Click here for the Feb 2018 GAA Newsletter

Féile Peile is a national festival of Gaelic football for Boys & Girls under 14 years of age.  Féile provides an opportunity for:

• Under 14 players to participate in an annual Festival of Hurling/Camogie, Handball and Gaelic Football/Ladies Gaelic football
• Clubs to experience playing against teams from other Counties/Provinces/Countries in some cases
• Clubs to foster links with other Clubs in other Counties/Provinces
• Counties to celebrate Gaelic games by acting as hosts

A core aim of Féile tournaments is to promote a philosophy whereby every player has the opportunity to participate and play in their respective Féile tournament at a level commensurate to their age, skills and strengths + most of all to have FUN & make new friends.

• In 2017 a total of 252 teams totalling almost 8000 players took part
• 160 boys’ teams (80 Hosts / 80 Visiting)
• 92 girls’ teams (46 Hosts / 46 Visiting)
• For Clubs to take part – a club has to agree to host a visiting team (accommodating max of 24 players in family homes + 4 mentors & providing hospitality over the weekend)
• Naomh Mairtin have entered our Boys and Girls U14 teams so we are expected to house up to 48 Players and 8 mentors.

General Format

• Teams play two games on Friday afternoon/evening in a central venue (TBA – likely M’boice)
• Host Club plays their visiting team on the Saturday Morning on your own Club Pitch
• Saturday afternoon (In Central Venue) Top two teams in Group play in Cup Quarter Final / Bottom two teams in Group play in Shield Quarter Final

Hosting of Players

• Players must be accommodated in host family homes, with one of your own player’s families if possible.
• Players should be accommodated in groups of two/threes. It is unacceptable for children to be singly hosted. Preference is for hosting in groups of two.
• Children must be accommodated in single gender bedrooms and separate beds.
• Adults must not share a room with a young person.
• Host families should be well known to club officials.
• Each host family will be required to comply with Garda vetting procedures. This involves the vetting of all persons in the host family and household who are, or shall be over the age of 16 years, during the hosting period.
• The host club should allow for four mentors per team to be accommodated.

Hospitality

As a host club we are expected to provide a level of hospitality for your visiting club.

• Food and refreshments for your visiting team on the Friday Evening after their games.
• Breakfast with host family on the Saturday & Sunday Morning.
• Saturday evening the host club would provide some form of hospitality for visiting players and mentors.
• Packed lunch provided on the Sunday (if visiting teams are still involved)

Garda Vetting

• All members of the host family over the age of 16 must be vetted prior to hosting.
• Vetting is carried out on-line.
• The on-line process is highly confidential and secure and neither the Club nor the County Board can access or see the details filled in on a vetting application.
• The vetting process is a 2 step process:

1. An applicant commences the vetting process by going online and filing out an E-Vetting Application Forming.
2. The applicant will then receive an email with a link containing an invite to complete the vetting application.

• The Club and the applicant will be informed by email of the outcome of the application.
• Here is a guide to the Vetting System
• If you have any queries on vetting you can contact the Clubs Children’s Officer Paul McDonnell @ 086.8041680 or secretary.naomhmairtin.louth@gaa.ie

Sample Itinerary

Contact: For more information on Feile contact the Feile Committee:

• Neil Cooney – 087 124 2804
• Mark Byrne – 086 830 9403
• Paul McDonnell
• Noel McNally
• Sandra O’Rourke