Expelled club feared for kids’ well-being

A GAA club has accused the organisers of Féile of failing them following their expulsion from the competition.

Cork club Aghabullogue took part in the Féile na nGael competition in Dublin last weekend and qualified from their group in Division 1 after a long play-off process at approximately 5.45pm on Friday. They were scheduled to play their semi-final 20 miles away at 7pm.

“A medical doctor had very strong concerns with regard to what the girls were being asked to do and made representations about this to two separate Féile officials at that time,” a club statement read.

“Two nurses attended one of our players who was in some distress and was subsequently taken to the doctor to receive medical treatment. Amid this scenario, alongside further deteriorating weather conditions, the children’s parents present convened a meeting and made a unanimous decision not to allow their children to play any more camogie on Friday evening on the grounds of child welfare, health and safety, and serious concerns for the well-being of their children.”

Though the semi-final was moved to 7.30pm, Aghabullogue did not field and their opponents, Davitts of Galway, were given a walkover.

“We lodged an appeal to allow us to continue in the competition on the grounds that the club was never officially informed that we had been disqualified from the competition. We were granted our appeal in Croke Park at 11.30am, on the Saturday.

“At the appeal, we put forward our position, that it was a totally unreasonable request to ask the girls to play a further match on the Friday evening.

“We felt we got a very fair, understanding and sympathetic hearing from the Central Appeals Committee.

“The Roinn 1 final was delayed due to the appeal and the hearing went on for three hours. We offered to accommodate the games in any way possible if we were allowed to continue in the competition.”

But it was defeated on the grounds it had not been lodged within the 15-minute time limit allowed.

“We feel the Féile organisation failed our girls and us as a club.

“We felt the completion of the competition within the scheduled timeframe was more important to the Féile organisation than the wellbeing of our children.

“All through the weekend we received great support from the Cork Camogie Board, the GAA Cork County Board, fellow Cork clubs and fellow Féile teams present in Dublin and the team received a great reception when they arrived back in the parish on Saturday evening.”