Laochra in uachtar sa chath idir na Foirne lánghaelacha i rith Féile an Phobail /Laochra get upper hand in battle of Irish speaking teams in Féile an Phobail

Bhí an lámh in uachtar ag foireann peile na ceathrún Ghaeltachta, Laochra Loch Lao, sa chluiche dushláin idir iad féin agus an fhoireann peile Lánghaelach as Báile Átha Cliath, Na Gaeil Óga (1-8-11). Ócáid stairiúil a bhí ann ag Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh ag Gort na Móna CLG a eagraíodh mar chuid d’fhéile an Phobail 2011.

Lá brea grianmhar a bhí ann don chluiche agus is é Ardmheára Bhéal Feirste, Niall Ó Donnghaile, a chaith an liathróid isteach don chluiche. Bhain na Laochra an cluiche agus chríochnaigh an scór 3-10 go 1-5. Is iad imreoirí mionúir na Laochra, go háirithe, Gary Ó Leannáin, Loughlin Mac Muircheádaigh agus Ciarán Ó Crotháir,  a rinne mórchuid an damaiste do na Laochra  le slam pointí agus cúil eatarthú. B’iorónach ar ndóigh, gurb é an feirsteach Seán Ó hAdhmaill,  a fuair an cúl do Na Gaeil Óga, bíodh is gur chuir sé cic píonóis, a thug an reiteoir Mícheál De Frinse leis an iomarca conspóide, ar foráoil!

Mar sin féin, ní dheachaigh Na Gaeil Óga abhaile gan bhua, mar gur bhain Foireann peile ban s’acu go furast in éadan na Mná Laochra i gcluiche seachtar-an-taobh roimh ré. Bhain an da fhoireann an dushult as an ócáid agus bhí gréim bia agus seisiún ceoil thraidisúnta le Barry Kerr, Laura Kerr agus Ciarán Ó Coinn ar siúl ina dhiaidh i gclubtheach Gort na Móna CLG.

Ag labhairt do ar an ócáid, duirt captaen na nGaeil Óga, Seán Ó hAdhmaill, ‘Tá muid uilig ar bís fán lá iontach a bhí againn; cluiche comórtasach a bhí ann agus ócáid den scoth do phobal na Gaeilge i gcoitinne. Fuair baill s’againn idir fhir agus Mná blaiseadh ceart do Bhéal Feirste cois cuan agus an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta féin. Tá rún againn ócáid bhliantúil a dhéanamh amach as agus cuireadh a thabhairt do na Laochra teacht go Báile Átha Cliath chomh maith. Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghábhail do Laochra Loch Lao, Cumann Ghort na Móna as a gcuid flaithiúlacht agus An t-Ardmheára Niall Ó Donnghaile as seal a chaitheamh linn ar an lá. ‘

Ag tréisliú leis an chumann nuabhunaithe, dúirt Cathaoirleach Laochra Loch Lao, Jake Mac Siacais, ‘Bhí muid thar a bheith sásta cuireadh a thabhairt do na Gaeil óga go Beal Feirste, go háirithe agus Féile an Phobail faoi lán seoil. Tá éacht déanta acu leis an chumann úr langhaelach s’acu agus tréislíonn muid na sar-iarrachtaí ata déanta acu taobh istigh de bhliain amháin. Ócáid cheiliúrtha a bhí ann do phobal na Gaeilge a léiríonn cé chomh láidir agus atá an teanga sa dá phríomhcháthair in Éirinn. Tá súil againn an nasc idir an dá chumann agus an dá cháthair a neartú amach anseo.

Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais ar na Laochra déan teagmháil le Feargal  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com nó scairt air 07841101630

Gaeltacht quarter football team, Laochra Loch Lao gained the upper hand in the challenge match with the Irish speaking Dublin-based team Na Gaeil Óga (1-8-11). It was an historic occasion which took place in Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh at Gort na Móna CLG and was organised as part of Féile an Phobail 2011.

It was a lovely sunny day for the match and it was Belfast’s Lord Mayor, Niall Ó Donnghaile, who threw the ball in for the game. The Laochra won the game with the scoreline finishing 3-10 to 1-5. It was Laochra minors, espeically, Gary Ó Leannáin, Loughlin Mac Muircheadaigh and Ciarán Ó Crotháir, who did most of the damage while scoring a host of goals and points between them. It was ir0nic, of course, that it was a Belfastman, Seán Ó hAdhmaill, who got the goal for Na Gaeil Óga, even though he also missed a controversial penalty awarded by referee Michéal de Frinse!

However, Na Gaeil Óga never returned home without a victory as their Ladies football team easily dispatched the Laochra Ladies team in a seven-a-side game prior to the men’s game. Both clubs thoroughly enjoyed the occasion which included food and  a music session provided afterwards in Gort na Móna clubrooms by Barry Kerr, Laura Kerr and Ciarán Ó Coinn.

Speaking after the event, Na Gaeil Óga captain, Seán Ó hAdhmaill stated, ‘We’re all buzzin after the day that we’ve enjoyed; it was a competitive match and a great occasion for the Irish speaking community in general. Our members, both men and women, were given a taster of Belfast and the Gaeltacht quarter itself. We intend making this into a yearly event and would also like to invite the Laochra to Dublin. We’d like to thank Laochra Loch Lao and Gort na Móna CLG for their hospitality while also thanking Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile for giving us his time. ‘

Congratulating the newly formed club, Laochra Loch Lao Chairperson, Jake Mac Siacais said, ‘We were really pleased to invite Na Gaeil Óga to Belfast, espeically with Féile an Phobail in full flow. Their newly formed GAA club is a huge achievement and we’d like to congratulate them on their fantastic efforts in this past year. It was very much a celebratory occasion for the Irish speaking community which proves just how strong the language is in Ireland’s two main cities. We aim to build on the links between both clubs and both cities in the future.’

For further info Laochra Loch Lao CLG, contact Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh on feargal@forbairtfeirste.com or call 02890438597/ 07841101630