Natural Connection
We recently saw an article written by Mr Declan Rooney where Aisling Clifford is interviewed about the way in which Covid-19 seems to have brought people together in a way that has not been seen for some time. The natural connection between a sport club with strong cultural overtones and familial connection being immediately made. Many Irish people talk about their families a lot and as a non- Irish member, it has been incumbent upon me to notice that this is an overwhelming feature of Irish culture and identity.

It is difficult to relate, at points, for someone who is not close to their immediate family. I myself have had a very chequered connection with my parents and was quite literally saved from having very few familial connections by a Grandmother who was as near enough to an angel on earth as you could find, having decided to raise me with my grandfather after my own parents did not get off to a good start. However, this begs the question- How do those who are not close to their families cope in times of crises? Who do they naturally turn to? Like many others I am in my early 30s and have not started a family of my own, but neither am I close to those who many people are i.e. parents and siblings. Out of experience this can make normal life difficult, let alone in a pandemic.

Social Cohesive Gold
A US study found that this is not a large group of people only around 17% of the population. The difficulties that led to family estrangement can make these people less likely to trust others, not more. However, trust at some point they must, as well as seek connection and meaning. Social cohesion and social efficacy have meant that these people will seek out other groups. At times this can lead to nefarious friend and relationship choices or an underworld of organised criminal groups whom youngsters can be particularly vulnerable to if there is lack of healthy familial connection. On the other hand, they may also find belonging in organisations such as charitable works, music groups and bands, cultural groups, the military and sport.
Gaelic football is like many a mix, but I believe unique its blend of culture, language and sport. It is difficult being a natural outsider to work out which is more important within a club. But what all of these groups bring, is a piece of social cohesive gold- the ability to form the social bonds for those who are away from their families or who naturally will never be alive to the ones living.

No Longer a Game
Clubs such as Holloway Gaels provide informal networks through which people can connect and feel part of something that is positive and serve to provide a plethora of outlets. Socially, these places can offer a whole new way to connect with likeminded people and for others to learn about a new culture and sport. Fitness wise, they serve as a way to work out other than the gym. Last but certainly not least, these organisations in austerity Britain can almost be groups of social development and safety nets. From mental health hotlines to funds to help people to get back home to see loved ones to simply interacting outside of your home, gaelic football and Holloway Gaels is no longer simply a game.

These places have now become the invisible social thread that starts when formal threads end. The pandemic has possibly opened many people’s eyes up to what these places have become, or in the case of Holloway Gaels what they have always been, but we now see them more clearly for what they are. Without the horrors of Covid-19 we, and especially new members to the Gaels, may not have ever truly realised this. The pandemic has made us consider what Holloway Gaels and their ilk could mean to people. Rather than taking this for granted it behoves us all to see what further possibilities could arise.

​Written by: Jasmine Morgan

Holloway Gaels are a thriving club with a significant number of playing members and a successful, well established senior team. We are an ambitious club and are based at our own grounds in Downhills Park, North London. 

We intend to enter a Junior team in the London league in 2021 to cater for the high volume of registered players and high level of interest from new members. 

We invite interest from people who are interested in managing our Junior team or becoming part of the coaching group.
​
If you are interested and wish to discuss the role and the club in more detail, please contact our Club Chairperson, Aisling Clifford.
📧 Chairpersonhollowaygaels@gmail.com
​Tel: 07970588418

Click the link below to read the full article published on RTE Sport News!
​
www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0122/1191383-holloway-gaels-a-family-for-exiles-in-difficult-times/

Holloway Gaels are delighted to be confirmed as one of the 34 successful clubs selected for the Gaelic4Girls programme which will commence in early 2021.

The Gaelic4Girls programme will be hugely important once again to clubs who wish to engage with their local communities in an effort to enable growth and sustainability on a long-term basis, and to welcome girls who may have no knowledge of Ladies Gaelic Football, or who have never played the sport previously.

Due to Covid-19, the 2020 programmes were not completed. Consequently, all clubs selected for 2020 have been given another opportunity to participate in the 2021 programme, with additional clubs joining them.

​The full list of participating Gaelic4Teens clubs is as follows:

Connacht: Loughrea, Caltra (both Galway), Kilmeena, Mayo Gaels, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Shrule/Glencorrib (all Mayo).
Leinster: St Nicholas (Louth), Wolfe Tones, Drumbarragh Emmets (both Meath), Athlone, Caulry (both Westmeath), Clonard Volunteers (Wexford), St Nicholas, Newtownmountkennedy (both Wicklow).
Munster: Crusheen (Clare), Whitescross (Cork), Dr Crokes (Kerry), Croom, Askeaton-Ballysteen (both Limerick).
Ulster: Naomh Seamus (Antrim), Poyntpass, Shane O’Neills, St Michaels (all Armagh), Naomh Mhuire (Donegal), Aghaderg (Down), Belcoo (Fermanagh), Ballybay (Monaghan), Castlederg (Tyrone).
Britain: Coatsbridge Davitts, Glaschu Gaels, Holloway Gaels, Roger Casements, Sean McDermotts.

