the day.  With more than 18,000 tickets already sold, it is fair to say that the game has captured the imagination of the locals and is one of the biggest GAA events to come to Boston in recent years. 

The locals will get the chance to meet the
Galway hurlers at the ICC Saturday.

The Super 11s format was conceived by the GPA to allow the skills of hurling to be showcased in stadiums outside of Ireland that are not large enough to host a full hurling match.  Notre Dame University hosted a Super 11s game two years ago between Leinster and Munster.  The strategy is to elevate the profile of the sport in the United States and build a base of support.

 

With heavy hitting sponsors and promoters behind the event, combined with the novelty of gaelic games at Fenway, the game is getting the attention of a whole new audience, in addition to the local GAA community.  With local sports stations and media outlets giving the game exposure, and a heavy media presence at the game, it represents a golden opportunity to promote the games at grass roots level in the region.  

The local GAA will get a chance to showcase the tremendous efforts that are underway to grow the games from the ground up.  Under 6 to Under 14 players from the region’s youth teams will escort the players on to the field and some lucky kids will have the opportunity to display their gaelic football and hurling skills on the famous turf during half-time games.  The adult board will also have the chance to distribute information about the more than 20 clubs operating in the New England area and the 2015 Boston champions in all grades will be recognized before the game.

It will be a return visit for several of the players who are traveling next week.  Members of both counties have played in Boston in recent years; Galway’s Iarla Tannian played for a number of seasons with Fr. Tom Burke’s, while Andy Smith togged for the Galway hurlers.  From the Dublin team, Ryan O’Dwyer has played multiple seasons with Wexford, and fellow Dublin players Liam Rushe and David “Dotsy” O’Callaghan played with the Galway Hurling Club. 

There will be no fraternizing with the enemy in the lead up as the panels are being kept apart before the game.  However, there will be a great chance for the locals to get up close and personal with the Galway players on Saturday.  The Galway Hurlers will hold an open practice at the Irish Cultural Center, the home of the Boston GAA, at 11:00am, in preparation for Sunday’s game.  The players will also conduct coaching for underage players, and all are welcome to meet and greet the players. 

While it is primarily a hurling weekend, there will be an added treat, for Dubliners especially.  The All Ireland Football Champions will also be in town at the weekend.  Paddy Andrews, Dean Rock, Mick Fitzsimons, John Small, Tomas Brady and Eoin Culligan will be bringing the Sam Maguire to Boston.  There will be a reception Saturday evening at Porter Belly’s in Brighton and then again on Sunday night at 6:00 at The Grand Canal in downtown Boston.  All are welcome to meet the players and take photos with the cup.    

So, there is something for everybody to enjoy on what promises to be a weekend to remember.  

Tickets are available online at http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ticketing/irish_festival.jsp

When the Dubs Came to Town

Stephen Magill, Philly McMahon, Kevin Fagan, Ger Brennan
and Brian Rooney enjoying the celebrations Saturday night
at McGanns.

Boston was painted blue and navy last weekend when the Dubs came to town with the Sam Maguire and National League Cups.  A party of Dublin players, selectors, and the 2 cups made the 3,000 mile journey westward from Ireland to Boston, home to many natives of the Emerald Isle, amongst them many Dubliners.  It was the first time since 1976 that Dublin captured the League, Leinster, and All-Ireland trophies.  The visit was hosted by The Friends of Dublin GAA Boston, a group formed 2 years ago which also hosted a visiting party 2 years ago following the 2011 All-Ireland success. 

Jason Sherlock, Chris Sage, his cousin Ger Brennan,
and Paul Campbell at McGanns.

Star players, Ger Brennan, Dermot Connolly, 2011 captain Bryan Cullen, Darren Daly and Philly McMahon were joined by selectors Shane O'Hanlon and Michael Kennedy on the trip.  Jason Sherlock, a winner in 1995, who was in town for the week as part of a group from DCU, joined in the celebrations.  First stop Saturday evening was the Irish Pastoral Center fundraising banquet in Florian Hall, Dorchester, where Ger Brennan addressed the crowd, amongst them President Mary McAleese.  Then it was into town to a reception at McGanns Pub on Portland Street.  A group of 100 guests had a chance to meet the players, take pictures with the cups, and enjoy a celebration of Dublin's second All-Ireland in 3 years.

L-R: Shane O'Hanlon, Philly McMahon, Darren Daly, Bryan Cullen,
Ger Brennan, and Dermot Connolly visit the Boston Marathon
finish line. The autographed shirt will be auctioned with the
proceeds going to the One Fund.

