It does not seem so long ago when many of our young GAA players had to leave our shores in droves and head off to cities around the world seeking employment. Many of them were helped to integrate in their new surroundings by joining the GAA clubs in the vicinity or, in some cases, by establishing new GAA clubs themselves.
The great thing about the GAA is that there is room for everyone – you do not have to be a former star to play a key role in your local GAA club no matter where that locality may be. The GAA promoted social inclusion long before the term was even coined. It is a class-free organisation where wealth or employment status is not considered. All human life goes there. The young men (it was all men in those days ) were provided with a social outlet at their clubs, a network of people to help curb the issue of loneliness for many who may not have had an immediate family around them. In many cases the GAA became their family, somewhere to go for companionship and friendship. I was witness to a great example of this unique phenomenon last weekend. I was invited as a guest speaker to the John F Kennedy’s GAA dinner dance in Leeds. It was a great night with more than 320 GAA enthusiasts attending the function. One of the noticeable features of the occasion, outside of the great turnout, was the fact that there was a great mix of young and old at the function. The entire night was co-ordinated brilliantly by a very young enthusiastic committee. The chairman was in his mid twenties and while the secretary looked about 18 he may have been just a little older. The PRO Joe Boyle, originally from Knockmore, was the odd man out dragging the age profile of the committee into the mid thirties. It was so refreshing to see these young lads getting involved thus ensuring that the hand of friendship will be there for the next generation of young emigrants.
Football and flights
I had an early night as I had a cockcrow flight back to Dublin the following morning. A bus load of first years from St Gerald’s College, along with some of their teachers and parents, were coming east to play a couple of games and to take in the second International Rules test at Croke Park. I was to meet the group in Kildare. Naas GAA club provided us with two matches having stepped into the breach at short notice after Maynooth had to cancel due to an outbreak of mumps. Our young footballers gave a fantastic account of themselves in two highly entertaining games. We then travelled to Croker to see the second test against the Aussies. It was a magnificent night for a match, and Croker looked fantastic, no doubt creating a huge impression on our young players. We had arranged a block booking in advance – the tickets costing a very reasonable €3 each. These tickets were for the Davin stand which was a bit of a shame as there were thousands of empty seats available in both the Cusack and Hogan stands. It would have been better if our future stars were facilitated on such occasions with the best seats available. Not withstanding that minor gripe, these young men thoroughly enjoyed the occasion and their trip to HQ definitely left an impression if the straw poll I conducted later was anything to go by.
Incidentally I have mixed views on the series. The Australians gave us a lesson in the art of kicking and scoring. The final 10 minutes of both tests generated a little excitement for me, but that was about it. The Australians are so powerful and strong it was a credit to the Irish that we were in with a shout of winning the series after being so poor for the majority of game time in the two matches. In those final minutes, particularly when we took the lead, the crowd were on their feet cheering and willing a home victory. It was not to be however and one was left wondering what might have been if we had our best players involved or if management had thrown in Donegal’s Michael Murphy earlier.
We stayed overnight in Dublin with our footballers. The following morning we luxuriated at the National Aquatic Centre for a couple of hours before heading west. Incidentally I had a brief hello with Pat O’Shea, the former Kerry manager. He too, had a football squad out for an early morning splash after spending two nights in Dublin indoctrinating his squad of footballers.
Back on the home front
On the domestic front, I was delighted to learn on my way home from Dublin that Parke had progressed to a Connacht final showdown this Sunday against the Leitrim champions. Parke are a decent side with quite a few polished performers in key positions and I expect they will have another night or two boosting the local economy. Tourmakeady came up short against a formidable Galway outfit. No embarrassment here as I believe they were beaten by a better side. However they have got what they wanted in 2010 and will not be too disappointed in not adding a Connacht title.
Ballintubber as you know are in action this Sunday v Killererin. I am finding it difficult to call this one. As we know the Ballintubber performance in the county final would not put the frighteners on any one. Then again those of you who saw the Galway county final would agree with me that it too was nothing to write home about. Padraic Joyce is currently honeymooning off the coast of Barbados so I do not expect he will be flying home for this match. They will be hoping to have him home for the Connacht final. It will be interesting to see how it will go.
