One of the undoubted benefits of Gaelic games is its ability to instill a great sense of pride in a local community and no where is this more evident than in Collinstown, Co Westmeath, where the Lough Lene Gaels Hurling Club has been operating since 1969.

There were the inevitable breaks and interludes that seem to have affected most rural GAA clubs, but Shandonagh, like a phoenix, rose to win that precious Junior title in ’79 and from there things developed as more and more dedicated people got involved.

For the past 109 years, Castletown-Geoghegan has had a proud association with the GAA and the game of hurling has flourished in that part of Westmeath, where many great memories have been made and numerous successes enjoyed.

Tradition is a very popular word in the GAA world and the 47 clubs in Westmeath, plus the numerous others around the country pride themselves in their great history and how they have grown and developed to become pivotal parts of the parish they serve.