Bríd Stack sits for a portrait during the launch of TG4's award-winning Laochra Gael series at the Light House Cinema. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
“There probably isn't much time for reflection, definitely not these days with two smallies, and a business and stuff, but it really makes you stop in your tracks,” Bríd Stack says about the process involved in making a Laochra Gael programme.
To devote a small amount of time to look back on winning medals and how memories were created proved to be a fulfilling experience. “You actually go back to see how lucky I was to be born when I was into the family I was, to play with the people I got to play with,” Stack says.
“It truly was one of the best decades of my life, it was absolutely unbelievable. I'm just so grateful, obviously, to TG4 and Laochra Gael, for choosing me because it was a lovely way to pay gratitude to the people that made all of that possible.”
During a glittering career with Cork Stack, who represents the St Val’s club with distinction, won 11 All-Ireland titles. A remarkable team was constructed. “The one main thing was that we were all very like-minded and like-minded people and all came from very like-minded upbringings,” Stack remarks.
“We had huge respect for Eamonn Ryan when he came on board. That respect was reciprocated by him.”
Valuable lessons were learned on and off the field. “He not only taught us so much as a manager, but also just about being a good person, being humbled and grounded, that your effort shouldn't wane no matter what position you're in,” she adds.
“He was just phenomenal at that. The honesty of effort was probably the biggest thing he instilled in us, but I think that came from a lot of us, too. A lot of that team were from rural clubs, there was just a massive desire to put Cork football in a good position.
Deirdre O'Reilly, Briege Corkery, Geraldine O'Flynn, Valerie Mulcahy, Bríd Stack and Rena Buckley celebrating with manager Eamonn Ryan and selector Frankie Honohan after the 2015 All-Ireland Final at Croke Park. Photo by Sportsfile
“When we won that first All-Ireland, we just couldn't imagine the roller coaster that we were going to go on for so many years.
“I think when you get a taste of success, and a bit of momentum, you just want to hold on to it for as long as possible. Thankfully, we were able to do that. There was brilliant drive in the group to constantly try to raise the bar, year on year.”
Ryan’s rich contribution won’t be forgotten. Why was the connection between Ryan and the Cork panel so strong? “First of all, he had been involved with the men, but some of us were so young that we were naïve to what his influence would've been,” Stack responds.
“I think the important thing was that he came in not knowing anything about the group, not knowing anything about the rivalries that existed in Cork football, there was massive rivalries.
“I remember coming into a changing room, we were U16, myself and Rena Buckley had been playing underage football together, but we got called up to the senior team were short and stuck.
"I remember coming into the dressing room, all the Rockchapel girls sat together, all of the Donaghmore girls sat together.
“Nobody was interacting, there just wasn't a great sense of interaction. Everyone kept to themselves, it was a case of turn up, play, go away, don't speak again maybe until the next day.”
Bríd Stack, Cork, and Noelle Healy, Dublin, in action during the 2016 All-Ireland Ladies Football Final at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Ryan quickly got to work establishing standards. “Eamonn came in with a blank canvas, he didn't know Juliette (Murphy) from me or anyone else, he didn't know what club you were from, if you were from an established Senior club or Junior B, and he didn't care,” Stack remarks.
“If you showed that you could be a part of this team and you could be a good person with a good influence on this team, you were going to get the nod. I think everyone bought into that from the very start. So, his influence in doing that was vital, and it happened from the get-go.
“When that happens over the spell of a couple of years, no matter if two or four or five people come into the panel and people leave, that ethos is always there. Everyone just bought into it straightaway.”
Stack sensed something was really beginning to stir under Ryan’s stewardship. “I was talking to Rhona Buckley last night, she was saying that she just remembers coming on to the Cork panel, and it was a case you either turn up or there is the gate,” Stack recalls.
“She said she knew that from the very first training session, from before she even got to the training session.
“It was brilliant that reputation was there because that certainly wasn't the case when we first started. Having that there was absolutely vital in keeping the thing fresh and keeping everybody grounded. Nobody ever got ahead of themselves, so it was great.”
Stack relished every step of the journey.
Laochra Gael Series:
Programme 1: Pádraic Maher, 9.30pm, Thursday 23rd January
Programme 2: Marc Ó Sé, 9.30pm, Thursday 30th January
Programme 3: Ursula Jacob, 9.30pm, Thursday 6th February
Programme 4: Ronan Clarke, 9.30pm, Thursday 13th February
Programme 5: Michael Bond, 9.30pm, Thursday 20th February
Programme 6: Bríd Stack, 9.30pm, Thursday 27th February
Programme 7: Ben & Jerry O’Connor, 9.30pm, Thursday 6th March
Programme 8: Eamon McGee, 9.30pm, Thursday 13th March
