Buncrana GAA has launched an exciting competition which offers the entire community an opportunity to propose a new name for the club.
The competition was launched by Club Chairman Paul McGonigle and County Footballer Ryan Bradley with a visit to Scoil Naomh Iosaf, St. Oran’s, Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Eighneach, Gaelscoil Bhun Crannacha, Scoil Noamh Mhura, and Scoil Íosagain.
The competition requires entrants to compose a short essay (200-1,500 words) outlining their reasoning behind the proposed name. Entrants will be encouraged to take inspiration from local history, landmarks, people etc.
The exciting competition is now open to all ages with prizes, kindly sponsored by Supervalu Buncrana, on offer for the lucky winners of each age category.
Looking forward to the competition, Buncrana GAA Chairman and former County footballer Paul McGonigle said, “The Buncrana GAA Club represents the entire parochial area under the rules of the Association which means we cater for children from the Illies through Drumfries, Desertegney all through the Urban area up as far as Ludden and up to Tullydish, Sorne and everywhere in between.
“We don’t have transfers as a player must represent the parish or club where they reside or their native parish if they have moved. It promotes lifelong involvement and bonds groups of players, friends, families and this is what sets the GAA apart from other team sports and is the reason why are the largest and fastest growing voluntary body in the country”.
Speaking of the decision to look into renaming the club, the Chairman said, “Our responsibility as GAA officers is to ensure that we are giving every child in our parish the chance to partake in their national games of hurling and football irrespective of their age or creed and whether or not they have played before and our gates are and will always be open to new or returning members.
“At our AGM we decided to research a name for the Club and bring these findings to the members who will ultimately decide on any change. To this end we want our parish and community to help by taking part in a unique competition to explore names for the Club and reasons for them.
“This will generate an obvious interest in the GAA and the Buncrana Club and hopefully give a better understanding of what the organisation has to offer the youth of the parish. Our membership is expected to reach 600 this year and considering that the cost of membership for a child is €20 for the entire year, we are a pro-youth and pro-community voluntary organisation”.
“Everyone involved is really excited about the competition which is open to all ages and you don’t have to be a member to get involved. We are very grateful to Kieran Doherty and Kavanagh’s Supervalu for sponsoring the competition and to Swilly Print for their support. A new name will give the entire parish greater ownership of and affiliation with their Club. The message we want to get out is that the GAA Club is owned by and includes the entire parish… now we want the people of the parish to give it a name that will last beyond generations”.
It’s simple to enter. Entries should be minimum 200 words in length and no more than 1500 words and can be in English or Irish.
All entries can be submitted by the 31stth March to:
Buncranncha CLG, The Scarvey, Buncrana.
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