Main pic: Former Donegal star Kevin Cassidy who will line out for the Donegal Masters in Glasgow next month.
The redevelopment of Glasgow’s Pearse Park Centre for Culture and Sport will take a huge stride forward next month as Scotland GAA hosts a weekend of celebrations to raise funds for the project.
By Gerard Gough of The Irish Voice in Scotland
The celebration will also include a Masters Challenge Match between Donegal and Tyrone at the Clydebank Community Sports Hub.
To kick things off, a Gala Dinner will be held at Celtic Park on Friday March 28, at which members of last year’s All-Ireland Football winners, Armagh, will be in attendance with the Sam Maguire Cup. Also present will be the Irish Ambassador in Britain, Martin Fraser, the Irish Consul General in Scotland, Jerry O’Donovan, as well as VIP guests from both the GAA and Celtic FC.
The Masters match has been inspired, in part, by previous games between Irish counties on Scottish soil. This included the 1993 clash between then All-Ireland Champions, Donegal, and Mayo. The following year, reigning champions Derry took on Donegal.
“This match will give GAA enthusiasts in Scotland the chance to see some of the footballing superstars of yesteryear – including Glasgow-born former Donegal footballer, Kevin Cassidy – up close,” Peter Mossey, President of Scotland GAA, said.
“Ulster GAA is, in so many ways, our nearest and dearest GAA neighbour and Donegal in particular has such tremendous historical links with Glasgow and the West of Scotland,” he added.
Since the GAA was formally established in Scotland in 1897, there have been 77 clubs in existence over that time.
“For GAA clubs that exist outside of Ireland, our clubs are a mirror image of the communities in the towns and villages of Ireland, and one particular example of this is Glasgow’s Tír Conaill Harps with its very roots firmly embedded in Donegal,” continued Mr Mossey.
“We know from the past history of Glasgow that we are culturally embedded in two major aspects of Irishness here—the first being the GAA, and within this there is a huge Donegal diaspora, and the founding of Glasgow Celtic FC is also embedded in Irish history through Brother Walfrid. So, for the Irish Community to host this event as a combined sporting and social occasion embedded in the heart of the Irish community here, and inviting our friends from Ireland we hope that this occasion will bring a sense of camaraderie and belonging. We are also supporting efforts to raise the revenue to assist with the provision of a redeveloped cultural and sports facility at Pearse Park, as we aim to honour the legacy of our forebearers”.
The Masters players from both teams are expected to take in the match between Celtic and Hearts after their own game, and will also be afforded the chance to visit the site where the Pearse Park Centre for Culture and Sport will be built.
For more information on the events, or to get involved with sponsorship, please contact: chairperson@scotlandgaa.ie
To read more about the redevelopment plans for Pearse Park visit: www.pearseparkscotland.org
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