Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1365376
50 | SPRING 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie GAELIC 4GIRLS Name: Ciara Holland Club: Holloway Gaels How did the club first hear about the Gaelic4Girls Programme? We first heard of it through the LGFA website and ran our very first programme in 2013. What is the vision for the club's underage section and how do you think G4G will impact this vision? The focus this year is on recovery and regrowth. Like most clubs, we are feeling the effects of a year of limited training opportunities and lack of competitive games. G4G will be vital in introducing the sport to new members - but also as a promotional tool for the youth section as a whole. Youth members from our very first G4G programme are on the cusp of joining the senior ranks; our vision is to ensure this keeps happening. Usually the programme training is very practical. How has the training and interaction been conducted so far? Three of our coaches have completed the programme co-ordinator training virtually with Vinny Whelan and we have an enthusiastic bunch lined up to complete the online coaching training when that becomes available. Vinny has been on hand to answer any queries via email - and the G4G portal is regularly updated with relevant information, resources and learning materials. What tools will you utilise to advertise and promote the programme to the local schools and the wider community? We'll use social media heavily and exploit our links with other sporting and cultural associations in the North London area. We'll also promote through school visits and distribution of leaflets. GAELIC4GIRLS RETURNS TO BRITAIN Does your club have any participants from non-Gaelic Games backgrounds? We're in the privileged position of welcoming adult players from a wide range of nationalities - and a youth section where we have girls who represent the demographic of North London's multi-cultural community. We want to expand and to bring the game to a wider section of the community so will be particularly mindful of this in our school promotion. What support have you received from your club in relation to the delivery of the programme? We will run the Gaelic4Girls program at North London Shamrocks, a local men's club with an excellent youth set-up for boys and girls. North London Shamrocks Youth Committee have been fantastic in helping to facilitate the programme and promote the game to as many girls as possible. Holloway Gaels playing members are enthusiastically committed to helping with coaching - and are excellent role models for our G4G participants. It's a really successful partnership aimed at getting as many girls as possible playing - and keeping them playing for many years to come. What would you say you are looking forward to most about being the G4G coordinator in your club? I'm very excited about a completely new crop of players discovering our wonderful game - and the great craic that every session brings! Looking forward longer term, how do you think G4G could impact the adult section of your club? We are beginning to see the impact of our previous G4G programmes on the adult section of the club, with some girls soon ready to join the senior ranks - and look forward to lots more 'home-grown' talent playing for Holloway Gaels in the future. A really important factor is that running G4G gives us another opportunity to work together and to help build and strengthen our community here in North London. One of our girls from the first G4G programme, Chloe Quilliec, died from a brain tumour aged just 14 in 2018. With a Polish mother and a French father, she exemplified the wonderful diversity of our tribe and we remember her through the 'Chloe Cup' and in a recent fundraising 'Zoomers for Tumours' event where hundreds of people came together to raise over eleven thousand pounds for the Brain Tumour Charity. The event was a real opportunity to reflect on the importance of community - and all the integral parts, like working together to run G4G, that help build that community. Ní neart go cur le chéile - There's no strength without unity. From your experiences so far, would you recommend other clubs in Britain conduct the Gaelic4Girls Programme in their club? Yes - go for it!