Hurling & Camogie

Cushendall club raises funds with global Poc Fada online

In just under a week the team have used social media to send a virtual sliotar more than 18,000 miles across the globe 
In just under a week the team have used social media to send a virtual sliotar more than 18,000 miles across the globe  In just under a week the team have used social media to send a virtual sliotar more than 18,000 miles across the globe 

A GAA CLUB in Cushendall are in the middle of the mother of all Poc Fadas as they send a sliotar around the world.

In just under a week the team have used social media to send a virtual sliotar more than 18,000 miles across the globe.

‘Ruairí Óg Around the World’ is a project from the Cushendall team to help raise funds for their hurlers All Ireland campaign.

Ruairí Óg's Mark Donaghy said that they planned to bring all of the club's members, family, friends and supporters together ahead of their All Ireland semi-final against Galway side Sarsfield's in February.

“The idea came from one of our members, Kathleen Darragh, who thought it would be a great way to link up with our members around the world,” Mr Donaghy said.

“After a few conversations between a few of us, we came up with the idea of taking advantage of social media to make the most of the project.

“The response who far has been fantastic - we've had huge traffic on our original video which started us off, and we're expecting big numbers of replies, hopefully this weekend!”

Senior hurling captain Arron Graffin started the sliotar on its way from Dalriada Pier last Saturday.

Ruairí Óg Around the World Ruairí Óg Around the WorldIn the lead up to our All Ireland Semi-Final, we are aiming to unite all Ruairí Óg members, from around the world, together. If you're a Ruairí Óg in exile, living away from home for a short time, or even on holidays, we're asking you to help move the sliotar along! How many locations can we reach?We're asking that each time someone strikes a ball, they make a small donation which will help raise vital funds to support our Senior Hurlers in their All Ireland Campaign! The JustGiving Page which you can use to donate is just below:https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/ROgATWTo launch Ruairí Óg Around the World, our Senior Captain Arron Graffin sent the sliotar on its way! We're just glad he reached the end of the pier! If you would like to take part, please video yourself catching the sliotar and sending it on further, with a quick message about who you are, and where in the world you are! Send completed videos to Mark Donaghy (mdonaghy644@gmail.com) and we'll post them up as we get them! Posted by Ruairí Óg CLG on Saturday, 2 January 2016

The ball was then caught and fired on by Stephen Keegan in the desert of western Australia.

Arron's sliotar has managed to go a fair distance in the last few days - from Dalriada Pier to the deserts of Western Australia! Big thanks to past Senior Hurler Stephen McKeegan for his well wishes and his donation! We're expecting a big influx of videos now as the sliotar makes it's way around the Southern Hemisphere! We know we've plenty of well-wishers down under! Donations and messages of good luck can be left on https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/ROgATW Posted by Ruairí Óg CLG on Thursday, 7 January 2016

A big drop in temperature later, the ball landed with Claire and Donal Kearney on the snowy slopes of Tignes in France.

From Dalriada Pier to Western Australia to the snowy slopes of Tignes in France - club members Claire and Donal Kearney... Posted by Ruairí Óg CLG on Thursday, 7 January 2016

The club is encouraging members to send the ball on from wherever it lands in the world, even if you have to improvise to do it. 

"Found yourself in a part of the world where the hurl's are scarce?," the club wrote on its website.  

"Don't worry, fashion yourself any sort of make-shift hurl using golf clubs, baseball bats or whatever you can get your hand to! Just help us move this sliotar on!"

Ruairí Óg are also encouraging members, friends and wellwishers to help out their hurlers by leaving donations and messages on their JustGiving Page.