Randal Óg GAA Club in Ballinacarriga, Cork, has added a new team to its roster of successes. Following numerous county final and Carbery wins, the club has launched a Gaelic for Mothers and Others team, which is already proving popular among West Cork women looking for a fun and inclusive way to play sports.
The idea for the team was introduced by Aghada woman, Laura Burchill, who previously played ladies football with her hometown club. Following her move to West Cork, she noticed that while mothers and women would often attend games played by husbands and brothers, there was no similar social and sporting outlet for them.
The G4M&O guidelines from Croke Park were applied, requiring players to be over 25 and non-competitive. The team has already attracted around 60 players from various areas around Randal Óg, including Togher, Drinagh, Rossmore, Dunmanway and Drimoleague.
Speaking about the launch of the team, Burchill said that the sense of escapism was huge for the women involved. “Just seeing the kids and mothers at the matches while the dads were playing, it’s lovely for the mothers to have their hour to turn around the husbands and ask them to look after the kids,” she said. “One of the mothers said to me that you lose a bit of yourself when you have kids and your focus revolves around the kids.”
Burchill added that many of the women bringing their skills to the G4M&O pitch would not have played before or would not have played in years. Their training focuses on the basics – hand passing, kick passes and solo runs – while giving the women a chance to chat and have a giggle.
The Randal Óg G4M&O team is the latest in a growing trend in West Cork, following the success of the Meela Moos – the G4M&O team of Keelnameela LGFA. For Burchill, the biggest thrill comes from seeing the team finally take to the pitch and enjoy the game they love.
