FIRST ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL TO BE COMMEMORATED IN BIRR

12 July 2012

Some of the country’s most popular GAA players have joined together to launch the ‘Festival of Finals’ – a commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the first All-Ireland Hurling Championship, the final of which took place in Birr Co. Offaly on April 1st ,1887.

The ‘Festival of Finals’ will take place from July 27th – July 29th in Birr and will incorporate a series of events to mark the 125th anniversary milestone. This will include a true to life re-enactment of the 1887 Championship final by some of the country’s top GAA legends such as Daithi Regan, Michael Duignan and Brian Whelahan.  

The event will also incorporate a blitz by club teams from around the country with a series of matches taking place over Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July in Birr, Crinkle, Drumcullen and Carrig. The festival will culminate with a parade through Birr on Sunday 29th July and the Final of the hurling blitz with the presentation to the winner of the perpetual Offaly ‘Bog Oak’ trophy.  

Participating clubs include Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) current all-Ireland club champions; Coolderry (Offaly) runners up to Loughgiel; Birr (host club), 4 time all-Ireland club champions; Meelick Eyrecourt, runners up in 1887; Lucan Sarsfields, Shelmalier (Wexford), Smith O’Brien’s (Clare) and Tullaroan (Kilkenny) – who participated in the 1887 championship. Each game will be followed by the U14 teams from these clubs competing against each other. (Please find full itinerary below)

Commenting on the event Martin Kearns, President of Birr Chamber of Commerce noted: “Birr’s place at the very beginning of the hurling story in Ireland is a great source of pride to hurling people locally. We’re thrilled to be commemorating that with this unique festival”.Brian Whelahan who attended the official launch expressed his excitement about the upcoming event

“The Festival of Finals embraces the proud history of the GAA by bringing together clubs from all over Ireland. It’s very appropriate that this unique event takes place in Birr, home of the First All-Ireland hurling Final in 1888 and also the first Club Hurling Final in 1971. It promises to be a weekend of high quality hurling and a celebration of the rich heritage of the GAA”.

Further details on the event can be found on the Festival’s dedicated Facebook page- www.facebook.com/festivaloffinals or by contacting Peter Loughnane at the County Arms Hotel on 057 9120791 or peter@countyarmshotel.com