Mayo Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta to take place in Ballycastle ^Featured

Deputy O’ Mahony stated that the competition is one of the most important club tournaments in the country and that with TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta now broadcasting the finals live it is a great chance for players and clubs to shine on the national stage.

Deputy O'Mahony added: "Over the years, Mayo intercounty players like Chris Barrett, Billy Joe Padden, Colm Cafferkey, Mikey Sweeney and Fintan Ruddy have gone from the Comórtas Peile finals straight onto the Mayo senior county panel.  The Comórtas brings out the very best in club footballers and I hope it is a similar situation
during this year’s Mayo finals in Ballycastle."

Chairperson of the Mayo Comórtas Peile competition Piaras Ó Raghallaigh stated that the commitment of the Gaeltacht clubs to the Comórtas tournament and the local
interest in it was very strong at present and he looked forward to another excellent weekend in Ballycastle.

"Tá na clubanna Gaeltachta anseo i Maigh Eo an láidir faoi láthair.  Tá Acaill, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Béal a’ Mhuirthead, Cill tSeadhna, Cill Chomáin agus Baile an Chaisil ag déanamh go maith agus is iontach an rud é go bhfuil an comórtas seo ann.  Tá CLG Mhaigh Eo go mór taobh thiar den Chomórtas seo agus tá súil againn go mbeidh an-dheireadh seachtaine againn i dTuaisceart Mhaigh Eo” a deir sé.

He went on to say that “We need to continue to build on the success of Mayo Gaeltacht clubs in recent years at the national finals and we must travel to Gweedore in Donegal for the finals with committed junior and senior champions from Mayo,” he said.

Cathaoirleach of CLG Bhaile an Chaisil, Martin Heffernan, said the club were delighted to be hosting the Mayo Comórtas finals this year.

Mayo Comórtas Chairperson Piaras Ó Raghallaigh, Cllr. Michael Holmes and Cllr. Rose Conway Walsh, special guest John O'Mahony and Ballycastle GAA Club Chairperson Martin Heffernan.

Great honour

“It is a great honour to welcome all the other Mayo Gaeltacht Clubs to Ballycastle and I know they will get a ‘céad míle fáilte’ from everyone.  This is the first
time in the history of the club to be hosting the Mayo Comórtas finals and we will certainly be rolling out the red carpet for the visiting clubs,” he said.

Oifigeach Cultúrtha agus Teanga le CLG Bhaile an Chaisil Deaglán Mac Congamhna said the club were planning an entire weekend of activities around the Comórtas this
year.  “We will have music sessions on the Friday and Saturday night.  We are organising a cultural and historical tour of the area on the Saturday evening with Seamus Caulfield and we have two special Masses in Irish in Ballycastle and Belderrig on the Sunday,” he said. 

The Comórtas Draw is as follows:

JUNIOR COMÓRTAS SEMI-FINALS:

10th of March in Ballycastle
11.00am: Ballycastle vs. Kilcommon
12.30pm: Belmullet vs. Kiltane

SENIOR COMÓRTAS DRAW

Preliminary Round to be played 3rd/4th March.
Achill vs. Belmullet (TBC)

SENIOR COMÓRTAS SEMI-FINALS

2.00pm:    Preliminary Round Winners vs. Kiltane
3.30pm:    Tourmakeady vs. Kilcommon

The 4 semi-finals will be played on Saturday, March 10th at Tom Langan GAA Park in Ballycastle with the finals on Sunday, March 11th at the same venue.  The Junior Final will be played at 2.00pm and the Senior Comórtas Final at 3.30pm.

Former Mayo GAA Manager John O'Mahony with Ballycastle GAA club officers Martin Heffernan, Eilish Ormsby and Seamus Ormsby at the launch of the 2012 Comórtas in Ballycastle.