Is cinnte go bhfuil baill ó Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Laochra Loch Lao (Béal Feirste) ag gníomhú ar mhana s’acu, ‘Lean ar aghaidh’. Tá an club le foireann peile na mban a chur isteach ar Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta i mbliana. Beidh an comórtas ar siúl i nDún na nGall i mí an Mheithimh agus tá mná Loch Lao chun a ndícheall a dhéanamh peil den scoth a imirt i rith an deireadh seachtaine mór seo. Bunaíodh Laochra Loch Lao, foireann péile na Ceathrún Ghaeltachta, ag deireadh na bliana 2006 agus tá siad i ndiaidh ról lárnach a imirt sa phobal áitiúil, an Ceathrú Ghaeltachta, ó shin. Tá mná an chumainn ag eagrú cheana féin don chomórtas agus tá beagnach cúig  imreoir is fiche acu faoi láthair.

Tagann na mná ó chúpla cumann áitiúil, Naomh Gall, Gort na Móna agus Naomh Póil ina measc. Chun tuilleadh cleachtaidh a fháil, tá coiste Laochra Loch Lao i ndiaidh comórtas peile a eagrú do na mná, a bheidh ar siúl ar an Satharn 26 Márta. Beidh CLG Naomh Póil, Rossa agus Sarsfields ag cur ionad ar fáil do na cluichí. Is i gcuimhne ar Susan Grieve a bheidh an comórtas, a thacaigh go láidir i gcónaí leis an nGaeilge agus leis na Cluichí Gaelacha. Is múinteoir í iníon Susan, Mary, i gColáiste Feirste agus is ball í de choiste Laochra Loch Lao fosta. Tá sí i ndiaidh cabhair a thabhairt chun an ócáid a eagrú agus tá sí ag súil go mbeidh foirne ó gach áit i gCúige Uladh ag glacadh páirte ann.

“Táimid ag súil le foirne a mhealladh ó gach áit in Ulaidh,” ar sí. “Tá go leor suime á léiriú ag daoine ann. Tá mo chlub féin, Naomh Póil, ag glacadh páirte ann ach beidh mise ag imirt do Laochra Loch Lao. Ní thig liom fanacht agus deis mhaith a bheidh ann dul in adharca le cuid de mo chomhimreoirí féin.” Ní cluichí peile amháin a bheidh á imirt mar chuid den ócáid. Beidh atmaisféar carnabhail ann agus beidh airgead á bhailiú le haghaidh Chumann Cliabhraigh, Croí agus Stróc Thuaisceart Éireann . Beidh Feachtas Feasachta ar bun ag an gcarthanas seo le linn an tráthnóna freisin. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh dioscó agus cur i láthair ar bun chun airgead a bhailiú agus tarlóidh sé seo roimh an pheil i gCumann Naomh Póil. Beidh clárú ar siúl do na foirne ag meán lae ar an Satharn 26 Márta. Má tá suim ag foireann ar bith a bheith páirteach sa chomórtas, ba cheart teagmháil a dhéanamh le Maighréad McCotter tríd an ríomhphost ar maighreadmcc@hotmail. co.uk.

Deir Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, rúnaí Laochra Loch Lao, gur comhartha é an fhoireann nua seo d’uaillmhian agus d’aidhmeanna fadtéarmacha an chumainn. “Bhí cuid de na mná a bhíonn ag tacú linn ag caint ar fhoireann peile na mban a sheoladh anuraidh, ach ní raibh a ndóthain ama acu chun an fhoireann a bhunú i gceart. I mbliana, áfach, tá siad réidh agus tá lántacaíocht acu ón gcumann,” a deir an peileadóir. “Tá ag éirí go hiontach le foireann na bhfear le cúpla bliain anuas agus tá tionchar an-dearfach aige ar athbheochan na Gaeilge sa chathair. Ní hamháin sin ach tá stádas níos airde ag Gaeilgeoirí Bhéal Feirste ar fud na hÉireann anois. Cheap muid gurb í an chéad chéim eile ná foireann a bhunú do na mná, agus mar sin beidh dhá fhoireann agus bus lán le lucht tacaíochta ag taisteal go Dún na nGall i mí an Mheithimh chun ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar iarthar Bhéal Feirste. Is am iontach corraitheach é seo.”Beidh iomaíocht ghéar ann d’fhir Laochra Loch Lao i mbliana sa chomórtas. Beidh siad ag imirt in aghaidh foirne ó Phort Láirge, An Sean Phobal, sna réamhbhabhtaí. Beidh Na Gaeil Óga, foireann nuabhunaithe ó Bhaile Átha Cliath a ghlac spreagadh ó éachtaí Laochra Loch Lao, ag glacadh páirte i gComórtas Peile na Gaeltachta i mbliana freisin.

Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil déan teagmháil le feargal@forbairtfeirste.com no scairt air 02890438597 nó 07841101630

There is no doubt that the members of Laochra Loch Lao CLG are acting on their slogan ‘Lean ar aghaidh’ (Carry on). The club is entering a Ladies Football team in the National Gaeltacht competition this year. The competition will take place in Donegal in June and the Ladies will be doing their best to play great football when they get there. Laochra Loch Lao, the Gaeltacht Quarter Football team, were formed in 2006 and playing a central role the Irish language community revival since their inception. The Ladies are already in preparation for the competition with 25 members registered.

The women come from a few different local clubs, notably, Gort na Móna, St Pauls and St Galls. In further preparation, the Laochra Loch Lao committee have organised a Ladies football competition that will take place on March 26. St Pauls, Rossa and Sarsfields GAA pitches will be used as the location for the games. The competition is in memory of Susan Grieve, who was a strong supporter of the Irish Language and Gaelic Games. Susan’s daughter, Mary is a teacher in Coláiste Feirste and a committee member of Laochra Loch Lao as well. She is also one of the competition organisers and is expecting teams from across Ulster to turn out on the day.

‘We aiming to attract teams from all over Ulster’ she said. ‘There is a lot of interest from people in the competition. My own club, St Pauls, are taking part but i’ll be playing for Laochra Loch Lao. I can’t wait for the competition as it gives me a chance to come against my fellow players!’  Football matches isn’t all that will take place on the occasion. There will be a carnival atmosphere and money will be raised for Chest, Heart and Stroke  Association NI. The charity will be staging an awareness campaign in the afternoon.  A fundraising disco and presentation will precede the the football in St Pauls CLG. Regisatrion for football teams at midday on Saturday 26 March. Any teams interested in taking part in the competition should contact Maighread McCotter via email at maighreadmcc@hotmail.co.uk

Laochra Loch Lao secretary, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, said that the new team was a sign of the future aims and ambitions of the club. ‘Some of our female supporters were hoping to launch a female team last year but they hadn’t enough time to form the team properly, ‘ said the footballer. ‘The men’s team has gone really well in recent years anf has had a hugly positive effect on the language revival in the city. Not onl that, but Belfast Gaels now have a higher status throughout the country. We viewed that a Ladies team was the next stage of our development and now we will have two teams and a bus load of supporters travelling to Donegal in June representing West Belfast. Its exciting times.’  Meanwhile, the Laochra men’s team will face stiff opposition in the competition. They will be playing against Waterford’s An tSeanphobail in the preliminary round. A newly formed Dublin based team, Na Gaeil Óga, who were inspired by the exploits of Laochra Loch Lao, are also taking part in this year’s National Gaeltacht competition.

For further information Foram na nÓg, contact us on feargal@forbairtfeirste.com or call us 02890438597 or 07841101630