 ​Holloway Gaels: 1 - 11
 Parnells: 4 - 08

Road To The Final
Holloway Gaels began their Championship campaign on September 19 th when they faced St. Anthony’s of Reading on a sunny morning in Greenford. 5 weeks and 4 tough Championship games later, the Gaels were back in a wet, blustery Greenford for the London Intermediate Championship Final. Their opposition on the day were the only team to beat them on the way to the final; Parnells. Whilst outsiders had the girls in red and black written off as under-dogs, there was huge belief and desire in the Holloway camp to ruffle some blue and yellow feathers. Ciaran, Jack and Aisling did everything in their power to get the girls ready for the final. The training was purposeful, as always, the mood was upbeat and full of conviction.

Emma Mulhern had organised a new set of jerseys earlier in the year, thanks to our sponsor Gertie Brownes, and these arrived just in time for game-day. Aisling Clifford and her colleagues at the County Board had planned for the game to be streamed on Youtube so that family and friends could tune in from afar. Macdara and Ciara Holland had signed on as commentators, thank you. Final fever was building and all the girls were getting excited for Saturday. (Big thank you to Charlotte, Emily, Aine, Enya and Muls for the time and effort they put into making headbands and food for the day).

Slow Start
On a sticky pitch, which had just seen TMC lift the Junior Championship Cup, Holloway lined out against the side that beat them on a score line of 3-10 to 0-8 four weeks previously. When Eoin Kelly threw the ball in Parnells set about attacking the Gaels back line but were initially thwarted in their attempts and Holloway earnt a free out. A turnover by the Parnells number 11 from the free kick quickly led to the first goal of the day from the boot of the Parnells full-forward. The sides traded chances for the next 5 minutes with Holloway having a wide, a shot drop short and a 45 chance snuffed out by the Parnells back line. The Gaels defence put the girls in blue under pressure which resulted in two of their shots dropping into the hands of keeper Aisling Clifford. However, Parnells struck their second blow coming up to 7 minutes when a shot by the number 14 deflected off the post straight back into her hands for an easy tap in. With two goals conceded in the opening 7 minutes Holloway had to dig in deep to get themselves back in the running. The break-through came in the 11 th minute when Cavan native Sheila Walshe steadied herself and sent the ball towards the Parnells goal from a wide angle. Luckily for Parnells their keeper was able to get a fingertip to the shot to tip it over for a point. Parnells scored from their resulting kick-out before Caroline McCarthy slotted over a point for the Gaels. Parnells struck a close range free over the bar to see the sides run in at the water-break on a score line of 2-02 to 0-02.

On resumption the sides traded points again, with Vice-captain Emma Mulhern getting on the scoresheet for Holloway. Parnells hit 1-02 in quick succession before Holloway responded with a goal from the boot of Sligo wonder Marian O’Donnell, who pounced on a pass from Car Mc to send the ball straight to the back of the Parnells net. Holloway had a period of dominance in the final few minutes of the first half and will rue the missed opportunities, with a number of shots going wide, dropping short or hitting the cross-bar. Free taker Car Mc added a point during this
patch to see the half time score line read 3-05 to 1-04 in favour of Parnells.

The Final Thirty
Holloway were the first to get on the scoresheet in the second half, when a goal kick from the Parnells keeper found its way to mid-fielder Cliona Twohig, who quickly set about sending Car Mc on the way for her third point of the day. Marian added the next score of the game, with a beautiful point from the edge of the D, after some good work by her team-mates getting the ball out from the backline. Sheila added to the Holloway tally bringing the Gaels within 4 points of the girls in blue and yellow. 14 minutes without a score, thanks to some magnificent defending, including a goal line save from Sam, and Parnells were beginning to worry. They added on a point just before the water-break to extend their lead back to 5 points for the last quarter. Sheila started off the final 15 with a point from play, bringing the sides within 4 points once again. Hanley gave away a free on the Holloway 21 but the Parnells free-taker failed to convert and Clifford gathered it up before working the ball out. Unfortunately for the Gaels, the Parnells forwards managed to turn over the ball and quickly worked it to the back of the Holloway net. The girls in blue added another point, extending their lead to 8 points with 10 minutes left on the clock. Parnells went down to 14 players soon after, when one of their players was sin-binned for a second warning. Kerry native McCarthy slotted over her 4 th point of the day before the Parnells full- forward scored their final point of the day with less than a minute of normal time remaining. Cliona and Enya added a point a piece before referee Eoin Kelly blew the final whistle, which saw Parnells crowned winners by a margin of 6 points.

