GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 15 - December 5, 2014 | Page 12

“For the players who came to Ireland
in March, many proudly present their
Facebook profiles using pictures from
the meeting with the Irish President.
“So his attendance at our Presidential Blitz will give many of the young
and old players a long lasting belief in
Ireland’s support of our initiatives in
South Africa. It would be no understatement to think such impressions
could last a generation,” noted Carpenter.
The driving forces behind the Presidential Blitz were new SA Gaels chair
David Devine, along with Oguz, and
coaches Niall Morris and Dave Burke.
Carpenter’s recent relocation back to
Singapore, has seen David Devine take
over as SA Gaels chairperson. Though
Carpenter left last year he is still very
much involved with growing GAA in
South Africa and is confident that can
be achieved.

South Africa Gaels with Irish President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin in March of
2014. (Photo courtesy of SA Gaels)

“I handed over the Chair to David
Devine last year and he has been doing
a fine job of running things with his
very able committee.
Pappi lifting the Presidential Blitz Cup with Irish president Michael D. Higgins (middle),
““We have taken a massive first step
and his wife Sabina in Pretoria, South and Maria Adams, SA Gaels PT accountant (left).
by establishing the development cen(Photo courtesy of SA Gaels)
tres in the Johannesburg Townships of
Alexandra and Tembisa, which are now rolling out Gaelic
townships, and by being able to represent their province
football programmes in junior and secondary schools.
against other provinces and then their country, we are creating a platform that will drive their ambition and desire to play
“By being able to represent their township against other
Gaelic sports.”

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