Innisfails GAA Club hosts Gaelic Sunday commemorative event to celebrate historic and current members

Innisfails GAA Club, Balgriffin, will commemorate today’s anniversary of Gaelic Sunday by hosting a special event at which a commemorative team will kick 103 over-the-bar points, each one representing a year since Gaelic Sunday.

The commemorative Gaelic football event aims to honour the dedication of both Gaelic Sunday players and today’s GAA club members.

The team brings together players from the under 8s, under 9s, under 10s, under 12s and the adult teams, representing the congregation of players from across the country who took part in Gaelic Sunday on 4th August 1918..

The event also intends to highlight the dedication of Innisfail’s members who, like those who took part in Gaelic Sunday, have supported GAA clubs through challenging times.

Pat Foran, Chairman of Innisfails GAA Club, says “This is the second pandemic the GAA and GAA clubs have had to weather, and the anniversary of Gaelic Sunday serves as a timely reminder of the many challenges the association has overcome over the years, the most recent being Covid-19.

“But these challenges also highlight the determination of the GAA population, the love of the sport and of the community, and the dedication to upholding the GAA values.  In 1918, it meant defying government regulations. This time, it is working with the government for both the GAA and the wider community.

“Our club, and clubs like us, have only just fully reopened and now with the announcement that Croke Park is reopening, we felt that not only should historic players be celebrated but our members and players should be too.”

Like the outbreak of Covid-19, the outbreak of the so-called Spanish flu in 1918 led to a ban on mass gatherings, including GAA games. Simultaneously the authorities were attempting to enforce conscription which increased tensions in the country. Because the authorities blamed the GAA in part for this, they attempted to prevent GAA activities by insisting that no matches could take place without prior written permission.

As a direct result, Gaelic Sunday took place on the 4th August 1918 when approximately 54,000 GAA players played 1800 matches around the country with over 100,000 spectators at the same time – 3pm – despite government restrictions.

Foran continues “The GAA has the ability to inspire the membership in a collective national effort in the same way now as was true in 1918. It brings out the best in us. But the GAA is nothing without its members.

“So not only are we commemorating Gaelic Sunday, but we are paying homage to every GAA member who showed the same resilience and determination this year that has gone down in history from 1918”.

The event will take place this Saturday 7th August 2021 at Innisfails grounds in Balgriffin, County Dublin.

In light of ongoing government restrictions, it will be restricted to players and coaches only.