Coaching and encouragement will keep

Thu, May 21, 2009

There is a lot of water under the bridge since the founding members of the Gaelic Athletic Association met in the now famous Hayes Hotel in Thurles back in 1884. I don't think Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin and his associates who gathered on that momentous occasion could ever in their wildest dreams have envisaged how significant an association they were just about to form and what an impact it was going to have on the people of Ireland.

Walker is captain fantastic as she leads her team for 2009

Thu, May 21, 2009

Laura Walker just turned 16 but has been playing camogie since she was ten years old.

The teen was recently bestowed with the honour of captaining her county camogie team.

The GAA cannot rest on its laurels

Thu, May 21, 2009

The GAA can rightly be described as one of the greatest sporting organisations in the world – and, as we all know, it is much more than just a sporting organisation. It has had a profound impact on local communities all over Ireland, giving those communities a sense of identity and belonging.

The dual mandate

Thu, May 21, 2009

The dual mandate may be something that has been abolished in political circles, despite the best efforts of one Mayo TD, but there is another dual mandate that is in severe decline also — the inter-county dual player. One man in Mayo is keeping that mandate alive and after a winter in Australia to let the batteries recharge after a couple of very hectic years, he’s back and ready for more.

Our day in the sun proved dreams can be realised

Thu, May 21, 2009

For the Kerrys, Dublins, and Tyrones of this world success is measured in all-Ireland titles. Provincial honours are little more than a stepping stone to greater things. It is hard to explain to somebody from the counties mentioned above exactly how much winning a first ever senior provincial title meant to the players and people of the Lake County.

A touch of reality

Thu, May 21, 2009

In 2008 RTE aired the first series of Celebrity Bainisteoir which instantly because a hit. The reality TV show followed eight non-sporting celebrities who took on the challenge of managing an intermediate club football team from their home county in an official GAA competition. Maryland GAA club from Drumraney, Co Westmeath along with their celebrity bainisteoir Mary Whelan were over all winners. The Athlone Advertiser’s DAVID MARTIN was captain of the winning team.

“My Celebrity Bainisteoir experience started back in December 2007 when Animo TV contacted our club, Maryland GAA about taking part in a GAA reality TV programme.

From the pitch to the airwaves

Thu, May 21, 2009

Switch on your television this summer and if you tune into the RTÉ News any week there is championship action and you are sure to be see the face or hear the voice of a Mayo man. Last year Kilmaine native Jonathan Mullin was appointed RTÉ News first ever GAA correspondent, and he took some time out to speak about his love for the games and where he sees the association going forward in the next few years.

Captain Fennelly hopes to lead Cats to a four in a row

Thu, May 21, 2009

24-year-old Michael Fennelly has just been given captaincy of the Kilkenny senior hurling team - a great honour to be given to any young man, but especially when it comes with the strong possibility that he will be lifting the McCarthy Cup next September.

A ball and a wall!

Thu, May 21, 2009

Martin Mulkerrins is a very un-assuming young man, but one with lots of skill in his hands.

For the pride of the parish

Thu, May 21, 2009

There are a few places in Mayo that no club like going to because they know it’s going to be very hard to come out of there with anything — McGovern Park in Newport is one of them.

Preaching to and converting the suspicious

Thu, May 21, 2009

It's late in the evening, when this writer speaks to Adrian Hession, the full time hurling coaching officer with the Mayo county board, but it's always late in the evening when he puts the hurls away and gets to sit down and relax as he spreads the word of hurling in the county.

All-star Power mans an assembly line of future Cat stars

Thu, May 21, 2009

John Power was born in 1966 and played hurling with Kilkenny from 1986 to 2002.

From father to son

Thu, May 21, 2009

The GAA has lots of quirky things in its make-up. Topics and questions that make people quiz themselves and smile and wonder aloud.

Money is wrong motivation for managers, says club boss

Thu, May 21, 2009

Club managers up and down the country are a vital component of the overall success of the GAA as an organisation. From senior to intermediate to junior and right down to under 8s and under 10s this group of very often unsung heroes deserve special mention, and on on this 125th anniversary of the GAA’s foundation Joe Fallon talks to one, Brendan Clarke, Athlone manager.

Foster seeks improved application from United tomorrow

Thu, May 14, 2009

With each passing week as the League of Ireland takes shape Galway United’s efficient start to the season gathers significance.

Tribesmen's Dilleen takes double gold

Thu, May 14, 2009

Galway rower Lisa Dilleen has taken another step in her promising international career after capturing two gold medals at the prestigious junior regatta in Munich.

All Ireland title beckons for Gort man in kickboxing bonanza

Thu, May 14, 2009

An All Ireland title is up for grabs on Saturday when Galway Black Dragon kickboxer, Gort’s Eric Daly, takes on Northern Ireland champion Paul Brannigan at the Black Box Theatre.

Salthill Fives celebrate 33rd anniversary this month

Thu, May 14, 2009

This year’s Carlsberg Fives takes place in Salthill Park on May 30 and 31 during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover.

Muldoon to lead Ireland’s Churchill Cup side

Thu, May 14, 2009

Connacht rugby has achieved a huge boost with five players selected on Ireland’s summer tour to Canada and the US, and five on Ireland’s Churchill Cup squad.

Connacht juniors beat Munster in interpro series

Thu, May 14, 2009

Connacht achieved their best result in this year’s junior interprovincial rugby series with an 8 - 3 victory over Munster in Headford on Saturday.

The two wins over Ulster and Munster earned them a second-place finish behind Leinster, who took the title by virtue of their injury-time try over Connacht the previous week.

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