The 2019 GAA Championships are here again and each weekend the roads around this island are buzzing as supporters don their colours and look forward to the thrills and the spills of another summer of hurling and football games.

Irish folk legends, the Fureys, have re-released their version of Our Games to coincide with the arrival of the All-Ireland series of games. The proceeds from the downloads will go to Children’s Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF) Crumlin who raise vital funds for Crumlin Hospital and the National Children’s Research Centre (NCRC).

The song was written by former RTÉ Sport presenter the late Brendan O’Reilly in 1991 and he asked the Fureys if they would record it. They performed the song in Croke Park at halftime during that year’s All-Ireland football final between Down and Meath.

They re-recorded version for the 2019 season includes additional commentary from Marty Morrissey.

Brendan, who died in 2001 at the age of 71, was born in Granard where the family had a business. They moved to Dublin when he was nine. He was an accomplished Gaelic footballer and had an abiding interest in sport and Irish history.

He secured a four-year athletics scholarship at the University of Michigan where his outstanding high-jump feats saw him clear 6ft7in. He was regarded as the second-best high jumper in Europe and looked set to win a medal at the European Championships in Berne in 1954 but an ankle injury a few days before the games left him with no option but to miss out on his cherished dream.

Brendan later became the face of Sports Stadium on RTÉ which he presented for close on two decades until he retired in 1997. His self-penned tribute song to Michael Collins entered the Irish Top 20 in 1980.

Marty Morrissey was thrilled to be asked to lend support with the venture.

“I have a great regard for the Fureys and love their music. I am fortunate to have the privilege of visiting Crumlin Children’s Hospital with the All-Ireland winning teams the day after the All-Ireland finals in what is now a well-established tradition.

“I am delighted to be associated with the re-recoding of Our Games which was penned by Brendan O’Reilly who was such a presence in RTÉ Sport for many years. I do a small bit of commentary at the start of the song and I hope it proves to be a big fundraiser for Crumlin Hospital,” states Marty.

Fiona O’Malley, head of communications at CMRF Crumlin said: “We are so thankful to the Fureys and Marty Morrissey for their time and energy in this project. All the funds raised from the downloads will go directly to CMRF Crumlin and will help support the 150,000 children from all over the country who walk through the doors of Crumlin hospital every year. The recording will assist with raising vital funds for paediatric research, lifesaving equipment and other services to some of Ireland’s sickest children.”

CMRF Crumlin would also like to thank the late Brendan O’Reilly’s wife Johanna Lowry-O’Reilly who generously waived all royalties for the recording, Céol Music who have waived all downloading fees, Abby Dillon from Littlebird Design who created the design of the promotional CD without charge and All Write Media who sponsored and manufactured the promotional CDs.

To donate to CMRF Crumlin, please click here .

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