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ladiesgaelic.ie // 59 DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA Volume 14 | Issue No 3 | PEIL Autumn Q : Angela, thanks for talking to us for the latest issue of Peil Magazine. Can you first of all tell readers a little bit about yourself, your background and how you got involved in Ladies Football? A : thank you. I am delighted and privileged to be asked to contribute to the magazine. I was twelve years old when I was first introduced to Gaelic Games, my two cousins came over to my granny's and said they were playing Gaelic football on Saturdays with the local club, so I begged my parents to let me go, I got the permission provided I took my younger sister along, which I did. My home club since then has always been Eoghain Rua Ui Neills based in the small village of Leckpatrick in North Tyrone, I have played alongside my younger sister on the team from minor through to senior level, I played County minor for a few years as well with two other club members under the guidance of Rosemary Carson. I started coaching when I was fifteen or sixteen years old, I received a serious back injury at the age of seventeen which rendered me unable to play or participate, for a period of time, so I started to spend more time coaching and studying sports after high school. At college in Derry I coached the ladies team for a few years and continued my coaching career in Dundee were I received my coaching degree. During my term in Dundee I was player/manager of the Abertay University Ladies Team follow by coaching and managing the British University's Railway Cup Scotland Ladies Team. Upon my return to Tyrone I continued my playing career with my local home club whilst coaching ladies teams at various age groups in Tyrone. I spent a number of years as Tyrone Ladies Development Officer and I coached the County underage teams before leaving home to take up my current role here in Ottawa as GDO. In December 2017 I took on the additional role as the Canadian GAA Development officer. Q : Angela, you find yourself in Canada at the moment. How long have you been there, what's your role and can you tell us about the work that you do? A : I first came to Canada in 2015 at the invite of the Ottawa Gaels, I had a three months assignment as a coach in the local schools, I was invited back the following year for a further three months working primarily with Club developing, Club coaching structures and organizing school tournaments. During this period I was also coaching the Club's senior ladies squad as well as u12+14 girls teams, preparing them for participation in the annual Continental Youth Championships (CYC). The World Games were on the same year in Dublin so I stayed on a little longer to work with the Canadian ladies team, a totally Non-Irish born squad who came home to Dublin and were narrowly defeated in the finals in Croke Park, this was an incredible experience and performance, and one that I was very proud and honored to be a part of. I've been with the club now over a year as Games Development officer and I am in my first term as the Canadian GAA Development Officer, my primary responsibility is the promotion of all Gaelic Games in Ottawa through the local schools system with the view to retaining and recruiting the youth, and when ready that they join the Ottawa Gaels at adult GAMES DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA Angela Stevenson is a Games Development Officer in Canada, she talks to Peil Magazine about her background and the reality of working in International Gaelic Games level, I am also facilitating in the delivery of coach education clinics to other potential coaches within the Club and to the teachers within the local school systems, all the while coaching at Club youth level and managing the senior ladies team, busy times. Q : Did you happen to catch the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals? What were your thoughts on the big day and the new record attendance of 50,141 at Croke Park? A : I absolutely did, I would not miss the greatest day of Gaelic Games bar none, and if I was at home there is no doubt I would be in attendance at Croke Park. Here in Ottawa all the ladies players watched the games live on TG4, congratulations to all the finalists and a massive well done to Tyrone ladies of course!! Incredible attendance, it was eagerly anticipated by all here and when the announcement of 50,141 was shown on the big screen everyone was amazed. Q : How vital is the role of development in Ladies Football, in terms of spreading the gospel and encouraging young girls to take up the sport? A : Development is one of the key components, it is of utmost importance particularly in a Country that presents many geographical challenges and time zones, every opportunity to teach and develop must be taken. The Canadian County committee has been incredibly supportive of our ladies games and have adopted the "One Club Model" encompassing Mens and Ladies Gaelic