Karen Cleland

How did you become involved at Lámh Dhearg:

“I’ve two boys – David is 16 and Joseph is 13, we live out in a farm so really we are very isolated. There isn’t a lot up around us in terms of where the kids can go out and play and socialise. They both went to Ballymacward primary school and that’s why I got them to Lámh Dhearg. It was the local GAA club and I wanted them to meet new friends- because Ballymacward was a small school and they needed something else, they needed to be physically active – I think it is important that kids have an outlet and have fun at the same time. That was the reason I joined Lámh Dhearg and it’s been fantastic. It’s been one of the best things we’ve done- David is playing U-16 and Joseph is U-14 now. For them it’s been brilliant but for me too- it’s been amazing. I’ve made new friends – Anne-Marie Camlin and Jenny McGuigan are my two closest friends at Lámh Dhearg, and it’s just been so good”.

“It’s like a family”

“It’s like a family – you always hear the Gaels say that- if you’re a member of the GAA then you’re a member of this wider family. My family didn’t play that much sport at all- My sister and myself did Irish dancing and my brother was into Water Polo. My granda – which would have been the boys great granda- was a huge GAA fan and would have played for Pearse’s. That’s going back many, many moons but he just would have been so proud of the boys and he would have loved the fact that we are part of the GAA family”.

“I don’t even know how you got involved but I was able to get involved and help with the O’Neill’s order and I’ve did it for the last number of years. We’ve done a lot of fundraising for Féile- David’s team qualified for the Féile in 2016 and it was an amazing experience. Not just for the kids but for us as the adults. We were able to go and support the team, meet new families from the other teams – even our host families were amazing. It really was this community bond and the bond that we created being away as those families that represented the club – was unbelievable. As much as it’s the boys and a real honour for them, I felt privileged as a parent to be able to go and represent the club and show them how friendly and welcoming we are as well”.

Darkness into light and diversity:

“We do the Darkness into Light – obviously it’s postponed this year but I’m looking forward to it, hopefully- fingers crossed, later in the year. I think it’s an amazing thing that the club does. For me, over the years the club has really diversified and it’s not just about the games. I know it wasn’t only about the games and we are a family – but definitely the recognition- I suppose a whole for mental health, physical wellbeing and it’s not just about the kids – it’s about the adults. If the adults can look after their mental health then we can pass that back onto our children and they will see what skillsets are required”.

“You need to have exercise and need to get out and get your head showered. It may only be for a 15-30 minute or an hour walk or a run, but you need to do that. The Highway to Health has completely transformed me. I’m using it every day- even now with the coronavirus – that is my hours activity. I go down to the club early in the morning and get my walk done and it makes me feel good and sets me up for the day. To see the club, acknowledge that with the ‘Ireland Lights Up’ initiative that was happened over the last two years – it’s unreal”.

“I have seen people walking round in the evening and they’re not even from Lámh Dhearg – but they’ve seen it advertised and come up. They didn’t know whether they could come in or not- there was a lady from St Teresa’s, and I was able to encourage her to come on ahead, this is for everyone and walk with us for that night. She said she would usually sit in the house on her own and she was really delighted to be able to be up here. There’s great stuff happening in the club – it really, really is”.

O’Neill’s order and camaraderie:

“There is a key, core team – I do the spreadsheet and deal with O’Neill’s and stuff, but if the girls weren’t on hand – as Bukey calls them ‘Santa’s elf’s’ to get the stuff distributed. To see the smiles and appreciation on the parents faces and they say, ‘thanks so much’, ‘this is fantastic’, ‘really appreciate it’. It’s a long slog – my nerves are wrecked, and I can’t sleep properly until February until I know that Santa has been and there’s no dramas and I can actually say ‘it’s fine and everyone has been sorted’. Sometimes it’s a hard work but it’s worth it in the end- it’s like everything- once you’re through the other side of it, you appreciate it and go ‘that’s a job well done’. For the team to do it and give up their time to make other people happy – there is definitely camaraderie there”.

Féile:

“David played in it for the two years and he even recognises the lasting effect that it has had on him and the team. The team bonds in a different way I think- because everybody’s behind them and it’s a different kind of achievement. It’s the sense of achievement – yes you have the lovely juvenile award dinners but for me they bonded differently, and they have that in common. They’re thinking: we made it to the Féile, we’ve done so well, our parents are here to cheer us on, and the club is behind us cheering us on. The experience they have is life lasting- It’s with them and the memories that, that has created for them to look back on is fantastic”. 

“The first Féile we went to was unreal – we were in Ballybay in Monaghan. We were at a B&B. It was Anne-Marie, Jenny and myself. The girl was called Pauline and her house was beautiful. It was a big massive house – our bedroom that myself David and Joseph were staying- our bedroom was downstairs. Everyone else had on-suites but in our bedroom there was a note that said, ‘if you’re friendly with your neighbours next door you can use their bathroom’. I was knocking on Anne-Marie’s door saying ‘Anne-Marie, Anne-Marie – can I come in? I can use your bathroom, I’ve a note to say that because I know you’”.

“We had a laugh; it was fantastic, and we just had a ball. That made and it was just the funny bits. We were sending pictures of David in this big ornate bath with all these cushions in it. We had a WhatsApp group with all the parents and some of them thought we were nuts. We had a geg on it and everyone was going ‘we want to come and stay where you’re staying’ because the laughs we had were unreal- it really, really was”.

“You’re out socialising with the parents from the host families and the year we were in Dunleer (2018) and they had a big barbecue for us – they were fantastic hosts. They had a singer on, a barbecue and they went to town- they really hosted us so, so well. I know the club have hosted it before and been host families- it’s never been happening in my time, but I would like to think at some stage if it does come- we can give that back and show them how hospitable we can be as a club. It was just fantastic”.

Mentors:

“The mentors to me are the unsung heroes- they give up their time, they are dedicated, and I know they probably take a lot of flack and moaning from the kids. They still turn up every week and they’re invested in them and care about them. They don’t get the shout-out that they need because I think they’re unbelievable. I really do – to stand there hail, rain, sleet or snow to take those kids who sometimes can mouth off. Some of them just go and love their training sessions and away they go. The fact that those guys and girls turn up and give their time and give 100 percent is unreal. For me as a volunteer- I might turn up and give an hour a month and that’s my contribution. They are there for tournaments, matches and if they can take them on day trips- they will go above and beyond and it’s amazing”.

Benefits for the kids:

“I think they’ve really benefited from discipline- to me, kids now don’t always have that discipline to get up, go to their training and go to their matches. It also develops their own self-esteem I think. The self-esteem that they’re part of something and that it’s not just about what they do- it’s about the team collectively”.

“Joseph has won a few awards like most improved hurler and last year most improved footballer and that builds their confidence. They’re not superstars and I know there are kids there that who have been born with a hurl in their hand and they are gifted players and deserve their awards. For me, for my boys to be recognised for turning up, giving their all, trying their best – to me that’s the best thing. The fact that they want to do it and love going and asking, ‘is training on tonight?’ and they’re out practicing and saying, ‘wait to you see how far I can do my puck-outs’ – it’s fantastic”.