Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge linn, agus labhair muid le himreoirí sinsir ón dá chód le fáil amach faoin ngrá atá acu do na cluichí gaelacha, na dúshláin agus na buaicphointí, agus ról na Gaeilge ina saol.
Caitríona Ní Mhurchú
Cén aois a bhí tú nuair a thosaigh tú ag imirt na gcluichí gaelacha?
Thosaigh mé ag imirt camógaíochta nuair a bhí mé mé 7 mbliana d’aois. Ar an drochuair ní raibh a dhóthain suime agam inti faoin am ar shroich mé dhá bhliain déag d’aois agus thit an fhoireann as a chéile. Mar thoradh air sin thosaigh mé ag imirt peile ina ionad agus imrím fós go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Níor fhill mé ar an gcamógaíocht in ainneoin go bhfuil sé imithe ó neart go neart – tá an t-imreoir camógaíochta óg sin ionam an-sásta é a fheiceáil.
Cad is mó a thaitníonn leat faoin peil?
An rud is mó is breá liom faoi ag imirt peile ná an ghné foirne. Níl neart go cur le chéile
Cad é an dúshlán is mó a thagann le himirt na gcluichí gaelacha i do thuairim? Agus an bhfuil aon rud a chabhraíonn leat an dúshlán seo a bhainistiú?
An dúshlán is mó ná an traenáil gheimridh san fhuacht ach is fiú é nuair a théann na tráthnóna chun síneadh.
Cad é an rud is tábhachtaí i do thuairim chun bheith i d’imreoir rathúil?
An rud is tábhachtaí chun a bheith i d’imreoir rathúil ná a bheith chomhsheasmhach. Ní bhíonn an rath, ach mar a bhíonn an smacht.
An bhfuil aon imreoirí a thug inspioráid duit agus tú óg?
Is iad na himreoirí a imrím leo ó lá go lá a thugann an inspioráid dom.
Cén buaicphointe spóirt is mó atá bainte amach agat go dtí seo ?
Buaicphointe mo ghairme spóirt ná nuair a bhí mé mar chaptaen foirne agus bhuamar Craobh BhÁC.
An bhfuil aon spriocanna agat sa spórt gur mhaith leat a bhaint amach sa todhchaí?
Ba bhreá liom go n-éireodh le foireann na mban comórtas sinsearach BÁC nó Uile Éirinn fiú a bhaint amach agus an oiread tacaíochta is a taispeánadh dos na fir a athchruthú.
Cén ról a bhí ag an nGaeilge i do shaol, sa spórt nó lasmuigh de?
D’fhreastal mé ar bhunscoil agus meánscoil lán-ghaelach agus d’imir mé spórt le linn an ama tríd an Ghaeilge. Cé nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge á húsáid agam an oiread is a bhí tá bród orm aisti agus is deas an rud í a labhairt le mo nianna agus mo neacht atá á foghlaim anois.
Inís rud amháin suimiúil dúinn fút féin nach mbeadh ar eolas ag daoine?
Bhí mé i bhfógra do Londis nuair a bhí mé níos óige.
To mark Seachtain na Gaeilge this week, we spoke to senior players from each code to find out about their love of Gaelic Games, the challenges and highlights, and the role of Irish in their lives.
Caitríona Ní Mhurchú
What age were you when you started playing Gaelic Games?
I started playing camogie at 7. Unfortunately I wasn’t as keen when I got to age 12 and the team fell apart. I started playing football instead and I still play. I never returned to camogie even though it’s gone from strength to strength. The young player in me is delighted to witness that.
What do you like most about playing camogie?
What I like most about playing football is the team. Strength in numbers…
What do you think is the biggest challenge in playing Gaelic Games and is there anything that helps you overcome any challenges?
The greatest challenge is training in winter in the cold but it’s all worth it when the evenings begin to lengthen.
What do you think is most important to become a successful player?
The most important thing to be successful as a player is to be consistent. Luck comes with discipline.
Are there any players who have inspired you?
It is the people who I play with day to day who inspire me.
What has been the highlight of your playing career to date?
The highlight of my sporting career was being captain when we won the Dublin Championship.
Have you any future goals you would like to achieve in future?
I’d love to see the women’s team win Dublin at senior level or even an All-Ireland and to have the same support that was given to the lads.
What role has Irish played in your life, in sport or elsewhere?
I to an Irish primary and secondary school and played sport through Irish. Even though I am not using Irish as much as I was, I am proud of it, and it is nice to talk in Irish with my nieces and nephews who are learning it now.
Interesting fact about you that people may not know?
I was in an ad for Londis when I was younger!
