St Kiernan’s Gaa host Open Race Gala Night at Romford on Saturday Night

St Kiernan’s GAA host Open Race Gala Night at Romford on Saturday Night

Romford is well known as being one of the busiest and well run tracks in Greyhound Racing and with the weather looking glorious over the weekend, it would be no surprise to see both Restaurant's and Terraces packed on both nights. Friday Night see's the start of one of the tracks biggest competitions of the year, the Coral Coronation Cup over 575m, with the final on July 4th worth £10,000. But the Open Race action doesn't end on Friday this week, with more Open Race action being hosted on Saturday Night as part of a Gala Night hosted by St Kiernan's GAA, with added prizemoney generously donated as part of their own fund raising efforts.

Jess Day, Communications Manager at Romford said "We’re really looking forward to Saturday night – it should be a great success for both St Kiernan’s GAA and us here at Romford!"

"They approached us wanting to put on a Gala Night in hopes of raising funds for their club house. After meeting with the team, they decided to go full steam ahead, booking out both our Pavilion and Paddock Restaurant for the night. They’re additionally auctioning two greyhound pups on the night, and a circus trainer will be coming to entertain the kids joining us!"

"It’s a one-off Saturday night of opens at Romford, with boosted prize money generously put up by them. It will be a busy weekend for us with the Coral Coronation Cup Heats on Friday and the Gala Night on Saturday, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!"

"We’d like to thank all the team at St Kiernan’s for contributing to what will be a brilliant night of racing".

St Kiernan's Gaelic Football club now based at Mill Hill Rugby Club, Champions Way, London NW4, was started in September 1984 by a group of local Irish people eager to keep the game of their home country alive.

The club was based in St Anthonys parish, Edgware and the team originally trained in Blundell Park and then in 1988 moved to Montrose playing fields, Burnt Oak after agreeing with London Borough of Barnet, that St Kiernans GFC would top soil the pitch at a cost borne solely by the clubs members of £27000 which was repaid in full within 3 years, quite a considerable sum to raise.

It started with one team of under 12s (approximately 20 children) and then added under 10's and under 14's in the following years. They now have in excess of 150 players representing St Kiernan's in 9 teams, under 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s and two teams at senior level.

The junior teams compete in the London championship against 10 other clubs,during the season that runs from April until September.

The senior's compete against 30 London based teams. St Kiernan's fought their way in to 13 championship finals in a row and finally in 1990 achieved success and became London champions.

St Kiernans are one of the most successful junior gaelic football clubs in London. They have won The Great Britain Championship on three occasions, the last being 2004/2005 under 16s and several of their players represented London in the Intercontinental youth games Boston, USA in 2006 and then again in Chicago 2007 winning the tournament on both occasions.

Last year they were successful at winning the under 12s London Championship and under 18s (minors) championship and league titles, the first time this has ever been achieved by any club in Great Britain.

Past players who have gone on to great success in the game include Brian Morgan and Barry O'Shea, who both went on to win an All Ireland medal at Croke Park.

The name St Kiernan's comes from the priest serving in the parish at the time the club was founded and the club crest of 2 magpies is to indicate joy and good luck for all it's members.

The aim of the club has always been to provide sport and opportunities to young people in the summer months. The club is eager to recruit new players of all ages, and cannot stress strongly enough that this game is open to all, girls and boys alike.