Ball Kilmore club is all set for special day in its proud history

FROM SOUTH Wexford to New York one knows how important G.A.A. clubs are to communities, home and abroad. In the G.A.A’s own manual for clubs, the Association itself states that ‘the G.A.A. club is the bedrock of every Irish community and provides an organised structure from which great community spirit is generated’.

For some sporting bodies a line like that might be seen as giving an inflated sense of their own importance, but for virtually the entire island of Ireland, and a growing number of places around the globe, the G.A.A. is really the heart of the community.

Kilmore joined with Rathangan parish as the only Wexford club to tour America on two occasions in the late sixties. And next Sunday will once again be a special occasion for the Kilmore club, with the official opening of their new all-weather indoor facilities, a further continuation of the development of this proud G.A.A. unit.

The love of all things Gaelic will be captured by the visit of high-flying Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford Senior hurling outfit to face Waterford to mark this special occasion. The opening is timed for 2 p.m., with the game itself scheduled for 3.15 p.m., and it is sure to prove a huge attraction not just for the parish of Kilmore but for all surrounding parishes and beyond.

The G.A.A. club in Kilmore is for all, adults and under-age, male and female, as it’s backed by families whose connections go back generations. Indeed, the club is one of the oldest in the county.

For as long as I can remember, and I acted as club Secretary for both parishes for a number of years, the club has always been an integral part of the parish of Kilmore. In the current climate, that attitude, that togetherness is vital to success on and off the field.

When a club, in any sport, wants to go in the right direction, pulling the one way, it makes everything an awful lot easier. Once people are willing to give up their time, and others are willing to recognise it, that makes the job so much easier.

So Sunday next is a really special occasion for Kilmore G.A.A. club.

Considering that Wexford hurling is on the crest of a wave at the moment, the people of the parish and surrounding areas should come out in their hundreds and give Davy, his backroom and players a real Forth and Bargy welcome.

The G.A.A. is the bedrock of this place, so this is an opportunity for the parish of Kilmore to demonstrate what the G.A.A. really means to them. The bonds that the G.A.A. form up and down the country between men and women of all ages are what makes it so special and so vital to Irish society.

Wexford’s hurling revival gained further impetus with a stunning victory over Galway in Salthill on Sunday. The weekend action threw up many surprises but the manner in which Wexford clawed back Galway suggests that the county is back on the right road, albeit with much work still to do.

A major factor in Wexford’s change of fortune has been the arrival of Davy Fitzgerald, attracted to the county last October by then Chairman, Diarmuid Devereux. His impact has rubbed off on the players and caught the imagination of the public, with the return of the purple and gold as contenders a powerful boost for hurling itself.

While hurling is catching the imagination of Wexford supporters, let’s not forget our footballers. On Sunday in Innovate Wexford Park they have a top of the table clash with Waterford. A third successive victory would continued the marvellous work of ‘Banty’ and his backroom, so let’s give the footballers every support.

FOOTNOTE: I would like to reflect back on a story in a daily newspaper last Wednesday relating to Jack Guiney and some other players’ prospects for the coming season. Just to clear the air and address the finger-pointing from some in official G.A.A. positions, I had no input into the story like some people would like others to believe.

I suggest they should look closer to home regarding the origin of this article and others of recent times. The current politics has no place in Wexford G.A.A., and for the record both Davy and Banty have my full support.

In other news, the first meeting of the new Communications committee didn’t get off to the greatest start. For their inaugural gathering in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Friday night, just two people - the P.R.O. and one committee member - attended.