Westmeath Hurling and Football Club New York

Best of luck to our club members and who will be representing us in the New York GAA Squid Games this Friday. Please support them by clicking on the link below in our comments:

Everyone at the club would like to extend their condolences to Anne and the Connaughton family on the passing of Terry Connaughton.

Terry was an ever present figure in Gaelic Park. He always enjoyed a chat, laugh and to catch up on all things related to GAA and Ireland.

Terrys dedication, passion and overall commitment has had and continues to have a big impact on NY GAA. He will be missed.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Our next player of the year nominee is our Senior Hurler of the year. This years recipient is .

Daniel, born in Killester, Dublin (1996), grew up with a love for hurling and football at Scoil Uí Chonaill before moving to Galway, where he continued his development with Kilnadeema/Leitrim and won an All-Ireland schools title.

After completing secondary school, Daniel and his family moved back to Dublin where he played a key role in Scoil Uí Chonaill’s rise to Senior A, earning Hurler of the Year in 2019.

After getting introduced to Tom Nugent, Daniel decided to move to New York, joining the Westmeath NY club. This move helped reignite his passion for hurling. The move to New York has had several highlights for Daniel, including lining out in Croke Park and winning the 2025 Lory Meagher Cup with the New York hurlers, followed by a historic Senior championship win with Westmeath NY hurlers— their first in 29 years.

Honored to receive the Dermot Kenny Hurler of the Year, Daniel proudly accepts on behalf of his teammates, management, and family. Scoil Uí Chonaill

Next up in our dinner dance honorees is our “Senior footballer of the year” Killian Butler. Killian hails from Greenford, West London, son of Phillip & Judy and younger brother to Tiffany & Phillip.

He started his football journey with Tir Chonaill Gaels, going on to represent London Seniors for 7 years, with a brief spell at Mullingar Shamrocks before making the move to New York in 2022

A gifted all-round athlete, Killian played youth soccer with Chelsea (alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek) and rugby, but was inspired to pursue Gaelic football after watching his brother Philip reach the 2013 Connacht Final with London.

He became a key figure for Tir Chonaill Gaels, winning 4 London Senior titles and earning Man of the Match in the 2018 Final replay (scoring 0–5 from play).

Since moving to New York, Killian has lined out for Westmeath NY and the New York Senior football team—playing his part in their historic 2023 Connacht Championship win over Leitrim. Despite a “dire” penalty attempt, he helped get the job done.

A consistent performer, he also contributed 0–3 in Westmeath NY’s 2023 Senior Championship victory. Finally, Killian would like to thank his family, friends, and especially the Moore family for their support since his move in 2022. He is grateful to the club and its sponsors for an incredibly enjoyable 2025 season and is hopeful for even greater success in the year ahead—with more silverware, and perhaps even an England World Cup victory this summer 👀
Tir Chonaill Gaels

Next up in our list of honorees for our annual dinner dance is our “Clubman of the year” award. This award is given to an individual who goes above and beyond helping the club behind the scenes with coordinating and organizing various events and fundraisers.
This years recipient has been a loyal member of the club since 2015 and we are lucky to have him - Gerard McPartland
Please join us on Saturday 18th of April to celebrate Gerard or by taking an add in our dinner dance journal. Thank you.

Gerard was born in New York in January 1992 after which his family returned to Doon Co. Limerick. He has one older brother, James and two younger, Brian and Jack. His father, Gerry, is from Drumkeeran Co. Leitrim, and mother, Ann, from Doon Co. Limerick. They both lived in the Bainbridge area of the Bronx for approx. 10 years in in the 80s / early 90s. Ann played camogie and soccer for many years in New York before they moved back to Limerick with their young family in ’92.

Gerard took a keen interest in hurling & football from a young age. It all took off when he started in Doon CBS, hurling in the school yard before, during, and after school. Special credit must go to the influence of Brother Dormer during this time. Gerard hurled and won medals with Doon at all levels, often captaining the team when up to the age. Gerard represented Limerick at underage level from U14-U17 and was a member of the Limerick Intermediate panel in 2014. Gerard hurled on the Doon Senior Team from 2010 to 2015 winning a couple of East Championship medals and contesting county semi-finals in 2013 & 14, falling just short on both occasions. Gerard played football at underage, junior and intermediate levels with Oola in County Limerick, winning many East Limerick football titles.

In search of something new, Gerard decided to travel to New York in June 2015, initially planning to stay for 3 months. However, after landing on his feet, he decided to extend his stay to a year, which has since turned into 11 years. Gerard has worked in construction ever since his move to New York and is currently an Estimator & Project Manager for Aecom Tishman. Gerard recently married Krista Charles from Yonkers, who has become a regular supporter of Westmeath on the sidelines and even lends a hand with some of Gerard’s club clerical duties.

