Teammates Forever games remember the Chada boys
Kathleen Chada
OVER 300 children came together in the spirit of friendship as Ballinkillen GAA hosted one of the most special days in the club year last weekend.
Now in its ninth year, the annual Teammates Forever games bring together the entire community in remembrance of Eoghan and Ruairí Chada, celebrating the brothers’ love of hurling, their sense of fun and paying tribute to the great teammates they were.
“Eoghan and Ruairí were very much teammates, with each other, with the school and with the club and all the sports that they did, so it’s about remembering that you are a teammate and that you have teammates when you need to reach out,” mum Kathleen told The Nationalist.
“I am very proud of Ballinkillen and the community and not just for me. There’s a real bond there, and when the chips are down, they come together. I have been and continue to be held by the whole community. It really is something special.” The event started when Dublin club Cuala, with which Kathleen had family ties, organised with the Carlow club to come and play here.
“Cuala came down in a double-decker bus, so you can imagine that coming into Ballinkillen all those years ago. We’ve had Killeagh from Cork up a couple of times because my nephew plays with them. There is actually a waiting list of clubs wanting to take part,” she said. However, with only one playing surface in Ballinkillen, it’s not possible to host more teams, although plans are afoot for a second pitch. This year, the club welcomed teams from Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare. The under-sixes from Mount Leinster Rangers and St Mullins got proceedings underway, emulating their senior counterparts in the recent county final.
It was a great day of fun, friendship and hurling.
“There’s such positivity around the event and it is really such a great day,” said Kathleen. “I am so proud of the boys’ legacy. Even at this stage, 11 years down the line, they are still a part of the community in a real, tangible way. They’ve inspired people. I think they’ve probably done more than I can ever know.” Kathleen’s niece Sarah Murphy is joint captain of the under-16 Carlow camogie team. There was six days between herself, and her cousin Ruairí and they were extremely close, starting school together and sharing birthday parties. The All-Ireland champions were guests of honour at the event, presenting medals to those who took part.
“Sarah said she plays for the three of them. It’s those sorts of things that just hit. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is. I can’t change what happened. I can’t bring the boys back. You adapt. To know that she thinks of them, means so much,” said an emotional Kathleen, adding her thanks and appreciation for all those who contribute to a day she holds close to her heart.
