From Roe Valley to Boston!

Twenty young men from the greater Roe Valley area headed off in a jet plane recently to the capital of Massachusetts – Boston, for what could only be described as ‘a trip of a lifetime’.

Sixteen-year-old pupils from St Patricks College Dungiven, Limavady Grammar School, Limavady High School, Rossmar Special School, and St Marys Limavady made up the Roe Valley Cúchulainns who ably represented Ulster GAA, Roe Valley and their individual schools at the Continental Youth Championships, in the Irish Cultural Centre at Canton Park.

The trip was the pinnacle of Ulster GAA’s Cúchulainn Initiative, which is a cross community and cross border project which aims to bring young people from different backgrounds together through the medium of Gaelic Games.

The Roe Valley Cúchulainns are the fourth team to represent Ulster GAA at the annual Continental Youth Championships. The focus of the trip was the competition where the boys from Roe Valley took on Chicago’s St Jarlaths, before going head to head with two New York’s finest teams St Barnabas and Rockland. Competing at a high level the boys from Roe Valley were unable to bring home any silverware but done a great job playing as a team and proved that their GAA skills have improved immensely since the start of this worthy project. They played with great determination, and effort. Time spent mixing with the other teams at Canton Park was a great experience for the group, and was an opportunity to see the vast influence of the GAA across America, Canada, and Britain.

Speaking on returning from the trip Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said, “The weeklong trip to Boston was a once in a lifetime experience for these boys, when they had the opportunity to make lasting friendships with each other. It’s incredible that many of these boys live near each other but have never met each other as they are from different backgrounds. Through Ulster GAA’s project these boys left Boston as friends.

“Throughout the trip all the boys represented Ulster, Roe Valley, their schools and their families with great dignity. They are excellent ambassadors.

“I hope that many of these boys will continue their interest in Gaelic Games by getting involved in their local GAA clubs. Post-Boston events have been planned in order to harness the positive impact of the trip and to further encourage these young men and their families to become involved in the GAA in the Roe Valley.”

As part of the trip the team experienced the best of what Boston has to offer including a very special visit to the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park while they were taken on a guided tour of Boston College and were given the unique honour of training at the impressive 40,000-seater Alumni Stadium, home of Boston College American Football.

Downtown Boston proved popular attraction with the boys as they visited Faneuil Hall, Freedom Trail, Boston Harbour, Trolley Tours and much more. The day trip to America’s Greatest Themepark and Waterpark – Six Flags, was an unforgettable experience for the boys as they enjoyed the fun and sunshine.

Another highlight of the trip was a reception in honour of the team in the Irish Embassy hosted by Consul Michael Lonergan.

The team were accompanied on the trip by Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail and his wife Frances, Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary Danny Murphy, Ulster GAA, Ulster GAA staff Paul Callaghan, Stephen Donnelly and Maura Kelly and representatives from Ulster GAA Council. A teacher from each participating school also travelled, namely: Corienne Archiblad (Rossmar Special School), Nigel Handforth (Limavady Grammar), Stephen McConnell (Limavady High), Thomas McGilligan (St Mary’s Limavady) and Mervin McMullan (St Patrick’s Dungiven).