Upon arriving in New York, Gerard joined the Westmeath Hurling & Football Club New York through contact with Tom Nugent. He has been an active member ever since, both on and off the field. Gerard is the only active member of the team to have played in every season since the revival of the hurling team in 2015.

Gerard served as Secretary of the club from 2020 to 2024 and currently holds the role of Treasurer. He was honored as Westmeath Hurler of the Year in 2016 and Junior Footballer of the Year in 2024.

On the field, Gerard captained Westmeath to two Junior Hurling Championships in 2018 and 2021, and last year helped the team finally secure a Senior Hurling Championship, lining out at center back. He also won an Intermediate County Championship with the Westmeath footballers in 2021 and is a member of the Westmeath Junior Football team.

Gerard has also had the honor of representing the New York GAA Hurling Team in recent years. In 2024, he competed in the Connacht Hurling League, where New York captured its first piece of hurling silverware. He was also a member of the 2025 New York team that won the Lory Meagher All Ireland Championship in Croke Park. Gerard now looks forward to competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup with New York this year.
Gerard remains proud to wear the Westmeath colors in New York and looks forward to many more years representing the club on and off the field.

Finally, congratulations to Brendan, Tom, Killian, and Danny on their well-deserved awards, and best wishes to Westmeath for the 2026 season.

Doon G.A.A.

With our dinner dance only a few weeks away, we would like to start paying tributes to our honorees, starting off with our Guest of Honor - Brendan Kirby

Brendan Kirby was born and bred in his native Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath. He is one of three brothers, alongside Ciaran, Philip, the late Peirce and Kathleen Kirby.

Brendan is married to Ann (née Skelton) from the great Sarsfields football community of Derrytrasna, County Armagh, and together they have three children: Colm, Enda, and Austin.

Brendan immigrated to New York in 1985, one of around a dozen who emigrated from Castletown Geoghegan and St. Malachy’s Football Club at that time. He thrived and built a life for his family through generations in the construction industry, both in Ireland and New York, continuing to this day.

From an early age, Brendan showed tremendous promise on the field of play with Castletown Geoghegan in hurling and St. Malachy’s in football. During this period Brendan went onto win many underage championships from school level through to minor. He also played minor for Westmeath before emigrating and later played senior hurling and football with both Castletown Geoghegan and St. Malachy’s.

After moving to New York, he played hurling with Galway and Offaly, and football with Connemara Gaels prior to the Westmeath club being formed. He deployed his skills in both codes, playing, captaining, and managing throughout his career, and won several championships with these clubs over the years.

Brendan later had the pleasure of seeing his sons play their way up the ranks in New York with Celtics, and he coached at all levels along the way, taking great enjoyment in watching his boys flourish into fine young men.

Brendan would like to express his sincere gratitude to the Westmeath Hurling and Football Clubs for this great honor and offers congratulations to all the other nominees. He also extends his thanks to the many friends he has made over the years with Westmeath and the wider GAA community in New York and Ireland.

Please join us on April 18th to celebrate Brendan and our other honorees.

Castletown Geoghegan Hurling Club
St. Malachys GFC
New York Celtics GFC

**Reminder - we are a little over 6 weeks away from our annual dinner dance. See below:

This year, our annual dinner dance will be held at The Surf Club On The Sound, New Rochelle on Saturday, April 18th. 🇶🇦

Honoring Guest of Honor Brendan Kirby
Lifetime Achievement Award Tom Nugent, Clubman of the Year Gerard McPartland
Senior Hurler of the Year Daniel Mottram
Senior Footballer of the Year Killian Butler

Celebrating the NYGAA 2025 Senior Hurling
Champions with the Cup! 🏆🇶🇦

Medal presentation to be had on the night. 🏅

Tickets include a cocktail hour, 3 course dinner, 5 hour open bar & Live DJ & entertainment! 🪩🕺🏽

Special Guest on the night Tommy "Jogger" Doyle

After party details to follow. 🎉

For all ticket, table & journal ad inquiries, contact our page or a member of our dance committee listed above. 📞

Don’t miss out on what promises to be a memorable occasion. 🇶🇦

Ads & Tickets can now be purchased online for our upcoming Dinner Dance on April 18th. Click link below for full details!!

Westmeath New York GAA Dinner Dance 2026 Dinner Dance & Awards Night

Superbowl. Thanks to all who took one. Good luck 🤞🏈🏈🏈🏈