American envoy for Dunshaughlin GAA celebrations

GAA clubs across County Meath will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the association this weekend in a special national 'La na gClub" set aside by Cumann Luthchleas Gael on Sunday 10th May. Dunshaughlin GFC will have a special American flavour to its 125th anniversary celebrations on Sunday with the presence of the acting US envoy, Rob Faucher, and his family, at the festivities. Mr Faucher, who is the Charge d"Affaires at the US Embassy in the changeover period between the Bush and Obama administrations, is attending at the invitation of club player Declan O"Dwyer, who works at the embassy. Mr Faucher will take part in a tree-planting ceremony to mark the occasion. Sunday"s activities in Dunshaughlin begin at 12 noon with a Mass to be celebrated by Fr Joe Clavin, PP, in the Church of Ss Patrick and Seachnall, in which club members will participate. At 1pm, there will be a parade from the church to the GAA grounds behind the club banner and a piper. Fr Clavin will bless the grounds and there will be a raising of the Dunshaughlin, GAA 125 and Irish flags. Mr Faucher will arrive at 2pm, and there will be a brief tour of the club museum, followed by the tree-planting ceremony. The diplomat is to throw in the ball for the minor exhibition game at 2.45pm, and this will be followed by underage exhibition and mixed games, adult mens" and ladies" exhibition games and a rounders exhibition. There will also be a fastest mile race, cic fada, GAA 125 memory wall, traditional music and dancing from Scor. A time capsule, to be opened in 2034 to celebrate 150 years of the GAA, will be put together, and there will also be a barbecue and refreshments available through the day . Meanwhile, Dunshaughlin club representatives Caoimhin King, Conor Devereaux, Jim Smith, Maria Kealy and Mairead Delaney paid a visit to Culmullen National School to celebrate 'Jersey Day" for the 125th anniversary. Pupils dressed up in county colours and played skills competitions in rounders, hurdles, handball and long jump. Addressing the pupils, whom he called the stars of tomorrow, King spoke of the enjoyment he has had playing with friends and the pride of playing for his county. He remarked that, no matter how far he has gone in competitions, for him, nothing beats winning at club level. On Saturday night next, Dunshaughlin will honour its 1983 IHC champions and 1958 JFC champions at the Black Bush Golf Club, when a hall of fame will also be presented. Meanwhile, Kilmessan hurling and camogie clubs" fundraising draw for the development of the Donnelly Loughran Memorial Park will take place on Sunday night. The €25,000 draw was rescheduled to take place on the GAA anniversary day, and will follow a day of celebrations at the Dunsany GFC grounds.