Mount Temple native plays her part in Scottish club's bid for glory
By Kieran Galvin
Mount Temple native Gemma Donohoe is part of the Dunedin Connolly's ladies football team in Edinburgh which is preparing for the All-Ireland Junior club final on Saturday, November 30.
In what is a first for a Scottish club, Dunedin Connolly's face Na Gaeil of Kerry in the decider, which takes place in Crettyard, Co. Laois on Saturday at 1.30pm.
The club is looking for financial assistance to offset the travel costs involved in what has been a very successful season.
Gemma says any support would be most welcome and the club can be contacted at declancullinanejnr@yahoo.com
The Mount Temple woman explains the background to the club and the progress they have made in recent years, particularly this year.
'Dunedin Connolly’s Edinburgh were formed in 1988 and have been a success story of Scottish GAA ever since, winning nine Scottish Championships and one British Championship in 2009. As well as promoting the GAA in Britain through underage coaching, Connolly’s decision to widen their player base and broaden their appeal through the formation of a ladies team in 1998 has been an unqualified success,' said Gemma.
'This year however has been the most successful by far as Dunedin Connolly’s Ladies have won the Junior section of the Paidi O Se tournament in Kerry, the British Club Junior Championship and have just reached the final of the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship, beating Shane O’Neill’s of Armagh in the quarter-final and St. Helen’s of Longford in the semi-final.
'The commitment displayed through the last year has been incredible with more than seventy training sessions completed and every member of the squad completing a half-marathon to raise money for the team's travel expenses,' she continued.
The team has players from all four provinces, as well as from Canada and Scotland.
'The club is both a meeting place for new Irish immigrants and a way for the Irish in Edinburgh to reach out to the wider community,' explains Gemma.
However, the Westmeath woman went on to say that 'the ladies team is facing a funding shortfall due to the heavy expense of travelling around Britain and to Ireland in pursuit of competition, with the majority being covered by the players'.
'The cost of travelling to Ireland for the All-Ireland Final is estimated at €5,000, which is well outside of the club's current budget and needs to be raised in the next two weeks,' said Gemma.
The club is currently searching for additional donations to help them travel to the final on November 30 and to ensure their ability to compete next year and into the future.
Any support would be most welcome, says Gemma, and a reminder that the club can be contacted at declancullinanejnr@yahoo.com - for those wishing to attend the final on November 30, the throw-in is at 1.30pm at Crettyard.