'Throw in the ball and have a bit of craic'

452 players and growing: The G4M&O initiative gives mothers and others time to themselves. Fitness, fun, laughter and chase of the ball.

The phones were still hopping with enthusiastic messages on Monday morning after an exciting football outing for Cavan. This relates of course to the ladies’ side of the game. More than 900 women from 55 clubs met at the Ulster Festival of Football with nine Cavan clubs attending, proving that the “Gaelic4Mothers&Others” initiative is growing constantly in the Breffni County.

This season, 452 players registered in 20 Cavan clubs to play with a G4M&O team. “But it’s hard to keep track of the actual numbers,” confirms a national LGFA spokesperson, because there are “constantly new players and clubs registering throughout the year”.

The idea behind the initiative is to bring women together, foster friendship, fitness, and fun in a supportive and non-competitive environment playing Ladies Gaelic Football.

“It’s really for everyone and every ability,” says Sinead Cusack from Lavey, who with one other woman is the only one who played football before in her club; 28 others have learned it from scratch. At an age which some of the participants self-ironically refer to as “the wrong side of...”

Crazy craic, fun social outlet, meet new people, inclusive, are reasons the women give when asked, why they decided to start playing football - some again- as adults. “It gives you the time out away from your children, because mothers are so busy with their family, so it gives mommies the time back,” says Donna Brady, who plays with St. Finbarrs. “And sisters actually get to do something together,” adds her sibling Debra Cusack.

Giving mothers some time to themselves - “Your Hour” - is a core value of the initiative that has been running for more than ten years now, says Kingscourt native Tracy Clarke, Cavan’s LGFA Player Development Programme Coordinator: “It gives players the freedom to organise games and trainings in their own time.” Especially when family or job commitments don’t allow to attend more frequent trainings and matches. Any woman over 25 years of age who is not a Senior player can join. “As Development Officer I’m proud to see G4M&O reigniting a love for Gaelic Football and bringing new energy into our clubs and communities.”

For Sharon Finnegan it has been a special journey back onto the pitch: “I started at the under 8s with two other team members. That was 28 years ago. It’s just brilliant playing football again.” Killinkere CLG introduced the G4M&O initiative in 2024 and the club were overwhelmed with the response. When they hosted a small blitz the sidelines were packed with supporters - fathers, grandparents, and children. “It’s great that our kids, especially our daughters get to see us play,” adds another Killinkere player. Showing your children how normal and enjoyable it is to stay fit and play matches, is a bonus for many.

Another aspect Sinead reflects on is mental health: “Whatever is going on in your life, here you can have a general chat or forget about your worries.”

In only their second year of existence, the Lavey G4M&O-team have won the Entry Ticket to the Football Festival in New York in October. Only one team per County makes that trip.

For all those not travelling there will be a chance towards the end of the summer in Breffni, Tracy Clarke promises, highlighting the importance of the initiative within the organisation: “G4M&O is firmly on our agenda at Cavan LGFA and we plan to host a count-wide blitz to celebrate and connect all the brilliant women taking part.”

Yes, some still have that bit of competitiveness in them when you throw a ball in front of them. Tracy Clarke, a former underage County player, knows: “We all want to chase that ball, but they’re all here for the craic.”