Playing away with the round ball in a place where the oval one is king.
Australia has long been known as one of the hotbeds of GAA around the world, but their neighbours all the way Down Under do their bit for our native games too.
Auckland Celtic Gaelic Football Club, for example, have been in existence for just under 50 years, having been founded by 12 men in the Albion Hotel in a meeting equally as important for the GAA as when the association was founded in that famous gathering in Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles in 1884.
An extremely welcoming place for anyone interested in the GAA in New Zealand’s North Island, the club are still celebrating a men’s and ladies’ double success early last November, an achievement that locals say was a far bigger deal than the All Blacks victory in the Rugby World Cup the same week.
Club member Thomas McLoughlin was happy to fill us on life at Auckland GFC when we were in touch with him recently, telling us tales of creamy pints, loose women and a record number of romances following a massive day in the club’s history last November.
Focus on Celtic GFC
Club: Celtic GFC Auckland
Year established: Founded in 1969 by 12 men (the 12 apostles) in the Albion Hotel.
Number of members: 70-80. Changes every year depending on who recruits best from the new people arriving over from home and from the new Kiwis keen to get involved.
Biggest representation from a club/county in Ireland: We have a fairly good spread of counties in the club but Cork probably shades it.
Most famous ever member: Raymond ‘Rocky’ Conway
Most memorable moment in the club’s history: A recent one. Both the men’s and the women’s teams won the league title on the same day on 6 November, 2015.
Most eye-catching scoreline in the club’s history: 3-10 to 1-15 in the men’s championship final in 2014. Having been nine points to one down after 25 minutes against a heavily-fancied St Pat’s team, the lads rallied at the end of the first half and throughout the second half to claim a hard-fought victory.
Player who makes the longest commute to training: Hugh Keeley makes it to Auckland on Wednesday nights from Singapore, where he works on and off. Nobody knows what he works as, but it’s definitely important.
Most dedicated club person: Anyone from the committee who puts in great work to ensure the club runs smoothly.
Player who could have made it big if love/career/drink didn’t get in the way: James ‘Big Hammer’ Byrne could have made it big if he wasn’t the hardest working man in Auckland.
According to him he is by far the best man in the company and he works 257 hours a week. Unfortunately he is likely to miss a week or two due to his severe World of Warcraft addiction. Missed training a lot last year, so he was made captain this year to try and curb that but instead he liked the look of a few of the ladies so he decided to manage them instead.
He doesn’t like anyone talking about his girls but is the first man up to the bar whispering sweet nothings in their ear. If he stays away from work and women, the Tallaght native can expect a call from Jim Gavin any day now.
Biggest character: Noel Gallagher’s love of creamy pints and loose women has led him astray the odd time. Has often been dragged from a woman’s bed after a heavy night only to go and win player of the day. Regular winner of the top jockey award.
Loudest in the dressing room: Thomas ‘Sparky’ McLoughlin. If he is not singing Backstreet Boys or Westlife he is giving someone a slagging and calling them a “boody man”.
Can do a mean version of Celtic favourite ‘I just can’t get enough’ after a few Jagers.
Number of romances that started in the GAA club (feel free to name names): There seems to have been a record amount last November when morale was high after the double league win. Over the years there have been a huge amount of romances.
We’ve had babies, engagements, weddings and a few fumbles after the club day out in Parakai Springs. There are currently a number of couples playing for the men and women’s teams.
Duck to water award – Best new player who had never played GAA before: Ben ‘Waxie’ Adkin, a Christchurch surfer dude who would put his head where most men wouldn’t put the head of a shovel.
Most annoying person in the club WhatsApp group: Denis ‘The Cat’ O Callaghan struggles to keep up with the pace of Viber, trainings and match times.
He has improved this year to be fair. Also, he has a “ferocious old doll”.
Best story involving a club member that’s fit for print: Fr. Kevin O’Herlihy decided to head out in town one night.
After driving in, he had a big night and completely forgot where he had left the car. He searched for two days before coming to the conclusion it had been stolen. The Police found his car a few days later outside the church in Auckland city; he had put it somewhere safe so he wouldn’t lose it!
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