Exciting GAA Tournament Upcoming in White Rock
By JOHN O’FLYNN
VANCOUVER - Gaelic football and hurling players will descend upon South Surrey on July 2 and 3 from Seattle, Portland, Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Vancouver to celebrate Ireland's national games. For more excitement, there will be some Aussie Rules players mixed in to add flavour to the tournament weekend.
The J.J. Hyland Memorial Trophy will be up for grabs for the men’s tournament winner and the Kevin McFadden Memorial Trophy will be awarded for the first time to the ladies tournament winner.
The Irish Club of White Rock and the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club will be co_hosting this international event at the South Surrey Athletic Park located off 20th Avenue between 146th and 148th Streets in Surrey, British Columbia.
Canada’s head coach of the ladies Gaelic football team, Jarlath Connaughton of Ottawa will be in attendance to assess potential players who have an interest in making the national team that will compete in the International Tournament in Ireland (October 2005). Canadian County Board Chairman, Brian Farmer of Toronto, will also be in attendance on the Saturday to take in the action.
For the second year in a row, an international match of hurling is scheduled for July 3 at 12:30 PM. The Seattle Gaels hurling team, who will be competing in Philadelphia at the North American County Board Championships, will take on an Irish_Canadian team of Albertan and British Columbian selects. Limerick man Thomas O’Flynn of West Limerick Holdings Ltd., to honour the occasion, has donated a plaque that will be presented to the winning side.
The Elks Hall (Home to the Irish Club of White Rock) is the venue for the social gatherings on both days. All are welcome to join the dance at 9 PM that will follow with Three Row Barley with an admission fee of $5. After the games on Sunday, a roast beef dinner will be available back at the Elk’s Hall for a nominal fee. The schedule of games will be available online at www.isscvancouver.com.
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