Dedication sees Stephanie master the art of camogie

Date Published: {J}

Her manager talks about her dedication, the players will attest to her commitment, but if there is one overriding characteristic of French native, Stephanie Claverie, it is courage.

For it takes not only courage to move to a new country, learn a new language and embrace a new way of life, but it also takes gumption to dedicate yourself to a game that was alien to you nine months previous.

Yet, in that short space of time, Claverie (25) has not only mastered the art of camogie, but she, incredibly, has also featured prominently at corner back on the Craughwell junior camogie team this season.

On this Tuesday evening, Claverie can be found at one of her favourite places, the ball wall at the new GAA pitches in Craughwell. Since the Spring, she has worn her own path to the facility, spending hours on end perfecting her striking and first touch. All for the love of the game.

She arrived in Craughwell in February, taking on the duties of Au Pair for John and Vicky Walsh and their family. It was they who introduced Claverie to the sport. “I didn’t know anyone, so the lady who I was working for wanted me to make friends and know some people who I could socialise with,” she says.

“So, she said, why don’t you play sport, a team sport, and she began looking for a ladies football team for me to play with. We couldn’t find a team around, but then she got a message from Lorraine (Greally), who played camogie in Craughwell and asked if I wanted to try, it was tomorrow evening.”

Plucking up the courage, Claverie arrived to the training ground to join up with the Craughwell junior camogie squad. “I had never heard about camogie before – I couldn’t even say it!” she laughs. “I didn’t understand the game, but they gave me a hurl and helmet and we did some training. The girls were so nice there, I wanted to do it, learn the game. I was sure it was a great game, and, actually, it is.”

The following day, Claverie – who studied cinematography to become a camera operator in France – could be seen at the ball wall, striking the sliotar in the same manner a tennis player serves. As someone who not played any kind of sport since her basketball days at high school, every motion, every strike was a challenge, but with the help of local hurling enthusiasts, she soon became proficient.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.