‘You were day in, day out living this dream’

The story of Pres Tuam’s All-Ireland LGFA senior success in 2003

LAST Wednesday marked a significant date in Galway ladies football history with the 20th anniversary of Presentation Currylea's ground-breaking victory in the All-Ireland Senior A Colleges Championship.

The competition came into existence in 1985 and Connacht enjoyed more success than most provinces in its' formative years. Mercy Convent from Castlerea became the first school from the west to taste national success in '89 before Ballinrobe Community School swept all before them and stitched together a famous five in-a-row between 1991 and '95.

Galway had yet to etch their name on the roll of honour by the start of new millennium, but that all changed when Pres Tuam broke the mould on the fifth day of April in 2003, defeating holders Coláiste na Sceilge from Caherciveen in the All-Ireland final.

It was the culmination of a long journey, a gradual climb through the ranks. It started from a Base Camp where the sport wasn't played in the school before 1998 and ended by scaling Everest with Senior A All-Ireland glory arriving inside five years.

Pres Tuam will close its' doors for the final time at the end of the current academic year …

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