belgium gaa newsletter september 2011
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Volume 2, issue 2TRANSCRIPT
Months have passed without a Belgium
GAA newsletter, but that barren period
is now over. Welcome to the
September issue!
The club has had an exciting and
active few months since last
p u b l i c a t i o n , f r o m a t t e n d i n g
tournaments, organising tournaments,
and everything else that goes on in
between, including two of the most
successful fundraising events in club
history.
Since the rough beginnings as a well-
rounded GAA club back in 2008,
Belgium GAA has made huge efforts at
laying down solid foundations. A time
will come when the Nouvelle Vague will be old school, and the Old School will just be old, so we
welcome each new social development, be it a returning face, a new or extended contract, or the
production of new little future club members.
On that note, congratulations to Steph and Des, Lisa and Emmet, and Matti and Elizabeth on their
recent arrivals. Watch this space for the European Ladies Football and Camogie Champions in
approximately 2031.
As always, the club would not be thriving along these lines without the hard work put in by all those
associated with the club. Take the home tournaments as an example: this year, in addition to
dedicated club members, who were at the grounds from the dawn, constructing tents and goalposts,
we had visiting parents and other family members, friends, flatmates and colleagues, who went above
and beyond the call of duty and without whom the day would have been even more chaotic than it
already was.
This issue of the newsletter will detail the various activities that the club has been working on at home,
with the Race Night at the start of the summer, the European Hurling and Camogie Finals in the
middle, and the Belgian-based Pan-European Football Tournament at the end of the summer.
Next month’s issue will be more international, with highlights from trips to Dublin for the All-Ireland
Football Sevens, the Pan-European Football tournament in Guernsey, and the Belgian camogie trip to
New York.
If you would like to get involved in creating the newsletter, by contributing articles, photographs or any
further suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sylvia McCarthy on [email protected].
An Craobh Rua abú!
The Home Issue
September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
BELGIUM GAA NEWSLETTER
Updating members and non-members alike on the activities of one of the best and most
ambitious GAA clubs on the European Continent
Brought to you by Belgium GAA Publishing and
De Valera's Pub, Place Flagey
To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Fundraising
www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
Belgium GAA Race Night The menfolk of Belgium GAA pulled out all the stops on the night of 13 July, when they hosted a race night to
end all others, earning approximately €2,500 for the club. Some said it would be impossible to organise at such short notice. Some said that no-one in their right
minds would come to a race night on a midweek evening.
They were wrong, reckoning without the unstoppable driving force that is Colin Byrne. While the night itself
would turn out to be an immense social and financial success, the back was broken in the pre-Race
preparation.
All the horses had been sold and all the races had been sponsored, with outstanding support from club members, old and new, and friends and family of the
club. Prizes came from De Valera’s, Six Nations, O Reillys, Aspria, KTL Power and Telecoms, Kinsale
Equestrian Centre, Sean Kelly MEP, and Delish café. VIP tables were purchased by Coca-Cola, Toyota, the Perm. Rep., and FC Irlande, to name
but a few. There was also generous sponsorship on the night from a number of Irish MEPs, including Honorary Club President Sean Kelly, Liam Aylward and Pat The Cope Gallagher, as
well as from European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.
As a result, the club went into the night with a ready-made profit, so all efforts on the night were over and above all expectations. With Colin running the show and Ross on the mic, it
was fairly smooth sailing (from the point of view of the attendees in any case). The men in charge of the money had a few opening hiccups but once it was understood that the house always wins, they were back on track.
There were eight official races, but the ninth was a surprise to most: the Belgium GAA
Champion Chase was a pre-recorded piggy-back race, of which horses and jockeys were played by club members Conor Mulvihill and Catherina Horan (eventual winners), Shane Ryan and Sinead Fitzsimons, Tim Donovan and Elaine Kennedy, Ross Church and Niamh
Kennedy, and Fergal Mythen and Christine O’ Gorman. For full comedic value, you are required to click/copy and paste the following link and watch the video on Youtube. Your
day will be all the better for it.
http://youtu.be/
pOLhgFVz0XI
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Belgium GAA Race Night
September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Fundraising
To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
“Never
has losing
so much
money
been so
much fun” Anonymous
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
4 www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
Underage GAA
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September 20111 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Merchandise
Shameless T-Shirt Hawking
To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
Always wanted to be a member
of Belgium GAA but you:
A) Never had the time?
