Thousands of footballers taking part in the John West Féile Peile na nÓg finals
Eighty-eight club sides from Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US will compete in the John West Féile Peile na nÓg Gaelic football and ladies football finals 2022 across nine venues in Dublin and Kildare this weekend.
What has grown to become one of the biggest underage sporting events in Europe is once more returning to regional venues for its final stages this year – and for the first time since the pandemic.
Close to 2,000 footballers will descend on St. Peter’s GAA at Ballyboughal, St. Jude’s, Templeogue, Kilmacud Crokes, Naomh Olaf, Sandyford, and the GAA’s National Games Development Centre at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.
Kildare venues are the county’s GAA Centre of Excellence at Hawkfield, Clane GAA, St. Kevin’s GAA at Staplestown and Allenwood GAA.
Clubs from Mayo competing are Westport (boys) and Claremorris (girls).
John West says it is delighted by the return of Féile Peile na nÓg to regional venues. Throughout its sponsorship, John West has focused on the importance nutrition plays in fuelling young athletes whilst encouraging children to participate in Gaelic games.
John West Féile retained the move to the Under 15 age grade in 2022, introduced last year to ensure children who missed out due to the pandemic in 2020 got a chance to compete in 2021. Rounders and handball also made a return to John West Féile this year.
This is the seventh year of John West’s sponsorship of Féile, which brings together thousands of young hurlers, camogie players and Gaelic footballers in a celebration of the GAA’s community ethos through underage competition.
GAA president Larry McCarthy said Féile has been an integral part of the GAA calendar for 50 years.
He added: “It nurtures a love of our games and ensures friendship and memories are among the key benefits of involvement in the GAA. Generations have experienced the joy of being a part of Féile na nGael and Féile Peil na nÓg, and I look forward to seeing this great success story continue in all our clubs.
“Our thanks to John West for the support they give us in the promotion of this iconic competition and to the national organising committee for their work on John West Féile 2022.”
Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association president Mícheál Naughton said the importance of sport had been emphasised by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“John West Féile encompasses so many key elements of life, with an emphasis on fun, friendship and participation. Players will make new friends and re-connect with old friends. John West Féile will once again provide young players with lifelong memories.”