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GAELIC4GIRLS Gaelic4Girls - Through an Ambassador's Eyes with Laurie Ryan in, I have started to appreciate the importance of working with all parties involved in a project. This was a great step forward by the LGFA and it definitely enhances the overall experience for the club and the families involved. I feel that by working with everyone, there is a bigger investment in the club and the hope would be that this would increase volunteers and the creation of a stronger a club spirit. Glenveagh Homes are the programme sponsors and they help build communities and this complements how the LGFA clubs are the centre of the community. Gaelic4Girls gives clubs the tools to reach out to those communities. How has your own club benefited from being so embedded in your community and vice-versa? It is a great partnership with Glenveagh, it really links with that community element. I love the fact that G4G is a club-based initiative, girls will start and finish with their club so it is great that this programme could be that stepping stone for them. Obviously, yourself and Emma joined up with existing ambassadors Jenny Shine and Aimee Mackin this year. Has it been a smooth introduction, and did you come across any of them on the playing pitches last year or get to see any of them in action? One thing that I enjoyed about being an ambassador was getting the opportunity to meet the other girls. It's funny... on the pitch we would be so competitive, but once you take us out of a match situation, we all get on so well. I didn't get to play against any of the girls last year (thankfully) but I would always keep an eye on the championships, and it was great to see how much impact all the girls had with their teams, a word of mention has to go to Emma and Meath again last year, her standout moment for me was the winning point against Galway. What has been the most rewarding part of being a Gaelic4Girls, Sponsored by Glenveagh Homes, ambassador so far and what are you most looking forward to in 2023? I really enjoy getting the opportunity to promote LGFA, it has been an integral part of my life and I have so many experiences and memories because I took a chance one day and joined my club. The core aims of G4G are based around creating friendships, having fun, developing social skills and these are all the things I love about playing myself. I am really looking forward to getting out to more clubs in 2023 and meeting the stars of the future. After last year's hugely successful delivery of the Gaelic4Girls Programme, sponsored by Glenveagh Homes, it will return bigger and better than ever for 2023. In 2022, we were lucky enough to welcome new ambassadors, Clare's Laurie Ryan and Emma Duggan from Meath. We recently sat down with Laurie Ryan to chat about what we can expect from the programme in 2023. Here's what she had to say… Thanks so much Laurie for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us about the upcoming Gaelic4Girls programme. The successful clubs have been announced but if a club is looking to grow and increase participation, would you recommend this programme to them? I think this programme is the perfect pathway for young girls to get involved in a club. Gaelic4Girls wants to allow all girls to play in a fun way. I am a firm believer that sport should be fun for all girls and allow them to develop in an environment where they can make friends and feel like they can make mistakes to learn. I also think that the promotion the clubs get from the LGFA is great, it makes your club feel special and part of something bigger than underage training. We have, in recent years, added coach and parent education aspects to the programme that have really enhanced its delivery. Is coach and parent education something that you feel passionate about both in relation to its place in the programme and in sports in general? I think since I come from a teaching background, and coaching is something I want to get involved 46 | WINTER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie