Participants listen to a pre blitz briefing before the Dads & Lads Hurling Blitz at the GAA National Sports Campus in Abbottstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
The return of the GAA Dads & Lads national blitzes was a roaring success. The last two Saturdays featured the Hurling blitz on 21st September, with the Football blitz on 28th September, both held in the National Games Development Centre in Abbottstown.
The national blitz usually held across one day was split into two Saturdays due to the increase in teams interested.
Across the two days 44 teams from 16 different counties participated in the blitzes. Over 660 players enjoyed the compromised rules including goals only, smaller pitches, and self-governed games. Throughout both days 96 games took place in the GAA National Games Development Centre.
Around 240 hurlers from 18 teams across 7 different counties played a total of 184 matches.
The two days highlighted just how much the GAA for Dads & Lads Initiative has grown in recent years, going from 20 teams in 2019 to 163 teams now.
Paddy Roe of Erin's Own Castlecomer, Kilkenny in action against Roger Nolan of Naomh Olaf's Social Hurlers, Dublin, during the Dads & Lads Hurling Blitz at the GAA National Sports Campus in Abbottstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile.
The Ould Puckers in Wexford are relative veterans, on the go now for 10 years, and Colm O’Brien is one of their stalwart members who took to the field again last Saturday.
“It was a great day,” O’Brien told GAA.ie. “In fairness to the GAA Games Development Department, it was very well organised. You couldn't have asked for better weather, the pitches were in excellent condition, and everybody was happy and really enjoyed it.
“There were no complaints whatsoever, teams played fairly, and there was good camaraderie amongst the teams. All our players were really happy and really enjoyed it.
“We had good chats with all the other teams so it was a great chance to network as well. We haven't played Wolfe Tones from Drogheda yet so chatted with them and hopefully we'll get to arrange a meet up with them soon because matches is what all the lads enjoy the most.”
The GAA for Dads & Lads initiative is only going to get bigger and bigger, and O’Brien is hugely enthusiastic about encouraging other clubs to give it a go.
“We started the Oylegate-Glenbrien social Hurling team, ‘The Ould Puckers’, in August 2022 and it has been going great for the last two years”.
“We have training sessions once a week at Oylegate-Glenbrien GAA pitch and the team travels around the country taking part in blitzes usually playing 3-4 games.
“We have also hosted our own blitz the last couple of years with teams from all over travelling to take part. We’ve used this opportunity to raise funds for the Jack and Jill foundation.
“A lot of lads find the Social Hurling a great chance to make new friends stay fit and find it as good for the mind as for the body. You don't need to have played Hurling before to enjoy social Hurling and all fitness and skill levels are welcome”.
The Dads & Lads Football Blitz took place at the GAA National Sports Campus in Abbottstown. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Barry O’Connor from Killyclogher echoed his team’s enjoyment at the Dads & Lads National Football Blitz,
“There is a great community spirit between all the social teams, and it is great to get the chance to play against other teams from different parts of the country”.
“It was a great day all round, the adapted rules really worked well too. Pitches being sideline to sideline means a lot less running and the two-touch rule, means more players get involved.
“We have a few lads that would have played senior football for Killyclogher but are now retired, we have some that played up until minor for different clubs and moved into the town and others that never played at all. The whole programme is for everyone and it’s great to get that camaraderie back that team sports offer!”
If your club is interested in registering a GAA for Dads & Lads team, go HERE.
‘GAA Dads & Lads’ is a social hurling and football programme for those aged 35ish and older keen to enjoy Gaelic games outside the traditional competitive structures of the GAA. The aims of GAA Dads & Lads programmes is to;
- Offer a fun, healthy, social outlet for recently retired, lapsed or new entrants to our games
- Increase social participation in Gaelic games
- Connect or re-connect players with their local club, community and the camaraderie of team sports