GAA, Liam Mellows GAA and COVID-19

Last weekend should have seen the Galway Senior Hurling team compete in it’s opening Round of the 2020 Championship – our Senior Hurling team should have competed in the opening two rounds of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship against Loughrea & St Thomas and our many Juvenile and Camogie teams would have completed the early rounds of their competitions. Whilst these games and training are important, our united focus is adhering to the Public Health & Government guidelines of staying safe through Social Distancing and Staying Home.

GAA President John Horan has said it is unlikely that Gaelic Football and hurling action will resume while social distancing measures remain in place and stressed that the association will continue to adopt a vigilant approach to Covid 19 in the coming weeks and months. Horan stressed the value and importance of ensuring the safety of GAA members. "Our concern has to be the players on the pitch and their families and work colleagues," Horan added. "They are all amateurs and it is a hobby to them. I know they take it very seriously at inter-county level and they have a very serious approach to it… we can't risk anybody's health…I would hate to think as an organisation that we would have made a decision that cost any family a member of their family.”

Not all Heroes wear Jerseys - #MellowsHeroes

As a City Club there are so many of our members and their families deeply connected and working with the essential services - healthcare professionals, paramedics, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, fire service personnel, Gardaí, Defence forces, catering/security/ cleaning services, admin/technical/engineering, logistics/delivery support, social services, those working in retail food outlets and many others. Your professionalism and continued efforts at the frontline are extraordinary, never more so than now. Know that your many friends & fellow members at Liam Mellows GAA are so proud and applaud you in your efforts. We wish you continued strength and good health and are so grateful for all you do for all of us.

We take our individual actions seriously and follow the Government/HSE guidelines and play our part to #staysafe.

GAA Volunteering & the Community

Liam Mellows GAA have been involved with the GAA nationwide volunteering efforts locally here in Galway in conjunction with Galway City Volunteering services, SuperValu and Centra. We are also aware of the many club members who are taking care of family, neighbours and those in need of support on a daily basis and acknowledge the importance of this resource to those who need it. We are particularly conscious of those members in our communities and neighbourhoods who are cocooning. We would encourage all club members to take a moment and reflect on someone they know who would welcome their support  - either remotely by a telephone call to stay in touch or running an errand for them – it is important we all show kindness and support at this difficult and challenging time – being on the receiving end of kindness is good too!

Any member wishing to be added to the volunteer list should contact our Club Secretary Paddy on 087-6526247.

TEAM & Coach Activity

While it is certainly strange not to have daily activity on the pitches at our Club - since the GAA advised suspension of all Club activity at the end of March the teams and coaches across the club have been resourceful in engaging with the members and creative in terms of the activities they are taking in part in, albeit virtually. Our Club Executive continue to hold their monthly meetings “virtually” and the Coaching & Development virtual meetings have seen huge attendances online!

Our Coaches are taking the opportunity to upskill on a weekly basis through the Coaching & Development group Zoom meetings with thanks to Gordan and Jeffrey for facilitating many very worthwhile discussions and sharing experiences with across the club.

David Collins and Tadgh Haran held a Zoom Q&A session with our Minor and U16 groups with over 40 members tuning in where they shared their experiences and advice from their years hurling with Liam Mellows -  one very strong sentiment from both David and Tadgh was their love of hurling and love of their Club Liam Mellows.

Our Nursery programme for Hurling and Camogie take place with Darragh Conneely taking the home hurling programme on ZOOM - if you want to be included contact Darragh on (087) 057 0304  on Friday evenings. The Camogie u6/u8’s takes place on Thursdays at 6.30pm – Aoife can be contacted on 087 6427586 if you would like to be included.   

Although the on pitch activities may be deferred at the moment, there is plenty happening in the team groups virtually so it’s important to stay in contact – see attached list of current coaches and contact details to help you re-connect – it’s guaranteed to be fun!

Juvenile Hurling

Email secretary.liammellows@galwaygaa.ie

U6 / U8 Gordon Crowley 087 8332088

U10 Colin Benson 087 9903817

U12 Eamon O’Reilly 087 2928479

U14 Seamus O’Brien 087 6389024

U16 Shane McSweeney 087 9885115

Camogie Hurling

U6 Aoife Kearns 087 6427586

U8/U10 Ciaran Conneely 087 6591706

U12 Johnny Burke 087 2352757

U14 Mickey Grealish 087 6177561

U16 Padraig Dolan 086 245 7411

Minor / Junior Johnny Burke 087 2352757

GAA Primary Challenges & Activity Packs

The GAA have announced the publication of the #GAAPrimary Challenges in a new weekly format - a series of learning & physical activities for children in Primary School.
During these particularly challenging times for families, the #GAAPrimary Challenges are designed to help Teachers and parents to work on cross-curricular lesson plans with children to meet their learning needs. Gaelic games-themed lessons are across all curriculum subjects and are for children at every class level, based on the GAA Céim ar Aghaidh/Step Ahead resource.

For some fresh air and physical exercise, Inter-County stars set Skill Challenges that can be done at or nearby your home. And to top it all off, there are fun competitions and prizes.

Check it out at GAA learning for primary schools or GAA kids activities.

The GAA Coach Webinar Series also continues on learning.gaa.ie with excellent inputs from many of the countries experienced coaches including Paudie Butler, Martin Fogarty and Eamon O’Shea. These are available to download also on the site.

Share the Good & the Fun……….

Many of our teams/coaches/members have been more than generous in sharing the good and the fun – the haircuts, the fitness challenges (press-ups), the lockdown activities including photographs of the gardens, bogs, dogs, books, jigsaws to mention but a few. Old photographs of the past Liam Mellows teams and social events have been hugely popular and we would be thrilled to see some more – check out those old albums for us!

If you have something to share, let us know – an old photograph, a recipe or a book worth reading perhaps?

Most importantly, everyone please #staysafe #stayhome. This too will pass – we are one day closer to where we want to be – back training and playing on the pitch in Ballyloughane! 

Better days are ahead – looking forward to seeing everyone very soon!