GAA Club to replicate unique Hurling/Camogie event
GAA Club to replicate unique Hurling/Camogie event
GAA Club to replicate unique Hurling/Camogie event
By Sarah Stanley
Cumann Báire Setanta will host a unique GAA celebration of Irish and Japanese culture when Setanta and Nihon Gaels take to the pitch in a friendly affair on Thursday evening, April 30th, in Ballymun, Dublin. Following on from a similar successful event last year, this celebratory match will begin at 6pm and will be followed by a celebration of cultural exchange in the clubhouse.
This year's event will welcome Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail, Dublin County Board Secretary John Costello, Dublin County Board Chairman Seán Shanley as well as representatives of the Japanese Embassy as guests.
Speaking on behalf of Setanta GAA, Chairman Proinsias Ó Conaighle said, "Within the community, it strengthens our link with DCU [Dublin City University/> and broadens the basis for inter cultural relations. Our club was set up in 1980 to provide hurling and camogie for those in Ballymun who wished to play the game. We are delighted to be able to extend this opportunity to people from other cultures and backgrounds".
Nihon Gaels are a group of Japanese students from DCU who are members of the Japanese Society (JSoc) on campus. As part of their remit to explore and sample Irish traditions and culture they attended a weekly traditional music sessions in Setanta GAA club and became interested in the game of hurling. From this the students took up training which culminated in the organisation of a match between a mixture of players from Nihon Gaels and Setanta.
Speaking about the event Nao Ukai, a Japanese player for Nihon Gaels said, "Sport is a no barrier way of exchanging friendship and learning culture. This is my second year with Nihon Gaels. I enjoy helping new Japanese to learn about hurling through JSoc."
Without the aid of a major sponsor this year, Setanta GAA Club have received lots of help from local businesses in the community, in particular Dublin City Council, and Pat Daly and the Games Development Department in Croke Park who has supplied them with helmets, sliotars and hurleys to contribute and help those participating in the event.