The celebrations were non-stop on Sunday as the party toured several Boston area bars.  Hundreds of people, young and old, Dubs and non-Dubs, showed up as the cups and the group made their way from The Phoenix Landing in Cambridge, to The Black Rose and Mr. Dooleys downtown, on to Porter Belly's in Brighton and ending the day at The Blackthorn in South Boston.  People took photos with the trophies, and the players were more than willing to oblige those who wanted to take a souvenir pic with one or more of the stars.  On Monday the group were received by the Consul General, Brendan O'Chongaile, and then paid a visit to the finish line of the Boston Marathon to show their respect for the victims of that terrible day in April, a touch of class by the players who to be great ambassadors for the GAA, Dublin and Ireland. 

The lads and the cups headed home Monday night, and certainly left a great impression with everyone they met on their visit to the city.  It was a weekend that will not be forgotten too soon by those who had the good fortune to be part of it.  A big thank you to the traveling party, the committee, those who supported the event, Joe Dunne, the Consul General, the hosting bars, Guinness, Magners, Budweiser, and Dirty Water TV for helping make this weekend happen.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sam Maguire Comes to Boston

With a chance to rub shoulders with Graham Canty, Daniel Goulding, Terry O’Neill, and of course, the Sam Maguire Cup, there was not a spare seat to be had in Florian Hall at the Cork Gaelic Football Club’s celebration banquet last Saturday night. Sam took center stage and was busy partaking in photographs with practically everybody who was in attendance, as were both of the star players.

Cork Captain, Graham Canty,
and All-Ireland Final Man of the Match, Daniel Goulding,
 at the Cork Boston GFC celebration banquet.
Florian Hall, Dorchester, Mass.

Terry O’Neill, one of the Cork selectors, had a chance to catch up with some friends from his years in Boston in the late 1980’s. Terry was involved with the Cork football club while he was here and generated plenty of laughs as he related several stories from those days, from run ins with Joe Lydon on the sideline of Dilboy field to foot races down the Lower Mills end of Dorchester Ave. Graham Canty also had a stint in Boston when he was just out of minor, and played for the Cork Boston club in the summer of 1999.



Graham Canty addresses the packed hall with Sam alongside.



I was fortunate enough to have a chance to chat with the two football stars. Cork came through the back door last year and had to come from behind in both the semi-final and final to win their first football All-Ireland in 20 years. I asked Daniel about that and the Ovens native explained that this year Cork were presented with different challenges compared to previous years. “For three or four years we had gone up and found it hard to close out the game,” said Daniel. “Last year we were 4 or 5 up at one stage in the final. This year we were under pressure against Limerick and Wexford in the qualifiers and that stood to us. In the semi-final and final there was no panic and the lads maintained their composure to see it through.” I also asked about the kind of pressure involved when taking frees in the biggest game of them all, and pointed out that he had pointed three ’45’s in a row in the crucial stages of the final. “It’s all about routine when free taking”, explained Daniel. “At that stage in the game you are in a groove and after the first one (’45) went over I had the confidence to put the other two over.”



Corkmen Brendan and Mike Fleming with the Sam Maguire Cup.



Now that we are 3 months removed from the joy and euphoria of Cork’s victory I asked about next year and when you start thinking about the challenge of defending the title. Graham explained that each player is doing their own training program and players and management are staying in touch. The team will be heading for a well deserved holiday in South Africa, and when they get back in January the job of defending the title will begin in earnest. Both players expressed great appreciation to the Cork football club in Boston for the exceptional hospitality shown to them, as well as the chance to spend a weekend to celebrate with the people of Cork living here in Boston. With the cup doing the rounds around the gathering places for the Irish, Daniel remarked that he didn’t realize that there was such a crowd out here and also on the great sense of community that he experienced. As for myself, I can tell you I had a great night and finally got my hands on the Sam Maguire. Next September I’ll be hoping that it will be a Dubliner’s hands raising it to the roof of the Hogan Stand – though Daniel and Graham might have other ideas about that!



By Rory O'Donnell

Cork Boston Gaelic Football Club Celebration Banquet



Graham Canty and Sam, along with
Daniel Goulding and Terry O'Neill 
will be at Florian Hall December 11.

Tickets are on sale for the Celebration Banquet which is taking place at 7.30PM Dec 11th in honour of the All Ireland Winning Cork footballers. It should be a great night and all are welcome.


Come and meet Graham Canty, Daniel Goulding & Terry O'Neill. Get a picture taken with the Sam Maguire Cup.

For tickets please ca...ll 617-763-0485 or email the club secretary - secretary.corkfootball.northeast.usa@gaa.ie.