Middle East GAA's Ronan O'Brien and James Shaughnessy during the 2019 Renault World Games at Croke Park.
By Cian O'Connell
An interesting series of webinars, organised by Middle East GAA and the Irish Embassy with Ambassadors Aidan Cronin and Gerard McCoy supporting the initiative, commenced on Monday evening.
Middle East GAA Chairman Stephen Twomey is encouraged by the initial response in the region to the comprehensive package which has been put together.
“It has been very well received out here,” Twomey says. “The concept is simply to give content for our members or GAA enthusiasts across the Gulf, from UAE to Saudi Arabia, to give them something to tune into. They can resonate with some of the topics that are being shared by people back in Ireland in the GAA area."
Different strands ranging from underage development to injury prevention are on the agenda. “What we have done is we have taken a snippet from every segment, we have something for everyone which is the most important thing,” Twomey states.
“We have obviously kicked off with the underage structure, giving good insight and information about how to run training sessions. Our next session will be hosted by LGFA on Tuesday, and on Wednesday evening we have a prominent physiotherapist and Head of Sports Science back in Ireland, Eddie Hartnett and Kevin Tattan giving a presentation.
“Both of them have huge experience in the field of GAA, recovery and injury prevention sessions which will be beneficial to our young members out here. We have two other sessions with the LGFA and the Irish Embassy/Citizens Information Bureau/Cross Migrant Project are going to host a webinar on returning to Ireland.
“Finally at the end of the month we have a night with GAA All Stars which will be hosted by Cork's Tomas Mulcahy. He is going to bring in three GAA icons, that will just be to sit back, talk about the old times, and discuss what will interest all ages out here in the Gulf and even at home.”
How Gaelic Games in the Middle East has evolved during the past couple of decades is a source of pride for those involved on the ground.
“The Middle East County Board has been on the go since 2013, set up by James Kennedy, Paddy Darcy and continued on by Patrick Moynagh and Sean O'Sullivan to Gearoid Cronin, Tadgh Flahive. It really has gone from strength to strength,” admits Twomey, who started playing as a youngster in Cork with Nemo Rangers.
The Middle East GAA hurling team pictured at Croke Park during the Renault World Games at Croke Park last year.
“A couple of clubs have hit a landmark 25 years, most notably the Dubai Celts, Naomh Alee in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi Na Fianna. Other clubs have hit five and 10 year milestones Jumeirah Gaels, Al Reem, RAK GAA and Al Ain respectively. Kerry Middle East GAA have also hit their three year anniversary. So it is really growing in the region, GAA activity is increasing.
“We host 12 tournaments at adult level starting at the end of September/early October, concluding in the first week in March when we have a Championship event in Abu Dhabi.
“You could have anywhere up to 1,300 people attending those larger events with full occupancy from mens and ladies senior football, hurling, camogie right down to Junior C level in male and female grades for a social level.
“It is good to see out here, it keeps us connected and it is good for Irish people to connect together, to have a bit of craic.”
GAA administrators in the Gulf try to be as creative as possible with fixture arrangements as a significant desire for hurling and football exists.
“A high percentage of our members would be in the teaching profession,” Twomey explains. “From there we have 10 clubs based in the UAE, five outside being Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
“It is great to see our calendar mapped around the teacher's curriculum, mid term breaks, allowing us to get maximum advantage to get full occupancy at them and players to plan well in advance.
“It is good to see, there is talk about a new club coming in this year from Egypt which would bring us to 16 clubs in total from the Middle East. That would be a great addition.”
The first webinar presentation centred on the juvenile ranks with Middle East clubs eager to build solid foundations.
The Middle East Ladies Football team pictured at the 2019 Renault World Games.
“We have underage structures in many of the clubs,” Twomey remarks. “Dubai Celts, Abu Dhabi Na Fianna, RAK, Naomh Alee, Saudi Arabia, Arabian Celts in Bahrain, and Qatar have good underage structures.
“In the Middle East, particularly, it is a very transient area. So people will stay for a period of time whether it will be two or three years, parents could be in a position where they could be employed out here for maybe a 10 year term.
“It depends on for how long people are going to stay out here. It is good to see that the underage structures are going from strength to strength.
“That is primarily why we put on the webinar with Colm Crowley, a Games Development Officer with Cork GAA, to give insight on how we can improve our structure, to give new ideas to parents and coaches, who are looking to give time back and help out in the community.”
Such a willingness to assist and aid people remains an integral part of the Middle East GAA according to Twomey.
“That is why the GAA is the heartbeat of the community,” Twomey comments on the welcome clubs wish to supply to new members.
“We have 10,000 Irish out in the Gulf, in the UAE, in particular. I think any young person no matter where they are going, North America, or going as far away as Auckland, the first port of call always seems to be the GAA club.
“You can meet new people, find job openings, accommodation and it really is a home from home, as such. People come out to a very different environment and culture, so it is a great way to get a feel for what is going on pretty quickly.”
There may be no action on the field of play presently, but Middle East GAA continues to carry out a vital role.