A gripping new TG4 documentary follows the efforts of Tipperary hurling star Lar Corbett and former All-Stars Brian McGuigan and Ollie Canning as they and other members of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) participated in a work party to help the devastated Breezy Point neighborhood of New York in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
The documentary shows how the GPA, with support from Aer Lingus crews, worked to help with the reconstruction of the heavily Irish community’s youth sports facilities destroyed during last year’s hurricane.
GPA chairman Dónal Óg Cusack along with former Dublin All-Ireland winning manager Pat Gilroy headed the 18-strong team that consisted of former players, tradesmen and engineers, along with a number of Aer Lingus volunteers, as they made a practical contribution to the rebuilding effort.
Speaking about the visit GPA chairman Dónal Óg Cusack commented: ‘The visit by the travelling GAA/GPA All-Stars to this extraordinary Irish-American community was a very moving experience last November. We were invited out by the local people, to bring the Sam Maguire and help provide a boost to morale. However, when we got there we were taken aback by the extent of the devastation.
‘We were equally inspired by the spirit of the community; there was a real sense of joy in seeing players arrive in the area. It was at that moment we resolved to return and provide some practical support to the reconstruction effort – and helping the local sports programme through our friend and community member Tim Devlin was, we felt, the best way to do that.’
Aer Lingus Director of Communications Declan Kearney said, ‘Many of the residents of Breezy Point are long-standing supporters of Aer Lingus and we felt it very appropriate for us to repay some of that support.’
Watch the video here:
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