From Monivea-Abbey to the Big Apple
Mothers & Others set for dream trip
THEIR airline tickets are printed, dollars are collected, and it's all systems go for the Monivea-Abbey Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others (G4M&O) panel who this week embark on a sporting trip of a lifetime to New York.
G4M&O ranks among of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association's most successful initiatives over its 50-year existence by introducing, or in many cases re-introducing thousands of players to the sport.
It started out as a Women in Sport project back in 2008 and grown from a handful of clubs to more than 400 nationally. Galway had witnessed that surge of popularity, too, with Monivea-Abbey among 15 teams currently active.
Being a mother is not a necessity, but participants must be 25 or over and not playing competitively with a club team. Its mission is to promote playing the game in a fun, non-competitive and social environment.
Blitzes are commonplace at regional level and beyond with 2,500 participants attending the annual G4M&O National Festival of Football in Dublin which includes matches in a blitz format as well as a fancy dress contest. Entry is highly sought after.
Monivea-Abbey have been regular participants in both, but they will spread their wings much further this weekend and go international as the only Galway representative among 40 teams — 35 are travelling across the Atlantic — taking part in a blitz hosted by New York LGFA.
Their panel of 19 players, coach Paul Walsh from Shape Up Fitness, as well as a handful of supporters are making final preparations for a five-day adventure to the Big Apple that all centres around Saturday's Festival of Football where players of various ages and skill levels will take part.
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