THE WORLD’S most northerly GAA club, whose founding member is a Donegal man, was rewarded this week for ‘promoting equality in sport’.
Moville native Cathaoir Sóna is the brains behind the Oulu Irish Elks GAA club in Oulu, Finland.
The Arctic Circle is home for Sóna, who has been based in Finland since 2010.
Picture caption: Cathaoir Sóna, third from left, with members of the Oulu Irish Elks GAA Club.
A former player with Moville, he was the club’s reserve team player of the year in 2001 and received his trophy from Jim McGuinness.
Oulu’s nearest opponent is 600 kilometres away in Helsinki.
Beyond that, they have to travel across the Gulf of Finland to the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
This week, Sóna was present to accept an award.
They received the Sports Services of City of Oulu award ‘for mertits in promoting equality in sport’, which came with a €2,500 prize.
“The Gaelic football club Pulu Irish Elks GAA represents an organisation which has brought new, fresh and perhaps international flavour to sports culture in Oulu,” their certificate reads.
“The club has members from over ten different countries; both men and women of all ages.
“The club has also been noted on an international level and has promoted Oulu worldwide.
“The Gaelic football of Oulu Irish Elks GAA has become a natural part of the Irish Festival of Oulu event. The club promotes equality in sports culture through its activities and social intengration. The club is a door to Finish society.”
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