Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1466433
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SPRING 2022 | 41 INTERVIEW "We would be strong enough, we were going for six in a row in Offaly last year," said Gavin Mangan. She hails from the Ballycumber along with fellow Offaly star Róisín Ennis, and while the latter began her studies at DCU Dóchas Éireann recently, Gavin Mangan has gone abroad to continue hers. The 23-year-old is in her first year of a Masters in Occupational Therapy at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. It's a long way from the rural heartland made famous by singer Simon Casey. "I only started studying there in September, I am doing my Masters, which is two years," said Gavin Mangan. "Last September, I was flying over and back for club games, that was weekly to fortnightly. This side of 2022, I have been flying back. So I fly over on Tuesday evening, I only have lectures on Wednesday and Thursday and I fly home on Thursday evenings. 13 days is the longest I've been over there for this side of Christmas. "And it's gas because my flights have been the cheap flights, so I've dodged all of that carnage with security in Dublin airport until I was standing for an hour and 50 minutes one time, but I made the flight nonetheless." It might get a bit more hectic in the weeks to come with the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship about to begin but she is ready for that. Gavin Mangan was studying in Dublin before this so she used to the journeys up and down, even if there is a flight involved now too. "You are 25 minutes in the air, you are not even asleep before you are awake again," said Gavin Mangan. "I don't mind it all. It seems like such a short commute. I lived in Dublin for my undergrad so that commute home seems like nothing now as well. It's just an hour even. "Round-trip from my home house to my house in Edinburgh is three-and- a-half hours really. So it kind of just seems a bit unbelievable at the moment that it is so attainable." She went to Edinburgh to open her mind and prepare herself for a like in Occupational Therapy. "The reason I actually went into it is because it's such a broad career, there are actually prospects everywhere and in places that you would never have even thought of," said Gavin Mangan. "My hope is to start off in a hospital and then move to some type of community rehabilitation with stroke patients or stuff like that. I really like the idea of rehabilitation anyway, so yeah that's my hope. "But once I get into it, I might end up in something different." And once the ball is thrown in on the championship, the influential Offaly star wants to help her team to more Finals in the summer months. "I don't know if anyone on the team, maybe two or three, have played in Croke Park before," said Gavin Mangan. "The potential of possibly playing there if we work hard enough is quite exciting but then again, it's taking it one game at a time." "L AST SEPTEMBER I WAS FLYING OVER AND BACK FOR CLUB GAMES, THAT WAS WEEKLY TO FORTNIGHTLY. THIS SIDE OF 2022 I HAVE BEEN FLYING BACK. SO I FLY OVER ON TUESDAY EVENING, I ONLY HAVE LECTURES ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND I FLY HOME ON THURSDAY EVENINGS. 13 DAYS IS THE LONGEST I'VE BEEN OVER THERE FOR THIS SIDE OF CHRISTMAS." This image: 2019; Kate Kenny of Naomh Ciaran supported by Amy Gavin Mangan of Naomh Ciaran wins a high ball against Aine Tubridy of Naomh Pól during the All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Championship Final. Below: Amy Gavin Mangan of Naomh Ciaran inn action