Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1365376
FEATURE Every year at the launch, the boys and girls are asked who their favourite player is and why they look up to them. That particular occasion, for the first time ever I heard a young girl saying that a female player was her role model. That was lovely to see. And it wasn't in any way that she was made to say it, it came very naturally to her. Of course the player was Cora Staunton and it was no shock that we were in Mayo! I was so happy to hear her say that. 4. 25-YEAR CHAMPIONS: Bringing the champions of 25 years ago back to Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day is a huge thing for us to be able to do as an Association. Recognising the achievements of those players in that way is very important. The great fun and enjoyment that they got out of that, the fact that they were recognised on a big day, was nice. In a lot of cases, when they were playing they hardly got a column in a newspaper even after winning an All-Ireland Final, so they really loved getting together again. Being part of the Laois set-up all those years ago, when they had played in nine All-Ireland Finals before they eventually won one, you appreciate the good days when they come. I'm sure it was like that for all of our All- Ireland champions. 5. GAA PARTNERSHIP: I have to say the progress that has been made with our working relationship with the GAA has been brilliant. Even in the time that I have been there, it has evolved so much. We used to have difficulties getting the use of county grounds for our national fixtures, but that has improved hugely. We have done a lot of work with the GAA with regard to coaching qualifications, the One Club model and the Player Pathway that was unveiled recently. There has been a lot of progress there, I think. These achievements would not be possible without the LGFA staff. The work they do is incredible. It was brilliant being part of that team and they bring such life to the organisation. 6. YOUR HOME CLUB: After I was elected as LGFA President, I went back to my club in Ballylinan and they had put on a lovely function for me, which was really nice and something I'll remember for a long time. It was nice to be recognised by my home club for what I had achieved, and to have that appreciation shown. As LGFA President, you get to go around to club events and to different functions, you get a great sense of the huge amount of work that goes on at grassroots level in every community in the country. It's brilliant that you get to be part of all of those events and join in with all of that activity. THAT PARTICULAR OCCASION, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER I HEARD A YOUNG GIRL SAYING THAT A FEMALE PLAYER WAS HER ROLE MODEL. THAT WAS LOVELY TO SEE. Top Left : Participants take part in an Athletic Development exercise during the 2019 Gaelic4Teens Activity Day at the GAA National Games Development Centre Bottom Left: Action during the match between Carryduff, Co. Down, and Mount Leinster Rangers, Co. Carlow, during the LGFA U10 Go Games Activity Day. Bottom Right: Meath and Dunboyne footballer Vikki Wall at the launch of the new Gaelic Games Player Pathway