Féile Peil na nÓg is a national festival of Gaelic football for boys and girls under 14 years of age.  It was first held in Cavan in 1982, the brainchild of Fintan Tierney of Butlersbridge.  Féile An Cabhán 1982 saw a total of 40 teams participate, 20 of whom were from other counties.  It consisted of two boys divisions only - no girls teams.  The girls didn't participate until 1994.

 

Féile Peil na nÓg was sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland from 1993 to 2010.  They also sponsor Féile na nGael and have done so since 1971.  This is the longest running sponsorship in the GAA or in any other sporting event in this country or even in Europe. In 2011, Bus Éireann took over as the main sponsors of Féile Péile na nÓg.

Each year approximately 30,000 boys and girls from each of the 32 counties, and some teams from the UK, Europe and USA, participate in Féile.  A preliminary competition is held in each county for the right to represent the county at the Féile finals.  The winning club then travels to the host county, Laois & Offaly in 2012, where they are hosted by one of the cubs in that county.

Féile Peil na nÓg places great emphasis and importance on proper participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship.  Féile involves the whole community, clubs, schools, social and cultural groups, families, civic and religious authorities.  It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of football among the youth of our country.  Féile Peil na nÓg helps to bond communities, forge friendships, provide educational opportunities and unearth new leaders.

Cavan 1982, 1983, 1984, 2008

Cork 1985, 1986, 2011

Kildare 1987, 1988, 2009

Galway 1989, 1990, 2003

Meath 1991, 1992

Kerry 1993, 1994

Mayo 1995, 1996

Donegal 1997, 1998

Clare 1999

Dublin 2000

Tipperary 2001

Carlow 2002

Tyrone 2004

Limerick 2005

Wicklow 2006

Leitrim 2007

Derry 2010

Offaly’s history in Feile Peil na nÓg stretches back to the start of the competition and an Offaly team has taken part in every Feile since 1982 however the county had to wait 16 years for success in the competition when Rhode took the Div 4 title in Donegal. Tullamore then took up the mantle of Offaly Feile representatives at Feile  An Clár in 1999 and won Div 3 that year and Div 2 in 2000 which took place in Dublin.

Offaly success continued in 2001 at Tipperary when Shane Kelly of Ballycumber/Tubber won the skills competition. St Rynaghs won Div 2 in 2007 while in recent years Ferbane/Belmont and St Vincents have been wonderful representatives at the National Finals.

Offaly will have teams competing across all six divisions in this years Feile Peil competition so we may have some more Offaly teams on the roll of honour this year.

All clubs in Offaly are currently in the middle of their preparations for this years competition on the weekend of 22^nd to 24^th June and it promises to be a weekend full of action as the cream of U14 Football teams from around the country and abroad will arrive to take on the local teams in a series of games.

A preview of some of the Offaly teams taking part:

St. Broughans

St.Broughans  are an underage club in the parish of Clonbullogue named after a local saint who established a monastery in the parish in the early days of Christianity. The club develops players from the three adult clubs of Walsh Island, Bracknagh and Clonbullogue.

We were established in1991 with adult members from the three clubs. Wecompete at all levels at underage ,primarily at B level. Having won the U14 A championship in2008,despite our small numbers, we have in recent years endeavoured to compete in all A grades.Former members of the club include County players Alan and Willie Mulhall, Brian Connor and current St. Broughans player Peter Cunningham, who is Captain of the Offaly Minor Football team.

St Rynaghs

St. Rynaghs Football Club are in Div. 5 group 1.

St. Rynagh’s are  hosting Lancashire in Cloghan. On Saturday St Rynaghs, Lancashire, Moate and Dicksboro will play the remainder of their  group matches in Cloghan. The plans for the weekend are as follows.

Friday:

Arrival of Lancashire  at lunchtime and the first Feile match is at 3.00 pm. After the match Lancashire will be introduced to their host families and from there we will all make our way to the Feile Parade in Portlaoise.

 

Saturday

The matches on the day will run from 10 am to 1.30 pm. The winners of our group will travel to Mucklagh for the semi final at 5.00 pm.

