There are days when you get a glimpse of exactly what a club is supposed to be.

Our 25th Anniversary Festival of Football brought somewhere between 350 and 400 people to More O’Ferrall Park, with an estimated 170–200 players taking to the field over the course of the afternoon. It was one of the biggest gatherings we have ever had at the grounds and, more importantly, it brought virtually every part of Kildangan GAA together for one very special day.

From our youngest players showing off their skills at the beginning of the afternoon, right through the age groups and eventually to an adult game that proved considerably more competitive than some participants might have expected, football was at the centre of everything.

But the day was really about much more than football.

One of the highlights was the mixed U13–U18 game. Many of those young people had played together throughout their younger years before naturally moving into separate boys’ and girls’ teams as they got older. To see them all back on the same pitch together again — and producing a genuinely competitive game — was something special.

Then came the adults.

There had been plenty of talk beforehand of people volunteering for “five minutes”. Somehow, that turned into a 40-minute match, with current players, former players, parents and coaches all getting involved. Some successfully rolled back the years; others spent a little more time rolling around on the ground! Either way, it was played in exactly the spirit intended and became another of the great highlights of the afternoon.

Throughout it all, our Senior players were heavily involved — helping with the younger age groups, refereeing games and, thankfully, taking things a little easier when it came to the adult match!

There was something particularly significant about seeing them involved.

When Kildangan GAA was reformed 25 years ago, one of the long-term ambitions was to someday have an adult Kildangan team made up predominantly of players from the village — youngsters who had attended Kildangan National School, grown up playing with the club and eventually gone on to represent Kildangan at adult level.

That was a long way into the future in 2001.

Perhaps nothing better demonstrates how far the club has come.

Away from the football, the response from everyone was incredible. The amount — and quality — of baking that arrived deserves a special mention. Based on some of the cakes and treats on offer, there are a few people around Kildangan who may have missed their calling and should seriously consider opening bakeries!

To everyone who baked, prepared food, organised games, refereed, coordinated teams, set things up, cleaned things away, brought children, played, helped behind the scenes or simply came through the gate to be part of the occasion — thank you.

There are far too many people involved to start naming individuals, and perhaps that is the point. The day worked because so many people quietly did their bit.

Twenty-five years after the club was reformed, More O’Ferrall Park was filled with children, teenagers, parents, current players, former players, coaches, volunteers, families and friends.

For those involved in Kildangan GAA over the years, there was a huge sense of pride looking around the grounds.

This is exactly what we want our club to be: a place where the whole village can come together, where children can grow up through the club, where people can remain involved long after their playing days, and where everyone feels they have a place.

There will be plenty more football played and plenty more milestones to celebrate, but Saturday will live long in the memory.