Poc Fada: sustaining a rich and old tradition
Image 1 of 8
Legend. The Meath over-55 Poc Fada title was won by former Kilmessan hurler Dom Montague who received his award from chairman of Kilmessan Hurling & Camogie James Farrell.Image 2 of 8
Paul Donnelly maintained a strong family tradition by winning the o-40s Poc Fada category. He received his memento from (from left) James Farrell, Louise Horan and Christopher Curtis.Image 3 of 8
The winner of the minor camogie Poc Fada on the Hill of Tara was Roisin Heaney who received her award from Kilmessan Hurling & Camogie chairman James Farrell.Image 4 of 8
The chairman of Kilmesssan Hurling & Camogie James Farrell presented Cormac Swan with his award after his success in winning the u-16 hurling category at the Meath Poc Fada championships.Image 5 of 8
The winner of the u-16 Poc Fada at the Meath championships was Becky Horan who received her award from Kilmessan Hurling & Camogie chairman James Farrell.Image 6 of 8
Jack Smith (right) claimed the Minor title at the Meath Poc Fada. Also at the presentation were James Farrell and Etaoin Doyle.Image 7 of 8
Kyle Donnelly claimed the senior hurling Poc Fada title and received his award from Kilmessan chairman James Farrell and Aoife Reilly.Image 8 of 8
The winner of the senior camogie Poc Fada on the Hill of Tara was former Meath camogie goalkeeper Emily Mangan who accepted her award from James Farrell.They gathered together, on the Hill of Tara, as they have done for some years now, to engage in an ancient tradition that now bears a well-known name - the Poc Fada or 'long puck.'
The national Poc Fada competition has been running for over 60 years. Since the competition got up and running in Meath many of those who love hurling and camogie (and who excelled in those codes) have sought success in the competition - and this year it was no different.
Once again this year the race to win the various categories in the Meath championships was highly competitive with the senior hurling category won by Kilmessan player Kyle Donnelly while the senior camogie crown was claimed by Blackhall Gaels and former Meath goalkeeper Emily Mangan.
Other category winners included Becky Horan (u-16 camogie), Cormac Swan (u-16 hurling), Roisin Heaney (minor camogie), Jack Smith junior (minor hurling), Paul Donnelly (O-40s) and Dom Montague (O-55s). Those who are involved in organising the competition, as well as the participants, deserve praise and support for sustaining a rich and ancient tradition. For some it is an integral part of the local GAA tradition.
By winning his category Paul Donnelly certainly sustained a rich family tradition as did his son Kyle Donnelly. Paul's father Dinny Donnelly was a joint winner of the national Poc Fada along with Waterford's Tom Geary and Kilkenny legend Ollie Walsh back in 1963. Dinny was, of course, a legendary footballer and hurling who played both codes for Meath. He was, for instance, part of the Meath team defeated by Galway in the 1966 All-Ireland SFC final.
The national Poc Fada tournament was founded in 1960 by Fr Pól Mac Sheáin and the Naomh Moninne club based in Fatima, Dundalk, Louth, with the first All-Ireland competition taking place in 1961. Past winners also include well-known hurling custodians Ger Cunningham, Davy Fitzgerald and Brendan Cummins.
The concept of the competition is said to go back to the Irish legend of 'Táin Bó Cuailgne' when Cúchulainn, who as the boy Setanta, set out from his home at Dún Dealgan to the King's court at Emain Macha hitting his sliotar before him and running ahead to catch it. It’s certainly a competition that demands an ability to strike a ball with power - and accuracy.
The record currently stands at 48 pucks (an average of 104 metres per puck), achieved by Cummins in 2004. Those who took part in the Meath Poc Fada followed a course that started on the Hill of Tara and finished at Kilmessan Hurling & Camogie and, by all accounts, it proved a very enjoyable experience for those involved.
"What a fantastic day and night at the annual Poc Fada. This year's course was very demanding, many congratulations to our 2022 winners," added Kilmessan Hurling & Camogie club PRO Ian Fitzsimmons. Well done indeed.