At 8.00 pm St Rynaghs boys & girls along with our visitors from Lancashire and Cork will attend mass in their club colours and after mass the four teams will retire to our club house for a Bar B Q and disco.

 Sunday

Lancashire will depart from Cloghan.

 

St Vincent’s Minor Club

St Vincent’s is an amalgamation of the 4 Adult clubs within the Daingean Parish, Daingean, Ballycommon, Cappincur and Kilclonfert. The main National schools that the players from the club attend are Cappagh NS, Daingean NS, with pupils also in schools in Tullamore & Croghan. Most of the players attend secondary school in Tullamore.The club celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011 and has competed in the A grade at all age groups, since we won the minor B in 2002.Whilst being competitive, we have not been too successful in terms of championship silverware, with one U12 championship win, (2002) to our credit over the years . There have been plenty of near misses along the way and we have appeared in many semi finals and a minor final in 2007.Last year was a good year for the club when we were disappointingly beaten in the minor semi final by Edenderry, having earlier beaten eventual championship winners Ferbane Belmont, in the League Final. We also contested the U14 final where we were eventually beaten by a strong Ferbane Belmont team. We  won the Offaly Feile and represented Offaly well down in Cork, only losing out to the eventual division 2 winners.

So the team has plenty of experience of the competition from last year. Mentors appointed for this year are Bobby Delaney (Cappincur),Liam Norris (Cappincur), & John Joe Maher (Ballycommon).

We are hosting the Armagh champions, Lurgan Gaels and we would like to thank all the people who have agreed to provide accomadation for thevisiting panel.

Our games will take place in Cappincur on Friday & Saturday 22nd & 23rd of June and we hope to see as many people as possible from the parish come along and support the lads. There will be top quality football on show with ourselves, Lurgan Gaels, Kilcormac Killoughey & Kilmacud Crokes playing 4 matches in Cappincur.

We will have marquees set up on site in Cappincur where we will have tea/coffee/ sandwiches/BBQ, and shop available. We will co host a disco for our U14's, our visitors, along with St Vincents ladies and their visitors. We will be doing all we can to ensure a memorable timefor all visiting our parish.

Finally we would like to wish the team & mentors every success in thecompetition.

Ferbane/Belmont

The Ferbane/Belmont Minor Club will be competing in Group A of Division 1 along with Clara, O’Donovan Rossa (Antrim) and their visiting club St Brigids from Castleknock/Blanchardstown in Dublin. Ferbane/Belmont are no strangers to the Féile Peil na nÓg competition as they have represented Offaly on three occasions in recent years.

Ferbane/Belmont won it’s first ever county Féile title in 2008 and competed in the Division 2 groupings in the Cavan/Fermanagh Féile. We were hosted by the St. Patrick’s GAA Club in Donagh, close to Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh for the weekend and were so unlucky not to progress to the division 2 final, just losing out to the eventual Féile winners Aghamore, Co. Mayo by a single point in the semi-final. This Ferbane/Belmont squad are the clubs current minor footballers and since that Féile in Cavan, they have gone on to win county U14, U16 and Minor football titles in Offaly.  In addition, 12 of that panel won all-Ireland senior vocational A championship medals with Gallen school in 2011. (6 players from this squad played football & hurling for Offaly minors in 2012).

In 2009, the Ferbane/Belmont Minor Club retained the Offaly Féile County Title and represented the faithful in the Féile Chill Dara where they were hosted by the Eadestown club near Naas. Once again, they were just short of glory when they lost out to the group winners Celbridge (old friends from the Féile na nGael in Laois/Offaly in 2008) in their penultimate group game. They had beaten their hosts and the Cavan champions, Baileboro in the group and finished runners-up in their group that year.

More heartbreak followed in 2010 when it looked like Ferbane/Belmont were coasting towards a Division 2 semi-final when the St. Johns GAA club from Antrim, came with a very late rally to pinch top spot in the group with a last minute goal. Ferbane/Belmont has qualified for their third Féile in a row and this time travelled to the Oak Leaf County for Féile Dhoire. The clubs hosts were the St. Mary’s, Faughanvale GAA club and the faithful representatives did the county proud with great performances against the Derry teams before suffering a heart-breaking defeat to the eventual group winners with a score line of 1-10 to 4-3.

