Appeal for boots for kids in South Africa playing Gaelic football
By Mary Dennehy
A USED football boots appeal for the children and teenagers playing on a South African GAA team has kicked off locally.
Ballyboden St Enda’s has launched the appeal for the young players of South Africa Gaels, many of whom play in their school shoes or barefoot.
Greg Heraty (left) with Colin Finnegan and senior members of South Africa Gaels during their last visit to Boden
The boots will also be given to schools for young people to wear during their PE programme.
Former Boden player and South Africa Gaels member Greg Heraty, who has moved from his hometown of Rathfarnham to South Africa, has been supporting and helping to grow the club.
Later this month, the South Africa Gaels senior team is visiting Ireland for the GAA World Games in Croke Park.
As part of their visit, the team will make a special trip out to Ballyboden St Enda’s to take on the local senior side in an exhibition game on August 1.
According to Liam Dean, who is on the Ballyboden football committee, the South Africa Gaels’ senior team will bring the boots collected back to local schools and the club’s juvenile players.
Children training in Johannesburg
“The [South Africa Gaels] team visited Ballyboden around six or seven years ago and it was one of the best events we’ve ever had,” Liam said.
“They did a dance after losing by a point.
“The visit really brought a sense of culture and community to Ballyboden . . . and we’re looking forward to August 1.”
The used boots appeal is being made on behalf of South Africa Gaels’ juvenile players, with all clubs across the area invited to come on board.
Liam has issued a call to anyone with old or unused boots at home to donate them to this worthy cause, with people invited to drop the boots into the club house on the Firhouse Road or bring them along to the exhibition match on August 1.
The match kicks off at 8pm on Thursday, August 1.
For further details visit Ballyboden St Enda’s Facebook page.