Panel & Management: A.Clifford, S. Grozotis, R.Hunt, C.Flanagan, C. O’Murchadh Flynn, M.Jordan, N. Kelly, C.Twohig (0-01), C.Hanley, K.O’Brien, E.Mulhern (0-01), C. Faughnan, S. Walshe (0-03), C.McCarthy (0-04), M. O’Donnell (1-01), E. O’Donnell (0.01), A.Walsh, E.Murphy, G.Cahalane, S.Kerins, S. O’Sullivan, ME. Cannon, E.deCaires, L.Keane, K.Bradshaw, S.Ledden, A.Cosgrave, O.Holbrook, C.Brosnan, AM.Micallef, T.Adams, M.Cowley, D.Larkin, A.Rushe, R.Doyle, C.Doogan, L.McDonagh, B.Keeshan, J.Morgan, A.Greene, C.McElhinney, J.Day

Huge thanks again to Aileen and Caitriona on the side-line, to Eoin Hourican for doing the side-line and to our merry band of supporters including Lauren (looking forward to getting you registered next season).

 Holloway Gaels: 11-07
 KKG: 1-09

Control the Controllables
A heavy Downhills Park hosted the final group game of the 2020 Championship for Holloway on Saturday October 17th . Whilst many outlets were preparing for a Parnells – Round Towers Final the following weekend, the Gaels were set on creating a stir and were not giving up their chance of a final easily. The variables were known (we’d need a significant win and for Parnells to beat Round Towers in their group encounter) and goals, goals, goals were the order of the day. Holloway got off to a blistering start with a goal from the boot of Car Mac at full forward after great work from wing-forward Charlotte Faughnan. This is the third time in the group stages that Holloway have started off with a goal in the opening sequence and highlights the speed and skill of the girls in red. Charlotte added a point herself in the first half whilst midfield maestro Cliona made a powerful run through the centre to slot over a point of her own. Car Mac added a further two points from play but it was the Marian O’Donnell show in Downhills on Saturday and her performance, as always, was top class. The Sligo woman rattled the KKG net three times in the first half…..and she was only getting started. KKG were not sitting back and letting Holloway run away with the game however and had a number of strong players who created many chances for the visitors. Solid performances from the Holloway backs thwarted many attacks but the girls in green and gold managed 1-06 of their own in the opening half. Score line at half time had Holloway leading 4-04 to 1-06. Holloway were going in the right direction but needed a lot more scores to be in with a shout for the final.

Second-Half Dominance
Holloway hit a purple patch after the half time huddle racking up 3-02 in the opening 15 minutes whilst keeping the opposition scoreless. Huge credit to the unshakeable backs and keeper during this period. Holloway were a woman up for much of this half and played fast surging football to keep the KKG players on the back foot. However, it wouldn’t be long after the second half water break when Holloway would have to deal with being a player down themselves after Eoin Kelly showed Hanley the yellow card for dangerous play (So soz gals!). The girls in red and black were not phased and pushed on to score a further 4-01 in the latter stages of the second half to ensure a Holloway victory on a score line of 11-07 to 1-09 at the final whistle. After a tense wait, the phone call from Greenford came with confirmation that Holloway had done enough to secure a Championship Final spot.

#extraordinarycircumstances

Panel & Management: A.Clifford, E.Murphy, R.Hunt, C.Flanagan, C. O’Murchadha Flynn, M.Jordan, S.Grozotis, C.Twohig (1-02), C.Hanley, E.Mulhern, C. Faughnan (0-01), S. Walshe , K.O’Brien, C.McCarthy (3-04), M. O’Donnell (7-00), S.Kerins, A.Walsh, G.Cahalane, N.Kelly, S. O’Sullivan, ME. Cannon, E.deCaires, L.Keane, K.Bradshaw, C.Brosnan, S.Colleran, AM.Micallef, T.Adams, A.Greene,
C.McElhinney, J.Day

Huge thanks again to Aileen, Caitriona and Holland on the side-line, to Stevie for
umpiring (& getting grief from the ref) and to our merry band of supporters including
Liv and Katrina (looking forward to seeing ye in a Holloway shirt soon).

Witten by C.Hanley