Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1504175
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2023 | 37 GAELIC4MOTHERS AND OTHERS SPORTS DIRECT be a role model for them and to show them that mummies can play football too! G4M&O is brilliant, I'd tell anyone who has thought about it to go for it. Don't worry about not having played in years or at all, your fitness, or if the time is "right", just do it- you'll never look back! Name: Aoife Byrne Club: Erins Isle - Dublin Thanks for taking the time to speak to us Aoife. Firstly, well done on such a brilliant day hosting the Leinster North Provincial blitz in Erins Isle. What were the highlights for you? The whole day was a highlight, from start to finish but I would say when the teams started to arrive the atmosphere really took off. Everyone was so excited to be there, and all the teams were there to play football and have the craic, we met some lovely teams that we will definitely arrange games with over the summer. What supports in organising the event did you receive from the rest of the G4M&O group? This was definitely a team effort, everyone on the team and in the club got behind us from day 1 and there was a definite buzz about the club in the weeks leading up to it. The Gaelic4Mothers&Others group as a team were so welcoming to the other teams, they organised the raffle, tea/coffee, baked cakes, bought biscuits.... we had kids, husbands and ex-teammates helping out all day and down to support on the sideline. It was all hands on deck for the day and everyone played their part so an absolute team effort. What has been the reaction, pre and post event, to the blitz day from the wider club? As I said above the club were 100% behind this and so supportive from the beginning. We had people volunteer that have no connection to the G4M&O team, we had lads come out to assist with parking, members cleaning the dressing rooms and setting up the hall. More volunteers setting up pitches and making signs for us, people volunteering to film/take photos. It was a great way to showcase the club and I think that was the forefront of everyone's thinking. It showed that the club could come together and stage such an event going forward. It was a brilliant day, everyone pulled together, and we are very happy at how it went. How did you first get involved in the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme? I got involved a number of years ago when bringing my son to 'grasshoppers' which would be the nursery in the club. I had absolutely no experience in ladies football but had just had my second baby and needed something. I didn't know it at the time but the Gaelic4Mothers&Others team was exactly what I needed. I had no idea what to expect, but I loved it from the beginning. It's one of the best decisions I made in joining Erin's Isle G4M&O, never mind the football but have made so many friends for life. What is your Gaelic4Mothers&Others #MYREASONWHY? #MYREASONWHY is to do something for myself, life is so busy and non-stop at the minute. We have training for an hour on a Friday, I make sure I try to get down. We have such a mix of girls on the team and they all have their own reason why, all reasons valid but all different but I think they would all agree that even on the days that are tough and you're in no mood to train you always leave a session feeling so much better for it. Name: Clare McQuiston Club: Watty Graham's Glen Maghera- Derry Thanks for taking the time to speak to us Clare. Firstly, well done on such a brilliant day hosting the Ulster West Provincial blitz in Watty Graham's Glen Maghera. What were the highlights for you? Seeing our club committee and volunteers working together so well to make it such a great day for everyone participating in the blitz and the positive feedback we received form clubs, players, and spectators. The brilliant weather on the day, along with the fun dance style group warm up definitely helped put everyone in the mood for a great day's craic and was a big highlight for us. What supports in organising the event did you receive from the rest of the Gaelic4Mothers&Others group? A few of the G4M&O girls were involved from the off set, as far back as checking if the pitches and club were available on that day to even put our name forward as an option for hosting. This same group were involved throughout all of the planning for the day and were a great support and help throughout. On the week of the blitz, the rest of the G4M&O players got stuck in to help set up the clubhouse for the catering, arrived early on the day of the blitz to ensure the pitches were all set up and make sure any last-minute jobs were covered including welcoming visiting teams and directing them to the registration point. Half of the G4M&O girls stayed after the blitz to help with lifting rubbish, tidying up and putting goalposts off the pitches and back to their station, leaving the pitches ready to be cut for the next day's activities. The other half of the ladies went straight up to the club house to help with receiving teams to our club, showing where to go and with the catering. What has been the reaction, pre and post event, to the blitz day from the wider club? There has been a real buzz about the club and town, with many people talking about the blitz, how many were at it and how well the day ran. A lot of comments on how great it is to see ladies of a certain age still having the opportunity to play Gaelic football and enjoy it with their peers. We have had enquiries from ladies looking to join the G4M&O team after seeing the event and/or the promotional photos and videos from the event. Since the blitz we have also had more teams contacting us for friendly matches, which is great. How did you first get involved in the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme? I played Gaelic football competitively up until the age of 32, when I stopped to have my first daughter. Although I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the younger girls to compete at the same level, or be able to commit at the level required, I always missed playing and in particular missed the social element of the team, trainings and playing Gaelic football. One of our teammates, Clare Leahy, suggested starting up G4M&O and so in 2019, we started it in Watty Graham's Glen. I only got to one training session in the first year, as I fell pregnant with my second daughter, but the girls that went to it really enjoyed it and I couldn't wait to get back to it. Unfortunately, Covid hit which put a big pause on the programme but returned to the pitch in 2022 and have been enjoying it since. What is your Gaelic4Mothers&Others #MYREASONWHY? I love the camaraderie and craic I have with the girls. It is an hour (or two – I tend to talk a lot) of the week that I get for me spending time doing an activity I enjoy and socialising with others. I enjoy the exercise and fitness element of it also and getting to play other teams in friendlies and blitzes.