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52 | WINTER 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie and great memories. Naomh Mhuire had such a good day that they travelled up for a number of years afterwards to go to the TG4 All Ireland finals. So according to Martin, what has Gaelic4Girls done for them? They now have an underage academy with over 120 girls, and 40 level 1 coaches, playing Ladies Gaelic football in Naomh Mhuire. It showed the club that there was an appetite for the game and the new coaches have taken it to a new level. Naomh Mhuire are now fielding three teams at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 levels with great success. A number of their players have also represented Galway at underage level, with Laura Ahearne making the breakthrough this year by making her senior debut. Gerry Fahy, current Galway manager, as well as Timmy Rabbitt and Stephen Glennon, who were also previous Galway managers, are members of Naomh Mhuire LGFC. Timmy's daughter came to the club under the Gaelic4Girls programme, and still plays. Naomh Mhuire fielded two adult teams for the past two years and their senior adult team have gone from Junior C grade to Intermediate grade in the past five years. The club have won the Junior A in 2020 but lost the Intermediate Final in 2021 in their first year in this grade. As well as having four girls on that team, that joined the club under the Gaelic4Girls programme they also managed to get a Dad to manage the team which he has done from Under 12. A number of other parents are also involved with the club on their committee. In 2020, Naomh Mhuire joined up with the local GAA and Camogie club and are looking to build new pitches and dressings rooms. They have 580 girls registered in Naomh Mhuire LGFC, making them one of the fastest clubs in the county. The Gaelic4Girls programme in 2013 was a great success for Naomh Mhuire and it was hard but rewarding work, yet it certainly has set the seeds for where they are today as a club. Martin and everyone involved in the club are extremely proud and they used Gaelic4Girls to set a solid foundation on which the club could grow and they have grasped that opportunity with both hands from a player and volunteer perspective. The Gaelic4Girls programme is proudly sponsored by Glenveagh Homes. THEY NOW HAVE AN UNDERAGE ACADEMY WITH OVER 120 GIRLS, AND 40 LEVEL 1 COACHES, PLAYING LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL... IT SHOWED THE CLUB THAT THERE WAS AN APPETITE FOR THE GAME AND THE NEW COACHES HAVE TAKEN IT TO A NEW LEVEL." GAELIC4GIRLS