The GAA Dads & Lads initiative is proving to be a success.
Going from strength to strength over the last few years our social Football and Hurling initiative GAA Dads & Lads has been steadily motoring along and in 2023 has moved into the fast lane. Growing from 20 teams in 2019 to 163 teams across all Provinces.
The Dads & Lads scene has been a hive of activity throughout 2023. Teams have created connections, formed friendships, taken road trips, have had banter and craic, with some hurling and football thrown in, through organising challenge games and local blitzes. The Association has delivered two regional blitzes with a National Blitz planned for this September.
The Dads & Lads Blitzes are played with a focus on fun, enjoyment and participation and provide an opportunity for Dads & Lads to broaden their connections and play games against teams they ordinarily wouldn’t get to play against. At the recent Midlands Blitz hosted in Athlone, 80 Dads & Lads from Athlone GAA, Bohola Moy Davitts (Mayo), Erin’s Isle and Thomas Davis (Dublin) got a great run out, playing a total of 12 games throughout the day.
Action from the Regional Blitz tournament between Dublin's Erin’s Isle and Mayo's Bohola Moy Davitts.
Dads & Lads offers the opportunity for males aged 40ish and older to keep physically active, keep in touch with old friends, make new friends and have an outlet to let off steam. A few of the Dads & lads participating in the Midlands Blitz gave some insight on why they’re involved
Morgan, Athlone GAA, reconnected with GAA when living in Madrid.
“I played a little football when in National school but didn’t really have a great connection with the game or the GAA growing up. When I lived in Madrid I joined the Madrid Harps GAA club and have looked back since. When I returned home I joined Athlone Dads & Lads and it’s been brilliant. It’s great to have Dads & Lads and be part of the team and the club, and just to play football for enjoyment."
Baz, Erin’s Isle GAA, Dublin, joined his local club.
“I’m from the Netherlands, and my daughter started playing with Erin’s Isle our local club. I’d never heard of GAA and wasn’t at all familiar with the games. I volunteer in the club and help with my daughter’s team. I heard about the Dads & Lads team and just wanted to give it a go. It’s great craic."
Alan, Bohola Moy Davitts, Mayo, got involved when the Dads & Lads team was formed in the club.
“It’s great just to get out with the lads. Everyone has so much going on in life, you can get caught up in a rut. Playing Dads & Lads is a great outlet, just to clear the mind, get up and out and just play. We travelled from Mayo to Athlone for the Blitz, we have had fantastic craic in the car, which is all part of it too."
Stuart, Thomas Davis, Dublin is new to Football.
“I’d never played football before, my partner plays Gaelic for Mothers & Others with the club, and I heard about the Dads & Lads team. I went down one evening it was on and have been going back since. It’s great to be involved, you have great fun with the lads and we look out for each other as well."
Action from a game between Westmeath's Athlone and Dublin's Thomas Davis.
Thomas Davis, Dublin has been involved in a few of the Dads & Lads blitzes and were the recipients of the Na Lochra Award at the Midlands Blitz. The Na Lochra Award, is presented to the team that best espouse the playing ethos of fun, enjoyment and participation, which Thomas David Dads & Lads exemplified all throughout the day. David Maguire, Thomas Davis Dads & Lads Coordinator and player was delighted they got the award and explained
“Dads & Lads in the club has been a real boost, it keeps us engaged with the club and many of us are involved because our children play, they see us still playing, we know we’re being positive role models for them and they see that being involved in the club doesn’t have to end because or when you’ve stopped playing competitively”.
Thomas Davis Dads & Lads Team receiving the Na Lochra Award.
Croke Park matches
GAA Dads & Lads is offers something for everyone, it’s for those who never played and want to give it a go, those who’ve retired an want stay involved playing for the social interaction and in some cases for those who want to realise childhood dreams. Four Dads & Lads teams, Halfpacehurlers, Antrim; Naomh Olaf Social Hurlers, Dublin; Bohola Moy Davitts, Mayo; and The Killeedy Boys, Limerick were invited to play in Croke Park at half-time last Sunday.
Naomh Olaf Social Hurler, Sean Wilson said: “I hadn’t lifted a hurley in over 35 years and joined the Dads & Lads about two years ago. I saw that some of the mentors in the group really enjoyed it. My son’s have been coached by a few of the mentors that play Dads & Lads and I thought a nice way to show my appreciation of their work, effort and to thank them would be to organise a Social Hurling Blitz. We’ve hosted two now, one in 2022 and one in 2023, they created a great buzz around the club and with the Dads & Lads. Social Hurling has been great, it’s become a rock within my life.
"It’s the one activity that I do during the week that is mine, time away from the stresses of everyday. It's my time for friendship, for craic, banter, and enjoyment. It's something I choose to do, somewhere I choose to be and people I choose to be with. It's something I treasure and miss if I'm not there.
"When I became involved, little did I think that we’d have the opportunity and the honour to be representing our club and Social Hurling by playing on Croke Park’s hallowed pitch. It’s a dream come true for all of us."
If you want to know more about GAA Dads & Lads visit https://learning.gaa.ie/dadsandlads