Gael force Nollaig

Gael force Nollaig

For Nollaig Murray (right), volunteering with her home club Cavan Gaels has never been about recognition - it’s simply about community, family and “doing your bit”.

“I’ve always felt that if you’re going to be there anyway cheering on your children, you may as well lend a hand too,” says the Cavan Town native, who has become one of the quiet driving forces behind the club’s thriving ladies’ section.

A mother of three girls, Nollaig’s involvement grew naturally as her daughters progressed through the underage ranks, with her eldest now among those starring on the senior team. Along the way, Nollaig took on everything from registrations to underage support, but it is her role as female liaison officer with the senior ladies that has brought her the greatest pride.

“This is my fourth year involved with them and it’s just really enjoyable,” she explains. “The girls are a fantastic bunch and it makes it easy to give your time.”

That dedication helped underpin a landmark year for the club, culminating in the absolute joy of winning the Ulster Junior title over Killeevan Sarsfields last year 4-12 (24) to 0-9 (9), and making history as the first Cavan team to have their name on the trophy.

“Last year was brilliant,” Nollaig reflected. “We’d had disappointments before that, so it was extra special for the girls to finally get over the line.”

For Nollaig, however, success is measured by more than silverware. “Clubs only function because of volunteers,” she said. “The more people who help out, the better.”