Football from Donegal club Finn Harps floats out to sea and lands on island 375km away

Alan Foley
By Alan Foley

Managing Editor, Donegal, Letterkenny

Published 6th Oct 2023, 09:41 BST
Stephen Kearney, who lives on the Scottish island of Vatersayplaceholder image
Stephen Kearney, who lives on the Scottish island of Vatersay

Stephen Kearney found the ball on the west side of the island of Vatersay and messaged Finn Harps to share the news, which was in turn shared by the club's promotion officer Aidan Campbell

A Finn Harps match ball has been found 375 kilometres north at the island of Vatersay, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Stephen Kearney found the ball on the west side of the island and messaged Finn Harps to share the news, which was in turn shared by the Ballybofey club's promotion officer Aidan Campbell, who also showed the distance the football took on a map in the North Atlantic.placeholder image
Stephen Kearney found the ball on the west side of the island and messaged Finn Harps to share the news, which was in turn shared by the Ballybofey club's promotion officer Aidan Campbell, who also showed the distance the football took on a map in the North Atlantic.
"Hello Finn Harps, one of your footballs sailed all the way to the west side of Vatersay in the Western Isles where we live," he wrote. "Still in perfect nick so me and my wee boy had a kick about on the beach. Cheers, Stephen Kearney."placeholder image
"Hello Finn Harps, one of your footballs sailed all the way to the west side of Vatersay in the Western Isles where we live," he wrote. "Still in perfect nick so me and my wee boy had a kick about on the beach. Cheers, Stephen Kearney."

Vatersay, according to the 2013 National Records of Scotland, has a population of just 90. Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower, the Calystegia soldanella, reputedly originates from French seeds dropped in Scotland, is found only on Vatersay and neighbouring Eriskay. Vatersay is also famous for its Atlantic puffins.

In September 1853, the ship Annie Jane with emigrants from Liverpool to Quebec was totally wrecked in this bay and three-quarters of the crew and passengers numbered approximately 350 were drowned.

Related topics:Finn HarpsFootballScotland
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