Funding boost for Mayo GAA club that shared Féile memories

Sharing Féile memories has meant a funding boost for a Mayo GAA club, despite the John West Féile na nÓg and Féile na nGael competitions not taking place this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Westport Camogie Club were among the winners in a My Féile Memories video competition to win €1,000 for their club, courtesy of John West. The club won the Division Six Shield title in 2017 and the Division Four Shield final in 2015.

Under 14 boys and girls teams from all over Ireland who were gearing up for this year’s John West Féile competitions were asked to create a video for a chance to win €1,000 for their club. There were four prizes of €1,000 on offer, one each for a boys Gaelic football team, a girls Gaelic football team, a hurling team and a camogie team.

Although the competitions cannot take place this year, sponsors John West are committed to honouring their commitment to the competition to enable teams to prepare for the 2021 events.

The 2020 John West Féile na nGael hurling and camogie finals were due to take place across Dublin, Kildare and Meath in June, with the John West Féile na nÓg football finals scheduled for Donegal, Derry and Tyrone.

“The cancellation of the 2020 John West Féile came as big disappointment to hundreds of young footballers, hurlers and camogie players all over Ireland, but safety must always come first,” said Lucy Gratton of natural protein experts John West.

“The John West Féile will be back stronger than ever next year, promoting the philosophy that every player should participate at a level fitting with their age, skills and strengths, as well as allowing clubs play against and foster links with teams in other counties and provinces.

“Creating and sharing special memories is a very important part of the John West Féile experience and we are grateful to all the clubs which used the Teamer app to share videos which highlighted this.”

Throughout its sponsorship of the John West Féile competitions, John West has focused on encouraging children to participate in Gaelic games while emphasising the importance natural protein plays in fuelling a young athlete.

To keep underage players sharp without competition, inter-county stars and John West Féile ambassadors Dan Morrissey, Limerick (hurling), Sarah Dervan, Galway (camogie), Michael Murphy, Donegal (Gaelic football), and Niamh Collins, Dublin (ladies Gaelic football), have each recorded coaching videos for the John West Ireland Facebook page, where the Westport Camogie Club video can also be seen.

“As a young 13-year-old club, John West Féile na nGael has been one of the most important factors in our development,” said Sinead Muldoon of Westport Camogie Club. “This is brilliant news for us and our John West Féile na nGael memories of the fun, friendship, competition and success we have shared will always be a special part of our club.”

Commented GAA sponsorship and commercial manager, Diarmaid Murphy: “John West’s continued support of the Féile competitions shows how its relationship with the competition is very much a partnership as opposed to just a sponsorship.”

*Pictured above, Westport Camogie Club's Division Four Shield final winning team of 2015. The club was amongst the winners after boys and girls Under 14 teams from all over Ireland who were gearing up for this year’s John West Féile competitions were asked to create a video, My Féile Memories, to win €1,000 for their club, courtesy of John West.