Féile na nGael

Féile na nGael is a national festival of Hurling and Camogie for Under 15 age group (changed from U-14 to U-15 in 2021). Féile na nGael was first held in 1971 in Tipperary. Camogie was added from 1974. National Féile na nGael is held annually and Longford’s first involvement was in 1971 when St. Mels (Fermoyle/Stonepark) were nominated to represent Longford at National Féile in Tipperary. The first Féile na nGael competition held in Longford took place in 1977, with Wolfe Tones the inaugural winners. The first to receive a cup for winning Longford Féile na nGael was Slashers St. Michaels in 1979 when they received the new Coca-Cola cup. Longford was one of the hosts for Féile na nGael 2018 with Longford Slashers played host to San Francisco and Letterkenny St. Eunans while Wolfe Tones played host to Clontibret (Monaghan).

Each year thousands of boys and girls from each of the 32 counties, along with teams from London and Warwickshire participate in Féile. Individual counties host local versions of Féile na nGael and the winner is then nominated to represent their county at the National Féile. Sometimes the runners-up in certain counties may also be invited to compete in the National Féile competition. In 2021 the pandemic caused a change to the format whereby 36 teams (8 Football, 8 Hurling, 8 LGFA, 8 Camogie) were invited to compete in Féile in Croke Park to celebrate 50 years of Féile. Longford Slashers had the honour of being selected to compete in Hurling at National Féile that year and won the Shield competition. Féile na nGael states that its primary objective is to facilitate and enable personal, social and cultural development among young people with emphasis on cultural and community activities, leadership and training through sport. It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of Hurling and Camogie. Féile na nGael has been sponsored by Coca Cola (up to 2012), Bus Eireann (2013 & 2015), Irish Pride (2015) and John West (since 2016). The Gaelic Football equivalent of Féile na nGael is Féile Peile na nÓg.

Longford winners at National Féile na nGael:

1999 Division 4 Cup: Lough Forbes Gaels
Beat Clongeen (Wexford) by 3-6 to 3-0 in Bellefield.
Received the Dr. Birch Trophy.

2018 Division 9 Cup: Longford Slashers
Beat North Wicklow Gaels by 0-7 to 0-3 in Leitrim.

2019 Division 9 Cup: Longford Slashers
Beat St Mark’s (Cork) by 3-3 to 1-1 in Cork.

2021 Shield Winner: Longford Slashers
Beat Cluainín Iomáint (Leitrim) by 6-12 to 2-2 in Croke Park.

Other finalists at National Féile na nGael included a Longford selection from various clubs in 1975 who reached the Division 4 Cup final in Corkbut lost out to the local St. Michaels club by 4-1 to 0-1, while Slashers Gaels (now Longford Slashers) reached the Division 4 Cup final in Waterford in 1996 but lost out to Killashandra by 2-1 to 1-0. It is also worth noting that Longford Slashers Camogie team won the Division 7 Cup at 2018 National Feile in Longford, beating Tara Rocks of Wexford by 2-3 to 0-3 to win the first Camogie Féile title by a Longford club.

– 1971: St. Mels (Fermoyle/Stonepark) nominated for National Féíle.
– 1972: Fermoyle nominated for National Féíle.
– 1975: Longford Selection team nominated for National Féíle.
– 1977: Longford’s Féile na nGael competition begins.
– No nominee for National Féíle in 1973, 1974 & 1976.
– No competition in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
– Féile grade changed from U-14 to U-15 from 2021.

The following name clarifications apply to hurling finalists down the years.

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