One of Australasia GFHA’s most recent additions and the Northern Territory’s first GAA club, Darwin Shamrocks was established after the inaugural Paddy Bird Cup in 2012. The competition was an International Rules match organised as a tribute to a young Cavan man who was tragically killed in a gas explosion on the outskirts of Darwin the previous December.The game saw a group of Irish guys working in Darwin form a team to take on a local AFL Club, Bank’s Bulldogs. The day ended up been a great success, and prompted interest from members of the Irish community to form a permanent GAA association in the Territory.
A NT Gaelic Football and Hurling (NTGFHA) committee was soon formed and Darwin Shamrocks was the first official club to be formerly established. In a fitting tribute, the Club adopted the name and red and white colours of Paddy Bird’s home club in Cavan, Bailieborough Shamrocks. The Club’s crest also incorporates aspects of the Cavan Club’s crest as well as the Irish and Northern Territory flags.
By the start of 2013 the NTGFHA had completed an extensive amount of work to establish itself as as association and developing the Shamrocks. All important sponsors were secured, as well as training facilities, and it wasn’t long before there was a Men’s Football, Ladies Football and Hurling team training twice a week.
Throughout their inaugural season Darwin Shamrocks organised numerous matches and tournaments with local AFL Clubs, in addition to fundraising and community events such as Harmony Day.
The year cumulated with Shamrocks been accepted to participate at the Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last October - the first Club from Australia to do so. With a Hurling, Men’s and Ladies Football team in action, three Darwin players were awarded All Stars and the Club was unlucky not to come back with any silverware from their first competitive outing. Bernard Brogan was the Club’s Celebrity Bainsteoir for the duration of the tournament, providing them with even more fire power!
Darwin Shamrocks continue to grow and are passionate about fostering and developing Gaelic Games among local Australians, as well as providing Irish emigrants working in the region with an opportunity to participate in their native games.
To ensure local talent can get involved, the GAA season follows the AFL, enabling AFL players to maintain fitness levels during the traditional AFL off season, the Ladies football team are also aligned with the Waratahs with up to 15 Australian ladies quickly picking up round ball skills. Throughout the season, games are generally played as a 7 or 9-a-side format, depending on available numbers.
Looking ahead, the Club will host Singapore Gaelic Lions GAA Club when they travel to Darwin for a series of challenge games across Men’s Gaelic Football, Ladies Gaelic Football, and Hurling in August.
At the recent Australasian GFHA Congress the NTGFHA was officially affiliated with the regional GAA body creating a strong foothold for the region on the International GAA scene - and the future is looking bright for the NTGFHA with many exciting opportunities on the horizon including the possibility of hosting interstate tournaments, as well as representing the region for the first time at the Magners Australasia GFHA State Championships in Melbourne later this year.
The Club is always on the look out for new players as well as Men's Football and Hurling coaches/trainers to help with preparations for the State Championships.
 |
| Darwin Shamrocks at the 2013 FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games with Celebrity Bainsteoir Bernard Brogan (front row, second from right) |
No comments:
Post a Comment