Ballinrobe Community School’s All-Ireland Senior C champions were welcomed home on Tuesday evening, just hours after their 3-9 to 0-4 victory over St Anne’s (Tipperary) in the final in Glenamaddy. A large crowd gathered in the school gym to mark the occasion.
The scale of support for the team was evident well beyond the venue itself. As the players made their way from Claremorris, they were met by a reception hosted by Hollymount LGFA, with bonfires lighting up points along the route to Ballinrobe. The sizeable cavalcade completed two laps of Ballinrobe, cheered on by supporters who came out to acknowledge the achievement.
The official reception took place in Ballinrobe Community School and featured supporters from all six clubs represented on the panel – Hollymount, Kilmaine, Ballinrobe, The Neale, Clonbur and Tourmakeady.
MC was Liam Horan, with speakers include Nicola Macken, Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA; school principal Julie Ann Collins; coach Ruth Donnellan; manager Sinead Stagg, an All-Ireland winner with Ballinrobe in the 1990s, and team captain Ali Hughes.
Each member of the panel and backroom team was introduced individually to the crowd, before lifting the cup in turn.
Acknowledgement was given to the group who organised the event at short notice – Deirdre Burke, Annette Conway, Leah Jennings, Nicola Macken, Sean McCormack, Matthew McCormack, Anthony McCormack, Lorraine Grimes, Elaine O’Brien, Sarah Gibbons and Liam Horan.
Special thanks was reserved for Deirdre Burke for her role liaising between the school and the organising committee.
Cummins & Sons Homevalue (trailer), Martin O’Connor (sound and music) and local media were all acknowledged for their support. Recognition was also given to An Garda Síochána and stewards from Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA.
Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA Club Radio’s contribution was noted, with Aoife Donnelly and Padraic Costello Snr on commentary duty for the final, while Leah Jennings streamed the homecoming on the club’s Facebook page.