Several hundred boys and girls from youth clubs throughout the North American County Board will be heading to New York next weekend to compete in the annual Continental Youth Championship (CYC) Tournament. Last year in San Francisco NACB teams captured 16 of the 22   championships, while 6 titles went to New York clubs. From an NACB perspective, highlight of last years tournament was the county's success in the Inter-county championships in which they captured the minor, under 16 boys and under 16 girls football championships.   

This years CYC is being hosted by the New York County Youth Board in conjunction with the CYC Steering Committee and being staged at Eisenhower Park in Nassua County, New York  July 29, 30, 31, & August 1. The tournament will get underway with the traditional parade on Thursday evening at 7:00pm in the town of Rockville Center on Long Island.

With over 140 teams are expected to compete from cities across the US and Canada as well as team from England and Ireland it is estimated that over 200 games will be on the schedule. Various hurling and Gaelic football championships at under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17 age groups will be staged. Similar to last year, special attraction will be the staging of the boy's inter-county minor football championship between York, NACB and London. There will also be inter-county competitions in boys under 16 and girls minor football.

The CYC which made its debut in New York in 2004 has evolved into the biggest Irish sports youth program in the world. Launched during the presidency of  Sean Kelly, the CYC was the beginning of a major new initiative towards the development of Gaelic games overseas. With the financial backing from Croke Park through the International committee now under the chairmanship of former GAA President Joe McDonagh, coupled with corporate sponsorship from O'Neill's, Ireland's premier Sports Company, the tournament has grown in popularity and size.      

Several GAA officials from Ireland have committed to attending the tournament including  former GAA President and current International Committee chairman, Joe McDonagh as well as former International Committee chairman, Sheamus Howlen and officials from O'Neill's.  

Eamonn Kelly

PRO - NACB