ULSTER GAA: Gaelic4Mothers&Others sweeps Ulster as the LGFA family grows

GAELIC4MOTHERS&OTHERS, sponsored by Sports Direct initiative, is an innovative way to introduce women over the age of 25 who are not registered with the LGFA to playing ladies Gaelic football in a social, fun, non-competitive, and inclusive environment.

It will take them from the sidelines to the heart of the game while also providing an opportunity for women to get their recommended weekly exercise in a fun way while meeting other women in the area.

The initiative, which has been growing across Ireland since its inception in 2008, gives women the opportunity to get out and meet others in their area while at the same time getting fit by learning the skills of the game in a fun environment.

Being a mum is not a necessity, but participants must be over 25 years of age and must not be playing competitively with a club team. Blitzes are organised at Ulster and national level to let the participants try out their newly acquired skills with other teams, but the emphasis is on taking part and having fun rather than winning; so much so that scores aren’t kept and the social skills on show long after full time are just as important!

After the club’s ‘Sample Session,’ most of the clubs who get it up and running find that the participants are enjoying it so much that they don’t want it to stop after just one week. Not only are they having a great time, improving their fitness and social well-being, but they also feel more part of the club and get involved in the club’s activities and events.

As volunteer recruitment is something all clubs strive to improve on, the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme provides a great stepping stone to helping clubs in this area. Because the participants have already learned the skills of the game through playing, many feel ready to help out with the youth teams in their clubs.

This is where the ladies Gaelic ‘Ready Steady Coach’ programme comes in.

‘Ready Steady Coach’ is a volunteer recruitment programme from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association which aims to provide support and assistance to new volunteers interested in helping with coaching or running a team within the club. Many who complete it and get a bit of experience under their belt then go on to complete their full coaching certificates.

So what starts off as a bit of craic for the women of the area has the knock on effect of clubs are getting more members, supporters and helpers – surely something that all clubs want.

The Ulster blitz in 2022 was in two venues. Silverbridge, Armagh hosted one and St. Mary’s Convoy, Donegal hosted the other. It was a huge success and again in 2023 we will be hosting two venues on the one day in Ulster on Saturday, 10 June with venues to be confirmed.

The great thing is that the programme is so easy to set up. All clubs need to do is to contact Ciaran Murtagh, Ladies Football Development Officer for Ulster GAA, on ciaran.murtagh.ulster@gaa.ie who will give you our guidelines on how to get going.

What are you waiting for? Get involved and see your Gaelic Games family grow!

Please note clubs are only permitted to commence G4M&O activity once you are a registered site for the year.