Columbus Irish: Freedom for All Ireland Irish Road Bowling Fundraiser a Strike
By Michael Cosgrove
The Second Annual AOH Patrick Pearse Division Freedom for All Ireland (FFAI) Road Bowling Fundraiser
was full of great competition, and fun. The rain came early, but it passed through just as bowlers started to arrive, leaving a cloudy but warm day for the event.
Despite the threatening weather, a good turnout of just under sixty bowlers and friends came down to Deer Creek State Park to roll 28-ounce iron and steel balls down a winding and slightly hilly road. Competition was fierce (but friendly) and the First Place trophy was taken home by Mike Murphy’s team, “Better at Cornhole;” … and he is.
West Virginia teams did not take the trophy, and it’s good to keep it in Ohio. Of course, no West Virginia teams showed up, due to a competing event in Morgantown, and that may have had something to do with the outcome; they would have smoked us otherwise.
West Virginia is a hotbed of Irish Road Bowling stateside, sponsoring over twenty events annually. Here in Ohio, the last Saturday of October brings the annual Greater Columbus Irish Cultural Foundation (GCICF) event to Deer Creek. The AOH event will be held annually on the last Saturday of April, also at Deer Creek.
Many thanks to all who participated, sponsored signs or otherwise assisted with the event.
Request more information at [email protected]. A good time was had by all, and we met and exceeded our fundraising goal once again.
*The AOH’s Freedom for All Ireland Fund aids and advances the aspirations and endeavors of the Irish people for complete and absolute independence, promoting peace and unity for all Ireland. Categories of Hibernian aid through Freedom for All Ireland funding include truth and justice groups, cross-community and local community groups, Irish culture, heritage and language, and cross-border groups, forums, and initiatives.
