Queen’s unveils new 2014 Festival

A special Queen’s GAA Festival has been created in spring 2014 to mark the fact that the University will host the Sigerson, Ashbourne, Fitzgibbon and O’Connor Cup finals - in the same year, at the same venue.

The four competitions represent the flagship events in the Higher Education sporting calendar. Over 2,250 players and thousands of supporters will converge on Queen’s Upper Malone playing fields when the Festival ‘throws in’ next year.

Queen’s GAA Festival will run across consecutive weekends, beginning with Camogie’s Ashbourne Cup on 13 February and continuing with the Irish Daily Mail Sigerson Cup (20-23 February), the Irish Daily Mail Fitzgibbon Cup (27 Feb-2 Mar) and, following those, the O’Connor Cup from 20-23 March.

Alongside the action on the field, Queen’s GAA Festival will offer a packed programme of music and comedy nights, squad reunions, talks from well-known sports personalities, and advice on nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, as well as opportunities to try other sports.

Speaking on behalf of the competing students, Queen’s Ladies Football squad member, and Armagh All-Star, Caroline O’Hanlon, said: “Players from colleges and universities across the island of Ireland, in all four sports, will be delighted to hear the announcement about Queen’s GAA Festival.

“At Queen’s we are already the envy of our peers for the standard of sporting facilities we have, and now many of Ireland’s elite players and their families will be able to experience what we have on offer. As a Queen’s student and player I am tremendously proud, because while everyone knows the standard of competition each year is high, next year our Festival and facilities will match it.”

John Devaney, Chair of the event’s Organising Committee at Queen’s, added: "Hosting all four championship finals weekends will be a daunting challenge, but we are determined to make the most of it. Queen's has always been proud of its reputation as a good host and this is a unique opportunity to showcase our top-class facilities, our huge network of student volunteers and our reach beyond the University. The Festival will be a one of the highlights for the GAA in Ulster in 2014 and an important event for Belfast."

The finals of the Irish Daily Mail Sigerson Cup Final, the Irish Daily Mail Fitzgibbon Cup Final and the O’Connor Cup will be covered live on TG4 and will be broadcast live online at www.tg4.tv.

The Upper Malone site, formerly known as ‘The Dub’, was reopened in 2013 after a £13 million redevelopment.

Further information on Queen’s GAA Festival is available online at www.gaafestival.com

Pictured above are (from left): Caroline O'Hanlon, Armagh and Queen’s, Walter Walsh, Kilkenny and UCD, Pat Quill, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Karl Oakes, Queen’s, Bryan Menton, Meath and DIT, Aileen Lawlor, President of the Camogie Association, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill and Grace Walsh, Kilkenny and UL. Croke Park, Dublin

 

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