by Caroline Ní Bhradaigh
In 1992 my sister Shauna, now living and working in Dublin, came home telling us about playing football in Dublin with a ladies’ team.
Knowing the interest in football in Cill Chartha among her own age group, she a had a spalanc of idea that we should try to get a team in Kilcar. At the AGM that year we approached the club with the vision of starting a ladies’ team. With the support of the club we were starting our new venture.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get organised in time to compete that year, but in the following year, 1993, we took to the field for the first time under the management of our current Club President Danny Gillespie. Our players ranged in age from fifteen years upwards to those more mature in age (there was no upper age limit). Many of our panel would have previously played soccer, or on ladies’ teams with the interfirms, everyone was welcome to join.
Over the next few years, players came and went mainly due to travelling to bigger towns and cities for education or employment. We also added some underage teams and had players from our neighbouring clubs join us as there weren’t any girls’ teams in their own clubs at that time. One of the standout achievements during that period was winning the Under-16 title in 1998. Our adult team also won both the league and the Division 3 Championship in those early years.
We sponsored a cup in the Comortas Peile competition in memory of our late team mate Amy Ni Dhúgain. The first junior game was played in the tournament in 2006 and Cill Chartha won that in Downings. Cill Chartha have won the competition on three occasions, the most recent victory coming this year. The competition has moved to a higher level and the Cup has been retired this year, it was a very proud moment for Cill Chartha ladies to win the cup for the final time.
Throughout the early 2000’s our numbers remained limited as other, neighbouring clubs started their own ladies’ teams, and continued migration to cites for employment and education. However, we still managed to be one of the few adult teams in the county to field a team every year. At times the thread was very thin but the fact that the ladies team kept going is a testament to all volunteers, coaches, and players who travelled for training and games to keep the team alive and to be part of the club.
The LGFA has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country. The developments made by the LGFA in the provision of coaching courses for all aspect of the game, and the elevation, nationally, of standards in all aspects of the game is bearing fruit and will only serve as a benefit to all underage and adult teams. The welcome fact that the profile of the LGFA is raised year-on-year by the broadcasting of its games (ranging from county competitions to the club games at Comortas Peile) nationally only serves to inspire the next generation of young female players.
The Club in Cill Chartha has the one Club approach with members of the ladies’ board having a permanent position on the Club’s Executive Committee. Over the years the Ladies have been involved in many programmes from LGFA in Croke Park including Gaelic for Girls, a fantastic programme for girls between 8-12 years old where, within the programme the girls come and try Gaelic football. This programme was very successful, with teams playing blitz’ both inside and outside the county, half time games at ulster finals, and the highlight for this group of girls and coaches was that they played their final Blitz in Croke Park.
One of the most prominent initiatives in recent years has been the Gaelic for Teens programme, a programme to help young girls stay within sport. As teenagers tend to exit sport early, this programme explores ways to help them patriciate in Gaelic or other sports. It has also included club visits from LGFA Ambassadors who talk to the girls about importance of sport in life and wellbeing.
Over the years we have had girls from Cill Chartha represent the club on county teams at all levels from Under-14 to adults. While our parish is one of the smallest in the county, 30 years as a club is an achievement, but we are developing and getting stronger each and every year. This is due the brilliant support from all our volunteers, coaches, players, parents, supporters and everyone involved. Our underage structure and development is going from strength to strength and this can be seen in the recent successes of our underage teams and the emerging young talents breaking into our adult team.
Thankfully our ladies’ teams are on a strong foundation for many years to come.
Mól an óige agus tiocfaidh said.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
