Ballyshannon gives Lory Meagher a great welcome

On Friday morning Aodh Ruadh juvenile hurling committe were delighted and very proud to bring the Lory Meagher Trophy on a tour of the local national schools who promote hurling in the area. Local members of the newly crowned All-Ireland champions Donegal panel, Peter Horan and Paul Sheridan, accompanied by Aidan Begley who was part of the team management, kindly brought the cup on a tour of the schools.

They were accompanied by local underage mangers Eddie Lynch, Michael Ayres and John Rooney. They began bright and early at Creevy National School where Tipperary Native and soon to be retired principal Tony Ryan welcomed the boys to the school, and led a very interesting question and answer session with the lads and the pupils.

Next they visited the Gaelscoil where priomhoide Niamh agus Muinteoir Fionnuala and pupils put on a great welcome for the boys and the lads were presented with cards and posters which the children had made for them. Mullahoran native Paul Sheridan was the star of the show here as his proud daughter Seana and nephew Darragh Cummins are both pupils in the school.

The party then made their way to Father Tierney Park where local national schools were competing in a football blitz. Aodh Ruadh Bord na nÓg chairman Paddy Kelly was on hand to welcome the boys to the park and the lads posed for photos with all the schools.

Saimer Childcare Centre and the Little Angels National School were next on the list and Aidan Begley and Peter Horan got a great reception here from proud daughters Molly and Sara Begley and son and under 8 hurler Aaron Cullen.

Conor Carney principal of Holy Family National School gave the boys a rousing reception and spoke of the great achievement it was for the boys to win the Lory Meagher trophy at their third attempt.

We then made our way to Rockfield where Mrs Corrigan and Mrs Ryan were glad to see the boys coming with the All-Ireland trophy and spoke of how proud they were that they had visited the school with the cup.

From there we made our way to Tonragee to meet Aodh Ruadh's Mr Hurling and Kilkenny Native Billy Finn who was delighted the boys called with the trophy named after Kilkenny Legend Lory Meagher.

Last school to be visited in Ballyshannon was Scoil Catriona where principal Alma Kavanngh and her staff and pupils gave the boys a great and colourful welcome and the Donegal flags were flying high in the school.

Our final school on a very enjoyable and historic tour with the first All-Ireland senior hurling title won by a Donegal team was to Saint Macartan's National School in Bundoran. Soon to be retired principal John Campbell who was celebrating his own double success that week of winning the boys and girls county football titles gave the boys a great welcome and got all the school out for photographs with the newly crowned All-Ireland Champions.

We would like to thank all the schools we visited for their warm welcomes and we would especially like to thank the three members of the Donegal panel who gave of their time in bringing the cup around and thank the club coaches who went with them. Thanks to all the pupils for their interest in meeting the lads and many thanks to Matt Britton of the Donegal Democrat who accompanied us on this tour and took some great photographs capturing this historic event for our club.

Many thanks to Eddie Lynch who took these pictures.

Pupils in Creevy National School wait for sight of the Lory Meagher trophy

Paul Sheridan, Peter Horan and Aidan Begley speak to the students in Creevy National School

Students of Gaelscoil Eirne give the boys and Lory Meagher a great welcome

The lads talk to the pupils of Gaelscoil Eirne with Principal Niamh Nic Dhiarmada

A very attentive audience.
A very attentive audience

Pupils in the the Gaelscoil make a presentation to the lads

Lory Meagher's for the Hills.
Lory Meagher's for the Hills

Conor Carney, Principal of Holy Family National School welcomes the boys to his school, with a special welcome for former pupil Pete Horan

Aodh Ruadh under 14 players Garreth Sheerin, Shane McGrath, Jason Granaghan, Barry Kelly, Patick Horan and Ryan Ayres with the lads.

Holy Family National School welcomes the Lory Meagher heroes

Father McManus gets his hands on the Lory Meagher

National Schools football blitz in Father Tierney Park welcomes Lory Meagher cup. Schools from Ballyshannon, Ballintra, Pettigo, and Frosses.

Aodh Ruadh under 14 and under 16 hurlers meet the lads in the park. Rossa McCosker, Eugene Drummond, Bryan Ward, Darragh Cleary, Conor Kennedy, Eddie Lynch, Deva Ayres, Eamonn McGrath., Paul Cummins and Stephen Connolly.