Ulster GAA Launch 125 Celebrations
The Ulster Council GAA launched the 125th Celebrations of the Association in Ulster today (Tuesday 3rd February) in the Europa Hotel in Belfast. During the launch, the details of the events that are due to take place throughout this anniversary year were revealed.
In Ulster, the theme of these celebrations is focused around what we are, looking at all our past achievements and creating a stronger GAA to serve as a legacy for the future.
A wall chart of the events has been published and will be distributed as a free supplement in tomorrow’s Irish News. This calendar highlights the events that will take place in 2009 and include:
- A series of Historical Lectures with the Cardinal O Fiaich Library culminating in a Conference on 13th/14th March 2009.
- GAA Schools Day – 24th April 2009
- La na gClub – 10th May 2009
- National Handball Championships – 15th -17th May 2009
- Gala Ulster Championship events covering all Gaelic Sports culminating the Ulster Football Final
- 125 Themed Championships incorporating Scór, Ladies Gaelic and Camogie
- Special Foundation Ceremony in Armagh – 1st November
- Gala Banquet in November
- Dedication of commemorative plaques in significant GAA areas
The launch was attended by over 150 representatives from all codes within the GAA Family including county managers Mickey Harte, Ross Carr, Terence McNaughton, Dominic McKinnley. Players from across Ulster were also in attendance with Jane Adams, Joe McMahon, Ryan Mellon, Ruairi Convery and Aoife McDonnell. Other notable attendees included Meave Kyle, Trevor Ringland and Sean O’Neill.
Master of Ceremonies for the event was BBC championship presenter Austin O’Callaghan who introduced Ulster GAA President Tom Daly. In his presentation, Tom Daly reiterated that ‘in Ulster we want 125 celebrations to be Club and Volunteer focused and the provincial council will endeavour to support our all our clubs in organising their 125 events .’
Daly also highlighted that the 125 celebrations would focus on the entire GAA family “This celebration is about all of the GAA in Ulster including our sister codes of Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie and we want to work with both Ulster Councils to ensure that the 125 year is relevant and meaningful for our players and members both male and female.”
