Youngsters club together to score GAA world record
THE pitches of a popular GAA club were awash with blue and yellow yesterday as more than 1,100 children donned their jerseys for a record- breaking attempt.
Na Fianna in Glasnevin on Dublin’s northside managed to set a new world record for the most people to take part in a GAA training session.
It was organised to raise much needed funds for the Mobhi Road club which runs more than 100 teams at different ages across Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, ladies football and handball.
The goal was to beat 528 – the most recent record set by St Joseph’s GAA Club in Glenavy, Co Antrim, in May 2010.
More than 2,000 people crowded into the club grounds while the 1,100 participants easily smashed the record.
It is hoped in the region of € 20,000 will be raised for the club.
Former Dublin Under- 21 captain Johnny Cooper led out the 1,100 participants.
Also there to lend a helping hand were Dublin hurlers Tomas Brady and Martin Quilty and ladies footballers Mary Nevin and Bernie Finlay.
GAA president Liam O'neill said: “What it is really significant about this is while the people who are organising events in the club know the size of the club, I'd say a lot of parents here are only finding out today how big this club is and what a wonderful club it is to be part of.
“Never before has the entire group of young people involved in the club been assembled together, it is fantastic to see.”
Mum Karen Dunne, whose 12- year- old and 15year- old sons took part in yesterday's record attempt, said: “This is a real community club. You have boys and girls here who have played together since the age of five and despite going to different secondary schools have remained friends because of Na Fianna. There is a brilliant social aspect to the club.”