THE ANNUAL Poc Fada at Stormont took place on Saturday, with more than 1,000 people from across Ireland coming together for the second year running of the competition at the seat of the Northern Ireland government.
Part of the highly successful Féile an Phobail festival programme, the event sees hurlers and camogs take to “the hill” to hit sliotair with hurls over an extended course in as few hits as possible.
The competition has grown from its west Belfast origins to move to Stormont last year.
Notable names from hurling that took part included Damien Maguire from Carrickmore, and Micko Herron and Paul O’Connell from Antrim, as well as Antrim camog Jane Adams.
Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Francie Molloy and Belfast Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile handed out the trophies to the winners, with Niall McManus taking the senior men’s competition and Claire O’Kane from Derry picking up the women’s prize.
The celebrity competition was won by BBC broadcaster Mark Sidebottom, who was presented with the Edward Carson Trophy, named after the unionist leader who was a keen hurler.
The day also included a fundraiser in support of Mark McGovern, the Fermanagh man who has emerged from a coma after an incident at a Gaelic game in San Francisco.