Cavan kids to take part in national Féile competitions

County competitions will begin in April.

Cavan children will get the chance to compete in a new third tier of the nationwide competition in 2022.

What has already grown to become one of the biggest underage sporting events in Europe, will now have a regional dimension, in addition to the well-established national and county competitions.

The Templeport Under-15 ladies football team took part in celebratory events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John West Féile at Croke Park last Halloween Bank Holiday weekend.

John West are sponsors of the GAA’s annual Féile Peil na nÓg (football) and Féile na nGael (camogie and hurling) competitions and this year victorious clubs at division two and three levels will play-off on a regional basis in early summer.

County competitions will begin in April.

John West Féile will also retain the move to the under-15 age grade, introduced last year to ensure children who missed out due to the pandemic in 2020 got a chance to compete in 2021.

Rounders and handball are also scheduled to make a return to John West Féile this year.

This is the seventh year of John West’s sponsorship of Féile, which brings together thousands of young hurlers, camogie players and Gaelic footballers in a celebration of the GAA’s community ethos through underage competition.

John West Féile 2022 will begin with county camogie and hurling on the weekend of April 16-17, followed by county Gaelic football and ladies’ football on May 1-2.

Regional competitions in camogie and hurling will be held on Saturday, May 28, with the Gaelic football and ladies’ football regional events taking place on Saturday, June 4.

National finals in camogie and hurling will take place on Saturday June 25 in Dublin and Meath with the finals in Gaelic football and ladies’ football happening on Saturday July 2 in Dublin and Kildare.

Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy, said Féile has been an integral part of the GAA calendar for 50 years.

“It nurtures a love of our games and ensures friendship and memories are among the key benefits of involvement in the GAA.

“Generations have experienced the joy of being a part of Féile na nGael and Féile Peil na nÓg, and I look forward to seeing this great success story continue in all our clubs.

“Our thanks to John West for the support they give us in the promotion of this iconic competition and to the national organising committee for their work on John West Féile 2022.”