It has been descrbed as "one of the greatest social evenings in the club's history".... "an old fashioned community event that will live long in the memory"...with one little girl announcing that.. "this was the best day of my life!" (wait until she wins a camogie county final with O'Loughlin Gaels!).. However you describe it it can safely be said that this was truly an Eggstraordinary event organised by the combined efforts of the O'Loughlin Gaels GAA & Camogie Juvenile Clubs.
From 6pm registration commenced and they came from all over the St. John's Community in their dozens, descending upon St. John's Park no doubt drawn by the waft of BBQ in the air. U6 coach and event maker Stephen McCormack with his team were busy flipping up to 400 burgers to be served throughout the evening.
From 6pm registration commenced and they came from all over the St. John's Community in their dozens, descending upon St. John's Park no doubt drawn by the waft of BBQ in the air. U6 coach and event maker Stephen McCormack with his team were busy flipping up to 400 burgers to be served throughout the evening.
Almost 300 players from both clubs, ranging in ages from u6s to u12s, registered to take part in a series of games that got underway at 6.30pm. Parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, sisters, brothers, neighbours and friends all gathered around the pitches and steps of the club to watch these young stars hone their skills. The games had all the passion, drama and mix of comradarie and rivalry you'd expect from our national game. Players of all ages applauded each others skills, encouraged more for the next ball and maybe even berated one or two silly mistakes. But while the sliotars were in play there was no thoughts of eggs or burgers until the final whistles sounded. So when the coaches and juvenile referees did sound them they players were greeted to rapturous applause from the hoards of bystanders all aroud St. Johns Park
Photos of Some of The EGGtion...
There was the comraderie....
.......and a little bit of this!!
Enjoying the Sp'EGG'Tacle....
The Scramble....
Once the Games ended it was time for the main event. Almost 300 children from u6 to u12 gathered on the 21yard line at the Country end of the Main Pitch. Their target was a range of lollipop sticks dotted between the two 65's placed and numbered earlier by the Camogie u16s..each lollipop stick holding a players corresponding number. Once the player found his/her stick it could be brought to the club for an Easter Egg and a gourmet burger...no child would be sold short.
Once the whistle sounded the stampede to the centre was on and the scramble for sticks got going. Former Club Chairman Luke Roche commented that it was the most fantastic sight he had ever seen during his long association with the club, to watch 300 young gaels stampede the length of the pitch with pure joy on thier faces. It was EGGsactly what the organisers hoped for.
Once the whistle sounded the stampede to the centre was on and the scramble for sticks got going. Former Club Chairman Luke Roche commented that it was the most fantastic sight he had ever seen during his long association with the club, to watch 300 young gaels stampede the length of the pitch with pure joy on thier faces. It was EGGsactly what the organisers hoped for.
Once the target was achieved the lollipop stick in hand was brought to the registration desk where rigistrars - Juvenile Chairperson Joan Galwey and Linda O'Leary - handed each and every child their Easter Egg and directed them to the BBQ team for burgers. There were burgers available too for anyone who wanted, and the BBQ team of Stephen, Caroline & David McCormack, David Buckeridge, David and Paula Feehan and Sarah Cuddihy were flat out all evening making sure that everyone was catered for by serving a whopping 400 and more burgers. You could retire to the lounge too and mingle with other club members as the youngsters safely enjoyed pucking around on the pitches at St. John's Park for thr remainder of the evening
Once all were fed and the last burger flipped, it was on to the raffle for the final task of the evening. 1st priize was a 2 night stay at the Talbot Stilorgan Hotel..everyone wanted it and a big congratulations to Paddy Kenna who's name was pulled from the barrell. We're full sure he'll enjoy it.
The full list of raffle winners were:
1st Paddy Kenna, Hotel Break Talbot Stilorgan
2nd Johnny Lawlor, Dinner for 2 at Kilford Hotel
3rd Edel Quirke, Frank Wall voucher,
4th Michael Kinchella jnr, hamper ,
5th Eileen Kinchella , Heroes sweets,
6th Dan Linehan ,Box of biscuits,
7th Eileen Bergin , Box of celebrations
8th Eamonn O'Shea ,Box of biscuits
9th Nicola O'Brien , Box of biscuits
The full list of raffle winners were:
1st Paddy Kenna, Hotel Break Talbot Stilorgan
2nd Johnny Lawlor, Dinner for 2 at Kilford Hotel
3rd Edel Quirke, Frank Wall voucher,
4th Michael Kinchella jnr, hamper ,
5th Eileen Kinchella , Heroes sweets,
6th Dan Linehan ,Box of biscuits,
7th Eileen Bergin , Box of celebrations
8th Eamonn O'Shea ,Box of biscuits
9th Nicola O'Brien , Box of biscuits
EGGknowledgements....
Well done and big thanks to the EGGstravGAAnza Committee for a huge effort that produced a first class club/community event.
Brian Fox, Joan Galwey, Stephen McCormack, Linda O'Leary, Eoin Lawlor, Ger Maher, Edel Quirke
Stewards: John Collins , Nigel Leydon, Sean Hogan
All the Team Mentors from Camogie and Hurling u6 to u12s included u16 referee Donal O'Leary
u14 raffle ticket sellers
Egg Hunt Coordinators from u16 Camogie - Orla Hogan, Jennifer Holohan, Rosie Bergin, Ailbhe Galwey, Aoife Guilfoyle, Sadhbh O'Leary, Eva Collins
Music Playlist - Sean Lawlor
BBQ: Stephen McCormack, Caroline McCormack, Dave Buckeridge, David & Paula Feehan, David McCormack & Sarah Cuddihy
Raffle Sponsors: Kilford Arms Hotel, Frank Walls The Mans Shop.
Brian Fox, Joan Galwey, Stephen McCormack, Linda O'Leary, Eoin Lawlor, Ger Maher, Edel Quirke
Stewards: John Collins , Nigel Leydon, Sean Hogan
All the Team Mentors from Camogie and Hurling u6 to u12s included u16 referee Donal O'Leary
u14 raffle ticket sellers
Egg Hunt Coordinators from u16 Camogie - Orla Hogan, Jennifer Holohan, Rosie Bergin, Ailbhe Galwey, Aoife Guilfoyle, Sadhbh O'Leary, Eva Collins
Music Playlist - Sean Lawlor
BBQ: Stephen McCormack, Caroline McCormack, Dave Buckeridge, David & Paula Feehan, David McCormack & Sarah Cuddihy
Raffle Sponsors: Kilford Arms Hotel, Frank Walls The Mans Shop.
We're aleady looking forward to the next one.
Lovely Hurling