Internalional Journalists Get Sporty!
We were delighted over the past few very busy weeks to welcome a group of International Journalists.
The group included sports and travel journalists from England, Scotland, Holland, Germany and India.
They were on a whistle stop tour of the country organised by the amazing folks in Fáilte Ireland.
The fact that they were here in September was no co-incidence. The highlight of their trip was a visit to Croke Park on a most special Sunday – Sunday 8th Sept 2013.You guessed it — they came for the All Hurling Ireland Final.
We had the pleasure of hosting the guys on their way to Dublin. We brought them along to a very famous club in Kildare – Sarsfields in Newbridge. It was an absolute pleasure to introduce the group to how the grassroots of Gaelic Games operate. There are few better places to showcase the GAA than in a club that every Saturday host over 300 kids at the Dermot Earley Junior Academy.
As we arrived to set up in preparation for the visitors – we had the pleasure of meeting Anthony Rainbow a former player and curent inter county manager who is reveered locally and nationally . In the true tradition of Gaelic Superstars he was at the academy with his own son and helping out with all the other kids.
Leinster counties beware as he’s only one of many laying the foundation of the next generation of Kildare players.
Just as the kids left the club, our band of merry international journalists arrived and they were a pleasure to host. We spend the afternoon explaining the unique nature of Gaelic Games and most importantly playing! We had a blast!
Following the trip – one of the group – Hugh Mac Donald, Sports Editor for the Herald in Scotland wrote a superb piece on the final – for a great descrtiption check it out here.
In a follow up note – Hugh told us directly :The reaction to the article on the final was extraordinary. It was carried in the print edition of The Herald and it received a total of 50,000 hits, 400 tweets and about 500 facebook likes. In addition, dozens of your countrymen and women emailed me.
The final was one of the greatest sporting occasions of my life. It was strangely, but powerfully emotional for me.
From a man with 30 years journalistic experience for us that carries some weight!
Ár mbuíochas go Hugh, Newbridge Sarsfields agus Fáilte Ireland.
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