By Cian O’Connell
On the last Monday of every month there is a gathering at Midleton GAA Club.
Former players, coaches, administrators are among the crowd, who convene for a ‘Coffee & Chat’ morning that is proving to be a real success. Three of Midleton’s Healthy Club Committee - Ger Fitzgerald, Tracy Saunderson, and Mairéad Beausang ensure all is in order and the reaction has been extremely positive.
The initiative started in January 2023 with Mairead Beausang delighted by the response. “Every month we maintain our numbers, we nearly always get an extra few,” she says. “On average we have 45, you could be plus five or six, but usually it averages out at about 45.
“It is pretty informal. Next month for example, we have an ex Army man, who approached us and asked us could he talk to the group about players, who were involved in World Wars from the locality.
“He is coming next month and will give a 20 minute talk on his research. If the lads have questions then, that is no problem, they can ask what they want.”
Being inclusive is crucial to the approach. “It is open to everybody in the community,” Beausang explains. “We have ex players, who would still be members, they come along. We have older members, who were officers in the club in years gone by, selectors with the club.
“Other clubs in the area, members of their clubs are coming, it is open to everybody, really. You don't have to be a member of our club. What we found really after Covid that a lot of people were very lonely. They had lost people. There was maybe a lack of confidence and they couldn't get to matches which was a huge thing.
“What we did, we said we were there to help them, if they needed anything done. We started showing matches in the clubhouse, things like that, and it went from there, really.”
Ultimately, it provides a support network for people. “We've a texting group so we try to contact everybody,” she adds. “If I'm out and about, and I see somebody, whose parent is elderly, I'd tell them we're running this, your mother or father, whoever, an uncle or aunt, might be interested. It is an open door. Some people are slow to come into a group, but sometimes we just chip away.”
Sport helps the conversation flow too. “It does, it gives them a common theme,” she responds. “In the club, last month our ladies footballers won the Junior A Cork County and they're through to a Munster Final on Saturday.
Midleton GAA's 'Coffee & Chat' mornings are proving to be a real success story.
“Some of the girls came along with the county cup at our last meeting in October. So, there was fierce excitement. The cup was being passed around, photographs were being taken. It really is very social.”
The Christmas event is one that offered real enjoyment in 2023 and plans are being put in place for the 2024 sequel. “It is on the last Monday of every month, we don't change it, the only one we change is the December one,” Mairead Beausang says.
“Last year we invited a local primary school to come along to sing carols, this year we will invite a secondary school to come along. So, we've to change that one. We usually bring that forward by a week.”
For the coming months, Mairead Beausang is eager to attract more females to the events. “Our oldest gentleman is 91, and the youngest might be late sixties or early 70s,” she adds. “Then, we've two ladies. We've never got more than two ladies.
“One is a wife of a past chairperson of the club and the other is a lady, who worked in the bar of the club, they come along. It is for all genders, but the message doesn't seem to have got out that more women can come along. Sometimes, the women might want a break from the men,” she laughs.
Midleton’s Healthy Clubs Committee have found the project hugely satisfying. “It is fantastic, it really is,” she replies. “Last year's Christmas event was absolutely lovely. We had people who didn't go outside the house for a long time due to ill health and their children made an extra effort to bring them along. It was really lovely.
“It just meant a lot, I think, we see people enjoy coming, and they come back all of the time. The other thing is if somebody is missing, we check in, to make sure they are okay. It is an exceptionally rewarding initiative for the three of us, who turn up to organise it every month. For us, it has been fantastic.
Matches are recalled and replayed, but connecting people is valuable. “They remember past events, we had two selectors from an old minor team in August, they gave a talk, they are the last two remaining,” she says. “It was the 40th year anniversary of a fantastic minor football win, so it was lovely.
“When they all sit down, they don't want to leave. We've to start cleaning up, things like that, they're happy out. Some of them might go for a bit of shopping after, it is lovely. The community now know we are there, that we do this, if there is anything that they want, they can come to us.
“Anybody that asks us to do anything, we will do it because it is very much community based. It is for everybody which is the most important thing, it isn't GAA exclusive. It is very much inclusive. Sometimes, it might be the only contact people have in the month.”