Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1466433
28 | SPRING 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie INTERVIEW Name: Tara Dooley Club: Naomh Muire Íochtar Na Rosann, Donegal Q1: Can you give us a bit of background about your involvement with the LGFA/GAA to date? I've been involved with my (now) local club, Naomh Muire, since 2018. I started helping out at the U6 training sessions and it just went from there really. In March 2019, I was approached to come to a 'brain- storming session' and somehow came out as Ladies Secretary, a position I held for three years. I am now the Ladies Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of our club – as this is a dual role within our One Club model. It's the first time that either position has been held by a female volunteer in our club, this is something that I am very proud of. I help coach U9 boys and U10 girls and I'm the lead coach at U8 girls. I am also the Assistant Secretary on the GAA Regional Board for South Donegal and obviously I'm involved in Learn to Lead! I actually don't know that much about football, but every day is a school day and I am keen to learn & help instigate change where possible. Since 2019, our club has been involved in numerous LGFA Programmes: Club2gether (2019), Gaelic4Girls (2020/21), Gaelic4Teens (Donegal – 2022). Even though I haven't played Gaelic Football since my school days in 'The Comp' in Glenties, I am hoping to get back into it as we have just launched LEARN TO LEAD: REFLECTIONS Gaelic4Mothers&Others (G4MO) at the club. This is such an exciting opportunity and we have 26 signed up already. We've also had female players and coaches selected to take part in the Ulster Coaching Academy & the LGFA BUA Programme. Q2: Why did you apply to the Learn2Lead programme. I applied for Learn2Lead to help inspire other females, in particular to show younger females that things can be different – that they can achieve anything that they want to, it doesn't matter that they are a girl. I wanted to acquire new and further develop existing leadership skills that would help me transition into a Chairperson role. Q3: Your club operates the One Club Model, what is your perspective on this? I believe the One Club model is the way forward. When I hear of Ladies' teams not being permitted to play on the club main pitch or that they need to rent pitch time from their clubs, I realise how lucky we are at our club. We owe a great thanks to those involved down through the last 10+ years, who had the vision for One Club. We are improving on our joint structures all the time. Not only do we share in the highs and lows with all our teams, but also we share finances, responsibility for fundraising, Child Protection, pools of volunteers for