Féile Peile na nÓg

Féile Peile na nÓg is a national festival of Gaelic Football for Under 15 age group (changed from U-14 to U-15 in 2021). The competition was proposed by and first held in Cavan in 1982, and was the brainchild of Granard native Fintan Tierney, based in Butlersbridge who was Chair of the Cavan Schools Board at the time. Féile An Cabháin in 1982 saw a total of 40 teams participate, 20 of whom were from other counties. Shannon Gaels were nominated to represent Longford at the 1982 Féile Peile na nÓg as there was no competition in Longford at that time.

Each year thousands of boys and girls from each of the 32 counties, along with teams from the UK, Europe and USA, participate in Féile Peile na nÓg. Individual counties host local competition and the winner is 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 Feile 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 did not have any representative in Football at National Féile that year. Féile Peile na nÓg places great emphasis and importance on proper participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship. It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of Gaelic Football. The competition has been sponsored over the years by Coca Cola (1982-2012), Bus Eireann (2013 & 2015), Irish Pride (2015) and John West (since 2016). The Hurling/Camogie equivalent of Féile Peile na nÓg is called Féile na nGael.

Longford winners at National Féile Peile na nÓg are as follows:

1992 Division 4 Cup – Ballymahon (Leo Caseys):
Beat St. Brendans (London) by 5-5 to 1-3 in Meath.

2010 Division 4 Cup – Northern Gaels:
Beat De La Salle (Waterford) by 2-4 to 0-0 in Derry.

2012 Division 4 Cup – Killoe Óg:
Beat Newtownblues (Louth) 2-3 to 0-5 in Laois.

2018 Division 9 Cup – Granard/Ballymore:
Beat Curry (Sligo) by 0-4 to 0-3 in Down.

2019 Division 4 Cup – Clonguish Óg:
Beat St. Marys (Sligo) by 1-7 to 0-7 in Mayo.

2022 Division 5 Shield – Clonguish Óg:
Beat Two Mile House (Kildare) by 3-6 to 1-3 in Dublin.

Note: Other finalists at National Féile include St. Vincents (Drumlish-Ballinamuck) who reached the Division 4 Cup final in Wicklow in 2006 but lost out to Cooley Kickhams by 1-7 to 0-8, while Carrick Sarsfields reached the Division 10 Cup final in 2019 and Division 7 Shield final in 2014. It is also worth noting that in Ladies Gaelic Football, Clonguish won the 2019 National Féile Division 4 Cup beating Knockainey (Limerick) in the final, while St. Brigids Gaels (Ardagh) reached the 2018 National Féile Division 4 Cup final and Killoe Ladies reached the 2022 National Féile Division 4 Cup final.

– St. Michaels was later renamed Longford Slashers. 
– Lough Forbes Gaels was later renamed Clonguish Óg. 
– Various clubs added ‘Óg’ suffix to their name in 2000’s.
– St. Dominics is the underage section of the Kenagh club.
– St. Francis is the underage section of the Dromard club.
– Shannon Gaels is the underage section of the Rathcline club.
– St. Vincents is the underage section of the Fr. Manning Gaels club.
– St. James’s was amalgamation of Ardagh & Moydow in 1990’s & 2000’s.
– Northern Gaels is the underage club for both Abbeylara and Mullinalaghta clubs.
– Shamrock Gaels is an amalgamation of Ballymahon Forgney Gaels & Southern Gaels.
– Ballymahon Leo Caseys was Ballymahon underage prior to Ballymahon Forgney Gaels.