B) Live in another country?
C) Other reason: ____________
NOW IS YOUR CHANCE
You too can look like a member of Belgium GAA
with your own stylish t-shirt.
Don’t miss this
once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity!
To order, contact Club Chairman Kevin Keary
([email protected]) for more details.
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
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European Hurling and Camogie
Finals
Hurling/Camogie
The last round of the European Hurling and Camogie
Championships was also the first round of European tournaments to be hosted by Belgium GAA, a practice run, if
you will, for the big Pan-European football tournament in September. It was a day when we realised how much the club depends on the help of non-players and family members.
Clare Brennan (Social Secretary) was Ms. Clipboard for the day, an essential role in ensuring that all matches were
played on time, as well as registering teams for the tournament, lunches and the dinner in De Valera’s bar. Visitors on the day, Maria O’ Neill and Clare’s mother Eleanor
Brennan were also on hand, looking after the shop and
keeping everyone fed and watered.
Tournament-wise, this was the big one for both Belgium hurlers and camogiers. The hurlers were out of the running for the European Championship, but an outstanding
performance by the lads meant that they won their home tournament for the third year in a row. Congratulations to Darragh Cotter for being
recognised as Player of the Tournament by the referees.
I’ll leave the rest to Mr. D. Barrett: “It’s hard to explain to people at home how winning one tournament can be so satisfying. This was especially so as if we ended the season empty
handed it would have been a massive blow to hurling in the club. Instead, we beat the two top teams in this year’s championship and proved to ourselves that when we have most of
our players, we can compete...The victory was the daylight at the end of the tunnel which
we wondered if we would see this year.”
(To read more, visit http://footballingjourneymen.blogspot.com/2011/07/chasing-
daylight.html)
www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
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September 20111 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Leuven, Belgium - 23 July 2011
Hurling/Camogie
To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
How much has changed in one year for Belgian camogie? Before the home camogie
tournament in 2010, the Belgium camogie team had never won a tournament. And yet here we were in 2011, going into the finals already confirmed as European Camogie
Champions for the second year in a row. Not only that, but for the second tournament this year, we had two solid teams to bulk up the competition. European camogie is not half as prolific as ladies football, so each new team is welcomed with open arms. The
strength of both teams is a credit to Niamh Kennedy (officer/trainer), Irene Kirwan
(trainer) and Laura Whiskerd (captain).
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Just after 7am, lacking sleep but sparing emotions, I was inside a van, full of hundreds of waterbottles,
nets, tables and tents, bouncing along on the way to the University of Leuven.
The reason for such a personal effort, waking up
before the sun rise!!, couldn't be other than to
participate to the Belgium Football Tournament, the
so far most numerous one in the history of the
European Championship, and, consequently, it
needed a real collective work. Of course the main
organisational part was already done during the
previous weeks by the Committee (Kev, Laura,
Colin, Jane, Clare B, Sylvia, Sinead M), great job
guys!!, but I was just amazed by how every single
member or friend of the Belgium GAA Club was
helping that day to make it a success. Actually,
even the weather was generous enough and offered us a warm and sunny day in the dawn of autumn.
A warm, in many senses, day that already in the early morning you could feel, along with the quietness
of the empty grass fields, that soon would be looking up to us. Quietness that very shortly died since
the Belgium fellows started to arrive and, with short and efficient instructions, in less than an hour,
goalposts, tents, lunches, changing rooms and hearts were ready to welcome the participants.
The glads playing in the Shield were really strong and showed really beautiful
football, loosing for only one point to the final winner of the day: Amsterdam
A. And here it comes my only sad moment of the day. I had seen the glads
playing for the Championship in their match against Luxembourg and they
were terrific, strong defenders running along the wings, solid and accurate
midfielders, dangerous forwards, Brendan in goal...all looking so well, that i
really couldn't believe when, at the end of the daylight, I ran, with the few
stripes of energy left, to watch the final and I didn't see them there. Really
sad. Apparently, in a very tight game, they had lost the semi-final against The
Hague, who finally brought The Cup home. But I'm sure that sadness will turn
over, because Guernsey and Limerick are there just waiting for us!
