Having a craic at Gaelic footy

A SLICE of Ireland is emerging in Ballarat with the team behind a new Gaelic football club hosting a recruitment drive this Sunday.

The founders of Ballarat Clovers are inviting the community to the Munster Arms Hotel for a meet and greet in an effort to form their ranks.

The team comprises eight core founders, and one of them, Niamh Younger, said the team grew out of her desire to bring Gaelic football to Ballarat.

“I’m Irish so of course I grew up with the sport in Melbourne. Every weekend I’d be out learning how to play it so it’s just a passion of mine,” she said.

“We moved to Ballarat and I met another Irish lady through a mother’s group. I asked her if she’d be interested in starting a Gaelic football club and she said of course.

“We’re holding our meet and greet now to get people interested in the sport. To have some drinks, have some food, to come meet us and find out what the club’s all about.”

Younger described Gaelic football as “like combining football and soccer,” in which the ball can be handled with both feet and hands.

Over 15 people have expressed interest in joining the club, and they will begin their weekly training sessions at Russell Square on Wednesday, 6 April before taking a break over winter.

The club aims to play in the Gaelic Football League under Gaelic Games Victoria, which would see them going up against teams from Geelong and Melbourne.

Although the team will take part in competitive matches, Younger said the social aspect is a core focus of the club, with future community events being discussed among the founders.

“We’re a family-friendly group, and hopefully we’ll become a real community team. Most of the people in the club have got a family, so we want it to be flexible and casual,” she said.

“We don’t need you to come every week but come have a run around and learn a new sport. We’ll have club dos during our winter break and plenty of other events.

“Come and be social and get into the Irish spirit. We’ve been locked up for two years. It’s time to get back out there.”

The Ballarat Clovers meet and greet will take place from 2pm on Sunday, 3 April at the Munster Arms Hotel at 10 Victoria Street, Bakery Hill.