Video: Shane Long’s GAA club in Tipp produce class video calling their emigrants to come home for a match at Christmas

This reminds us of one of the famous Nike ads from a few years back. Excellent work folks.

Emigration has hit Ireland and hit Ireland hard in recent years and one area where the departure of so many young Irish men and women has had a particularly tough effect is in the GAA. There’s not a club in the country that hasn’t been affected by emigration – some devastatingly so – even if it has led to the GAA flourishing in all corners of the world as a result. One club that has been hit particularly hard by emigration is the home club of Southampton and Ireland star Shane Long, Gortnahoe-Glengoole, which traditionally would have had a strong presence in the Tipperary Championships but have been hard-hit by the loss of 17 players in recent years. This Christmas, the club are hoping to entice as many as their former players back home as they can by organising an event called ‘Home to Hurl’ which will feature a special match between the locals and the returning emigrants on December 26, with all proceeds raised going to local charities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AXXkaP4oK00 Players from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia have committed to returning home and have also played starring roles - Shane Long’s brother is the guy standing outside West Brom’s home ground in Birmingham, the Hawthorns – in a video made to promote the event, which, intentionally or not, channels a Nike football ad starring the likes of Eric Cantona and Paolo Maldini from over 20 years ago. It’s an excellent idea and one that will probably appeal to GAA clubs similarly affected by emigration up and down the country and will hopefully prove to be a resounding success. Well done to all involved. Hat-tip to Kenneth Hickey for sending this one our way