In the meantime, a few pitches ahead, 35 gladies (on three Belgium teams)
were fighting to find their way to the final. The B and C teams, with their
dedicated captains Amy and Gráinne D, played their socks off in their
matches against very strong teams. Both formations showed talent and
ambition and finally the Bs were rewarded with a beautiful win against
Prague, although, without doubt, the most important win was the respect
that the rest of the teams had for our gladies because they did need to work
really hard to defeat them.
One of those responsible for the performance of both teams was our coach
Aonghus, who under the irritating sun, took care of us for the whole
day. When he could, he also supported Gráinne, the captain of the As, the
best footballer I ever met, who couldn't play this time, but to have her managing the team was almost
like having her in the pitch. She used all her talent to read the game and give us all the instructions
and tips that we needed at every given moment. And even if we had lost another great player, my
dearest friend Caragh, we were very lucky to have her on the sideline; she was not only helping to
schedule the pitches for all 54 of the day’s matches, but one of our best supports of the day. And it was
a long day, and finally the A team, captained by Fitz, really deserved a place in the final.
September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Football
www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
Pan European
Football Tournament Reportage by Anay Rios
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
Leuven, Belgium - 10 September 2011
9 To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
Football
And so it arrived, the moment of truth, with the sunset over our heads,
together with a mix of tiredness, excitement and joy. Some, or all, of us,
were a bit, or a lot, nervous, but mainly delighted to play with such a panel
of players. The match started very tight, Paris had made a few clever
changes and scores were being delayed. As expected, it was tough, and at
half time we were ahead by just some points. Our encouraging captains
asked us to empty our tanks, and so we did. Every single player left their
skin in the pitch, and smoothly and increasingly Belgium was imposing its
game. Despite the exhaustion, I have to say I enjoyed every single minute
of the match, in the forward line and in the mids, where I hadn't played
since that November rain day in 2008. It was great to see how every player
was giving everything and playing like a real team. No names, ALL NAMES,
everybody played brilliantly. So when I heard the final whistle, I started
hugging all the gladies, all teams, one team, for such collective effort.
Some people say, yet another victory of Belgium A, but the victory is of the whole team, because
during months all players have been training, travelling and supporting each other. A victory of the
whole club and managers that generously give their time to make this happen.
Anyways, let’s then go to the my highlight of the day, but just
before that, I would like to explain that only a few months ago
I had heard for the very first time the name of Mícheál Ó
Muircheartaigh (you don't want to make me to pronounce it).
Kevin had told me that the popular MoM was the voice of the
Sundays. All Irish families could dream about football whilst
drinking Barrys tea, thanks to him. His passion would carry
them through the green fields and made them feel they were
in Croke Park. And I can say, I could somehow experience
that. I'm afraid I couldn't hear anything in the ladies final, but
in the men's one, I looked at him, sat in a camping chair with
his son, squatting next to him. It was twilight and for a while you could hear anything but his voice,
not the shouts of the supporters, nor the screams of the players, nor the whistles of the referee, just
his voice, floating in the space, and the game completely changed. The players looked stronger,
faster...the game smoother, braver.
What passion, what generosity, and not just for his comments through the speakers, during the whole
day, this man that for many years has seen the best football players in the world, he was supporting
and encouraging all the teams, having a nice word for all the players and making everybody feel very
special. So when at the end of the day, with the moon as
the only witness, he shook my hands and told me “You are
a very good footballer, you really must love this sport”, he
completely overwhelmed my heart. For all the participants,
he definitely made that this tournament was the best that
Europe has ever had.
Just after 7am, home from Le Manneken, Six Nations and
Celtica, I was lying my head in my pillow, some tears
sliding my cheeks, and part of me thinking- was this just a
dream? ....... a dream of 24 hours.
Congratulations to all the participants and special thanks,
once again and never enough, to MoM, Aonghus, Gráinne,
Caragh, the Committee, and, for me, of course, Kev.
I chose this picture because it really shows what football is
to me: dedication, passion, teamwork and love.
