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Last Saturday (29/1/11) the Killarney Vikings Floorball & the Irish Floorball Association organised it's first official event, Official Launch of Floorball in Ireland/Family Fun Day. The event took place at Coral Leisure Centre in Killarney and was a great success with about 200 visitors curious about the newest sport in Ireland.

At the event there was an Exhibition tournament with 2 teams from Killarney and Dublin respective, one of the Dublin teams was victorious. Also players from the Special Olympics floorball team & Kerry Stars (part of Special Olympics) got a chance to show off their skill in a highly appreciated game. The match of the day, however, was to be held between the Allstar teams from Kerry & Dublin. Dublin was the clear winners in that match with the Final score 10-1. The big difference between the teams can be explained by the fact that all players from Killarney, Kerry are all beginners as Irish are complete novices to the sport, the Dublin team is put together with players from Sweden (where Floorball originated), Finland & Latvia and have all been playing Floorball since childhood.

On the day there was also plenty of opportunities for children to try out the sport with a special area for children made from an official Floorball rink had been set up. There the could try out official sticks and balls with players from Killarney teaching them how to play. This area was full all the time during the 3 hour event and most children now wants to keep on playing with the Killarney Vikings when their youth sessions will start shortly. Children all ages (6 up) are already welcome to Tuesdays training sessions at Coral Leisure Centre, Killarney between 6-7 pm. Also Adults got their chance to try out the equipment in their own area of course.

Other activities were Raffles, Childrens entertainer and of course an information desk about floorball which was a very busy spot with a lot of people interested with a lot of questions!

A definate highlight of the day was when Councillor Donal Grady, Mayor of Killarney appeared. In welcoming the visitors, locals and participating teams, in particular teams from Dublin and Kerry All Stars, ,he said to be very impressed with what he had seen. He emphasised the importance of games like this, in providing a fun, safe way to exercise and make friends. He said it was great to see young people, parents and children sharing in the enjoyent of the game which can be played by both men and women. He also pointed to the long-term benefit, for young people, as a means of minimising the likelihood of being distracted into less nurturing activities like substance misuse. He said he felt particularly proud that Killarney Town Council as owners of the very fine facility, Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre, were able to accommodate the games and guests.
He thanked Mr Pontus Glad and his colleagues for forming the first official Floorball Club in Ireland, The Killarney Vikings and wished them and their governing body, the Irish Floorball Association (IFA) success in their plans to develop teams with a view to participating in competitions with countries where the game is long established .

With this official launch we now hope to recruit players and get more teams playing around Ireland to be able to start a National League in September and form a National team in the process.

Kind Regards

Pontus Glad
President Irish Floorball Association

For more information about Floorball and our recent and upcoming events, please contact us by email irishfloorball@gmail.com or call Pontus 085-8144406.
You can also find us on Facebook (Irish Floorball) or our website http://irishfloorball.com/ or International Floorball Federation http://www.floorball.org/