The theme of the 2012 Féile Peil in Laois/Offaly is “Fun and Friendship”. The Ferbane/Belmont Minor GAA Club certainly has had plenty of experiences of fun and friendship in those years of Féile Peil. To this day, many of our players are still in contact with their GAA friends and host families from Fermanagh, Kildare and Derry. The visiting teams to Laois and Offaly this June will enjoy the same welcome and hospitality provided by all previous hosting counties.  Féile competitions are run in the true sprit of Cumann Luthchleas Gael and the 2012 Laois/Offaly Féile Peil will truly be a festival of Fun and Friendship.

 Ferbane/Belmont Panel

 Michael Wren, Barry Rohan, Cathal O'Shea, Emmet Molloy, David Nally, Eric Fletcher, Ronan Hynes, Joseph Egan, Gavin Kelly, Max Feehan, Lorcan Daly, Cian Healy, Ronan Butler, Kyle Higgins, David Gavin, Sean Flynn, Ronan McGuire, Oisin Daly, Killian Egan, Cian Darcy, Conor Kenny, Jack Devery, Jack Cullinan, Cian Johnson, Jack Darcy, Ronan Devery, Brendan Doyle, Dylan Quinn, Sean Ibbotson, Michael Egan, Jamie Kelly, Alex Kearns, Patrick Clancy

 

 

Edenderry GAA

 

Cumann Luthcleas Gael Eadan Doire was founded in 1891 and promotes Gaelic games, culture and lifelong participation. It is the largest club in the county with over 850 members.

Edenderry have a strong tradition at Feile Peil na nÓg having competed in Feile Kerry in 1993 and Feile Wicklow in 2006.

 We were based in Finuge, Co. Kerry (Eamon Fitzmaurice and Enda Galvin were their best players, both played for Kerry after).  We beat them in the first game and then Ardfert of Kerry before hammering St. Brigids, Kiltoom in what must be a record score 5-12 to 0-01 in a 20 minute game.

 We then beat Listowel Emmet's in the Semi Final (Two Kennelly's Noel & Tadhg playing) and eventually succumbed to Bray Emmett's in the Div. 3 final by a point in Tralee.

Former Edenderry senior star Basil Malone was a member of that side and came second in the individual Skills Competition to the winner Stephen O’Neill who went on to make his mark with Tyrone. Current Club Chairman, Colm Cummins was also a member of that side.

 In 2006 Edenderry were hosted by Baltinglass and players who played included current Senior players Derek Kelly, Mark Young, Stuart Cullen and Daniel Nolan.

Our Ladies team has also represented the county at Feile Derry in 2010 where they acquitted themselves very well, narrowly losing their semi-final to the eventual Div 2 winners. In addition, Edenderry’s Shauna Ward won the individual Skills Competition bringing further glory to the club.

 

Below are the fixtures involving the boy’s teams from Offaly, the full fixture list can be viewed at www.feilelaoisoffaly2012.com.

 

BOYS DIVISION ONE FIXTURES

Group A

                                                                                                                                Venue, Date & Time

St. Brigid’s-Dublin                           vs            Ferbane/Belmont           Ferbane 22/06/2012 15.00

O’Donovan Rossa-Antrim            vs            Clara                                      Clara 22/06/2012 15.00

St. Brigid’s-Dublin                           vs            Clara                                      Clara 23/06/2012 10.00

O’Donovan Rossa-Antrim            vs            Ferbane/Belmont          Clara 23/06/2012 11.00

St. Brigid’s-Dublin                           vs            O’Donovan Rossa-Antrim Clara 23/06/2012 12.30

Ferbane/Belmont                           vs            Clara                                      Clara 23/06/2012 13.30

Group D

Moortown- Tyrone                         vs            Edenderry                           Edenderry 22/06/2012 15.00

Ballincollig-Cork                              vs            St. Broughans                    Clonbullogue 22/06/2012 15.00

Moortown,-Tyrone                         vs            St. Broughans                    Walsh Island 23/06/2012 10.00

Ballincollig-Cork                              vs            Edenderry                           Walsh Island 23/06/2012 11.00

Moortown,-Tyrone                         vs            Ballincollig-Cork              Walsh Island 23/06/2012 12.30

St. Broughans                                    vs            Edenderry                           Walsh Island 23/06/2012 13.30

SEMI FINALS:

Winner A v Winner B  Gracefield 23/06/2012 5.00 p.m.

