Busy calendar of events for Báireoirí na Gaillimhe

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

One year on after its formation, Báireoirí na Gaillimhe – the network established for former Galway hurlers, be they minor, U-21, junior, intermediate or senior – continues to go from strength to strength, reuniting and providing a forum for Tribesmen both at home and abroad.

When Joint PRO and former Galway captain Liam Donoghue says the success of the organisation so far is down to having brilliant men involved, he doesn’t lie. Indeed, the Committee alone is a who’s who of Galway hurling, with Noel Lane heading up the committee as Chairman and Joe Connolly as Vice Chairman.

Tony Raftery serves as Secretary, assisted by Peter Murphy, while Sean Silke and Michael Coleman are the group’s Treasurers. Along with Donoghue, who coached Mayo to Nicky Rackard Cup success last weekend, Damien Joyce also acts as PRO.

However, Báireoirí na Gaillimhe goes way beyond the ordinary run of the mill club solely run by a top table. Many do their bit to ensure their calendar of events, of which nine have been laid out for 2016, is a success.

“It is just a fantastic network to be involved in,” says Donoghue. “To see the likes of Joe Connolly, Noel Lane, Tony Kilkenny, Tony Raftery, Peter Murphy, Damien Joyce and Sean Silke, their passion for this is unbelievable. They don’t want anything out it. It is just their passion for Galway hurling.

“They want to be meeting ex-players the whole time and it doesn’t matter if you played one game for Galway or have three All-Ireland medals. It is all about the camaraderie and being back together. Their passion for it is just incredible.”

To channel this, a tidy programme of events was laid out for this year, beginning with a number of gatherings around Galway’s home National League games. “For the two National League games at home this year we had gatherings in Pearse Stadium before the matches.

“Not alone did members get free into that game, they got teas, coffees, refreshments and we also had a couple of guest speakers. On both occasions, you couldn’t get into the revelry (room below the stand) in the Stadium. You just couldn’t get in there. It was packed.”

They followed this up last month with Finbar Gantley’s Captain’s Day in Gort Golf Club while they hope, should Galway reach the Leinster final, to also hold a gathering around this at Croke Park.

A few days later, Báireoirí na Gaillimhe, which is open to players who lined out for Galway abroad, will then fly out to London for a trip that reaffirms their commitment to reconnect, in many cases, with many of their former friends and team-mates who have made their homes on foreign shores.

“We would have members from all over the world, from New York to England,” says Donoghue. “In fact, some of our Vice Presidents are from New York and London. We have got interest from everywhere. So, we will have a social in London later this year.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.