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.

Read more of this story in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald, on sale in shops now or online here