Winner C v Winner D Gracefield 23/06/2012 6.30 p.m.

FINAL: O’ Moore Park, Portlaoise 24/06/2012 3.30 p.m.

Skills Competition at 11.45 a.m. on 23/6/2012 with Skills Semi Finals at 5.45 p.m.

 

 

BOYS DIVISION TWO FIXTURES

Group A

                                                                                                                                Venue, Date & Time

Clann Eireann-Armagh                  vs            St. Vincent’s                      St. Vincent’s 22/06/2012 15.00

Kilmacud Crokes-Dublin                               vs            Kilcormac/Killoughey   Mountbolus 22/06/2012 15.00

Clann Eireann-Armagh                  vs            Kilcormac/Killoughey    Cappincur 23/06/2012 10.00

Kilmacud Crokes-Dublin               vs            St. Vincent’s                      Cappincur 23/06/2012 11.00

Clann Eireann-Armagh                  vs            Kilmacud Crokes-Dublin Cappincur 23/06/2012 12.30

St. Vincent’s                                      vs            Kilcormac/Killoughey    Cappincur 23/06/2012 13.30

Group C

Skryne-Meath                                   vs            Shamrocks                          Mucklagh 22/06/2012 15.00

St. Eunan’s-Donegal                       vs            Ballinamere / Durrow   Durrow 22/06/2012 15.00

Skryne-Meath                                   vs            Ballinamere / Durrow    Mucklagh 23/06/2012 10.00

St. Eunan’s-Donegal                       vs            Shamrocks                          Mucklagh 23/06/2012 11.00

Skryne-Meath                                   vs            St. Eunan’s-Donegal       Mucklagh 23/06/2012 12.30

Ballinamere / Durrow                    vs            Shamrocks                          Mucklagh 23/06/2012 13.30

SEMI FINALS:

Winner A v Winner B O’Connor Park, Tullamore 23/06/2012 5.00 p.m.

Winner C v Winner D O’Connor Park, Tullamore 23/06/2012 6.30 p.m.

FINAL: O’ Moore Park, Portlaoise 24/06/2012 1.00 p.m.

Skills Competition at 11.45 a.m. on 23/6/2012 with Skills Semi Finals at 5.45 p.m.

 

 

BOYS DIVISION THREE FIXTURES

Group A

                                                                                                                                Venue, Date & Time

St Ciarans, Roscommon                                vs            Na Fianna                            Geashill 22/06/2012 15.00

Scotstown-Monaghan                   vs            Rhode                                   Rhode 22/06/2012 15.00

St Ciarans, Roscommon                                vs            Rhode                                   Geashill 23/06/2012 10.00

Scotstown-Monaghan                   vs            Na Fianna                            Geashill 23/06/2012 11.00

St Ciarans, Roscommon                                vs            Scotstown-Monaghan   Geashill 23/06/2012 12.30

Na Fianna                                            vs            Rhode                                   Geashill 23/06/2012 13.30

Group B

JK Brackens-Tipperary                   vs            Park Ratheniska               Ratheniska 22/06/2012 15.00

Naomh Eanna, Wexford               vs            Ballycumber/Tubber      Tubber 22/06/2012 15.00

JK Brackens-Tipperary                   vs            Ballycumber/Tubber     Ratheniska 23/06/2012 10.00

Naomh Eanna, Wexford               vs            Park Ratheniska               Ratheniska 23/06/2012 11.00

JK Brackens-Tipperary                   vs            Naomh Eanna, Wexford Ratheniska 23/06/2012 12.30

Park Ratheniska                               vs            Ballycumber/Tubber      Ratheniska 23/06/2012 13.30

SEMI FINALS:

Winner A v Winner B  Graiguecullen 23/06/2012 5.00 p.m.

Winner C v Winner D Graiguecullen 23/06/2012 6.30 p.m.

