Kickhams is chosen as host club for girls’ GAA scheme

BALLYMUN Kickhams has been selected as one of two Dublin host clubs for the 2015 Gaelic4Girls initiative.

The selection is a huge endorsement of the club, which reached the dizzy heights of the All Ireland club final on St Patrick’s day 2013 after a 15 year monumental effort to resurrect its juvenile section, which had been in freefall.

The club was losing players to local rivals, and to other sports. But the rot was stopped by a few clubmen, including Declan Small.

The gigantic efforts were well rewarded throughout the age groups, including a magnificent back to back U-21 Dublin championship double, and an All Ireland feile success, so it was well signposted that success at adult level was just around the corner.

Declan, who is now chairperson of the club, is overseeing the rejuvenation of the club’s ladies section so is naturally thrilled the club has been chosen for Gaelic4Girls.

He is ably assisted by some of the driving forces of ladies football in

‘The Mun’, who oversaw the foundation of

‘Gaelic for Mothers and Others’ and were instrumental in setting up a few juvenile teams.

Success has not been instant, but instead, the rise in fortunes has been slow and methodical. There have been some stars unearthed and if these revelations continue, it won’t be too long before Ballymun Kickhams again give Dublin ladies football a gem like Denise Masterson, except this time, there’ll be a few more.

The

‘Gaelic4girls’ programme encourages participation in areas of the country where ladies Gaelic football is not yet too strong and it takes place at 36 clubs throughout Ireland.

This year, for the first time, the programme will be introduced to Britain where 13 clubs across five counties will play host for the first time.

All participants in the programme will be invited to take part in the national blitz day at Croke Park on July 6 when the young girls will get the opportunity to walk out on the famous pitch for the first time.

LGFA president, Marie Hickey described Gaelic4Girls as

“a real success story

? for the organisation.

“We continue to see the programme grow year on year and it is especially pleasing to see the programme spread to Britain where there really is a great appetite for the sport,

? she said.

“I would like to wish all 60 clubs the very best of luck as they host the Gaelic4Girls programme and I very much look forward to seeing them in Croke Park on what is always a very special day in July.

?