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Pan European Football Tournament
September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
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Football
www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
A Special Guest
11 To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
Football
On the day of the Belgium tournament, the name that was on everyone’s lips was
that of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. The man was everywhere, going out of his way to
watch as many matches as possible and to talk to each person he met. As Anay
said, the highlight of the day was listening to his commentary on the finals, a once-
in-a-lifetime experience for all present. From dusk til dawn, he talked and posed for
photos, and to mark the excitement he created wherever he went, here is a
selection (thanks to Mary Brennan and Irene Kirwan):
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
Tournament Schedule
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Other news
Exiles Cup
(Brussels)
29 November
Limerick 5 November
Ladies Football
Guernsey (pan-European) 8 October
Limerick (pan-European) 5 November
Football
Club and Charity Fundraising
A lot has already been said on the Belgian football tournament. The final word is on fundraising.
Mark McGovern Fundraiser: The after-party for the tournament was hosted by the Six Nations bar, which generously donated
50 cent from each pint to the Mark McGovern Fund.
Mark McGovern is an intercounty Fermanagh footballer, who travelled to the US in 2011. He
sustained a severe brain injury in an off-the-ball incident during his first Gaelic football match in
San Francisco. He is now in recovery, but medical expenses have already exceeded $1,100,000
USD. The evening event in Six Nations saw over 500€ has been donated to the Mark McGovern
Fund. For more information, and to submit a donation, visit: www.support4markmcgovern.com.
Jersey auction: Niamh Kennedy, Belgium Camogie Officer, spent a number
of months harassing and badgering her network of contacts
in order to rustle up three signed country jerseys - a
Wicklow football jersey, a Dublin hurling jersey and a
Kilkenny hurley jersey. The question of how to auction
them off efficiently was solved on the night of the
tournament. It is safe to say that if Mícheál Ó
Muircheartaigh hadn’t chosen to become the voice of Gaelic
games, he would have established a lucrative career as an
auctioneer, as he talked the talk to the point that the jersey
auction became an astoundingly successful fundraiser, with
competing bids of upwards on €500 per jersey. Official
figures will be available soon, but well done to all involved!
www.belgiumgaa.com / Find us on Facebook at Belgium GAA and Friends
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September 2011 Volume 2, Issue 2
Training and Membership Training Venue (October-November 2011) Hurling and camogie are finished already,
and there are only 2 tournaments left in
football. Our 2011 training grounds in VUB
and Parc 50e are being dug up so Belgium
GAA training (men and ladies) is back out
where it began: the British School of
Brussels, in Tervuren.
If travelling by car, the address is:
The British School of Brussels,
Leuvensesteenweg 19
3080 Tervuren
Belgium
We are 200 metres beyond the Royal
Museum for Central Africa, on the same
side of the road.
If travelling by public transport from
Brussels:
From Montgomery metro station take Tram 44 (direction Tervuren)
Get off at the last stop (terminus)
Cross the road and walk up the Leuvensesteenweg past the Royal Museum for Central Africa
Walk into school following the signs for pedestrians
Training times:
Tuesdays - 19h30-20h45/21h - Hockey Pitch*
Friday - 19h30-20h45/21h - Rugby Pitch*
*All pitches are Astroturf, so Astroturf runners are best, but definitely no metal studs!
Membership details If you are planning to play in either of the last tournaments of the year, you must be a registered
member of the club. Please contact Laura Whiskerd, Club Secretary -
[email protected]. Fees are:
Please pay your fees directly into the club account. The details are the following:
Belgium GAA asbl, rue Frans Binje 7, 1030 Bruxelles
Bank a/c: 363-0292739-33
IBAN: BE79 3630 2927 3933 BIC: BBRUBEBB
Gaelic Football
Colin Byrne [email protected] GSM: +32 476 073 079
Camogie
Niamh Kennedy [email protected] GSM:+32 471 525 273
Ladies Football
Jane Brennan [email protected] GSM: +32 484 162 140
Hurling
Shane Ryan [email protected] GSM: +32 477 936 708
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Contacts
Training and Membership
1st time members: €75 (including shorts/socks) Re-joining members: €60
1st time joining students/stagiaires: €45
(including shorts/socks)
Re-joining students/stagiaires: €30
To receive this newsletter directly, email [email protected]
Tram Stop