FINAL: Portlaoise GAA Grounds 24/06/2012 1.10 p.m.

Skills Competition at 11.45 a.m. on 23/6/2012 with Skills Semi Finals at 5.45 p.m.

 

 

BOYS DIVISION FOUR FIXTURES

Group A

                                                                                                                                Venue, Date & Time

Castlehaven-Cork                            vs            Tullamore                           Tullamore 22/06/2012 15.00

Tubbercurry- Sligo                          vs            Rosemount                        Rosemount 22/06/2012 15.00

Castlehaven-Cork                            vs            Rosemount                        Tullamore 23/06/2012 10.00

Tubbercurry,-Sligo                          vs            Tullamore                           Tullamore 23/06/2012 11.00

Castlehaven-Cork                            vs            Tubbercurry- Sligo          Tullamore 23/06/2012 12.30

Tullamore                                           vs            Rosemount                        Tullamore 23/06/2012 13.30

Group C

Newtown Blues-Louth                  vs            Clough Ballacolla             Ballacolla 22/06/2012 15.00

South London                                    vs            Birr                                         Birr 22/06/2012 15.00

Newtown Blues-Louth                  vs            Birr                                        Birr 23/06/2012 10.00

South London                                    vs            Clough Ballacolla             Birr 23/06/2012 11.00

Newtown Blues-Louth                  vs            South London                    Birr 23/06/2012 12.30

Birr                                                         vs            Clough Ballacolla             Birr 23/06/2012 13.30

SEMI FINALS:

Winner A v Winner B  Portarlington 23/06/2012 5.00 p.m.

Winner C v Winner D Portarlington 23/06/2012 6.30 p.m.

FINAL: Portlaoise GAA Grounds  24/06/2012 12.00 noon

Skills Competition at 11.45 a.m. on 23/6/2012 with Skills Semi Finals at 5.45 p.m.

 

BOYS DIVISION FIVE FIXTURES

Group A

                                                                                                                                Venue, Date & Time

Dicksboro-Kilkenny                        vs            Moate                                   Moate 22/06/2012 15.00

Lancashire                                          vs            St. Rynaghs                         Cloghan 22/06/2012 15.00

Dicksboro-Kilkenny                        vs            St. Rynaghs                         Cloghan 23/06/2012 10.00

Lancashire                                          vs            Moate                                  Cloghan 23/06/2012 11.00

Dicksboro-Kilkenny                        vs            Lancashire                          Cloghan 23/06/2012 12.30

Moate                                                   vs            St. Rynaghs                         Cloghan 23/06/2012 13.30

Group B

Ennistymon-Clare                           vs            DER Gaels                          Doon 22/06/2012 15.00

Hertfordshire                                    vs            Rosenallis                           Rosenallis 22/06/2012 15.00

Ennistymon-Clare                           vs            Rosenallis                          Rosenallis 23/06/2012 10.00

Hertfordshire                                    vs            DER Gaels                           Rosenallis 23/06/2012 11.00

Ennistymon-Clare                           vs            Hertfordshire                    Rosenallis 23/06/2012 12.30

Rosenallis                                           vs            DER Gaels                           Rosenallis 23/06/2012 13.30

Group C

St Caillins, Leitrim                           vs            Camross                               Camross 22/06/2012 15.00

Warwickshire                                    vs            Gracefield                         Gracefield 22/06/2012 15.00

St Caillins, Leitrim                           vs            Gracefield                          Gracefield 23/06/2012 10.00

Warwickshire                                    vs            Camross                               Gracefield 23/06/2012 11.00

St Caillins, Leitrim                           vs            Warwickshire                    Gracefield 23/06/2012 12.30

Gracefield                                          vs            Camross                               Gracefield 23/06/2012 13.30

SEMI FINALS:

Winner A v Winner B  Mucklagh 23/06/2012 5.00 p.m.

Winner C v Winner D Mucklagh 23/06/2012 6.30 p.m.

FINAL: O’Moore Park, Portlaoise 24/06/2012 11. a.m. Skills Competition at 11.45 a.m. on 23/6/2012 with Skills Semi Finals at 5.45 p.m.