Yoga and Wellbeing Evening

It was a calm and quiet evening in the Cuala hall last Sunday, (marking a distinct change from the usual footballs and sliotars hopping off walls!) for a yoga and wellbeing event with renowned yoga instructor Dani Sheil. The event was organised as a fundraiser for the Minor Girls and Ladies sections, as well as providing a social opportunity for women from Cuala and the wider community. The event started with a chat with Dani about how she got involved in yoga and the benefits it can bring, followed by a yoga session. Tea, coffee and cakes followed along with a raffle for some fantastic prizes. A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to Dani for her expert yoga instruction, the minor girls who helped serve tea and coffee and Sharon Foley for organising the event. Finally a huge thank you to the sponsors of the fabulous raffle prizes:

Rassam Restaurant, Osteria Lucio, The Eagle, Benitos, Finnegan’s Pharmacy, One2One Solutions, Dani Sheil, Dublin GAA, Seoulista, Alison O’Driscoll Makeup Artist, Bubbas Restaruant, Brian S Nolan, Castle Pharmacy, Sandycove Pharmacy, Stronger Gym, Champs Hairdresser, Transfer Gecko, Honest Paws and Horan’s Healthstore

Próifíl Imreora – Caitriona Ní Mhurchú

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!

Próifíl Imreora – Hannah Ní Dheá

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.

Hannah Ní Dheá

Cén aois a bhí tú nuair a thosaigh tú ag imirt na gcluichí gaelacha?

4/5 bliana d’aois

Cad is mó a thaitníonn leat faoin camógaíochta?

Ag imirt ag tús an tSamhraidh nuair atá an ghrian amuigh tráthnóna

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?

A bheith gortaithe agus ag coimeád suas leis an rehab ar fad. Tá mé fós ag obair air sin!

Cad é an rud is tábhachtaí i do thuairim chun bheith i d’imreoir rathúil?

Leanúnachas.

An bhfuil aon imreoirí a thug inspioráid duit agus tú óg?

Le déanaí déarfainn Sarah Healy sa luthchleasaíocht, tá sí thar a bheith díograiseach

Cén buaicphointe spóirt is mó atá bainte amach agat go dtí seo ?

Craobhchomórtas a bhuachaint anuraidh agus an deis a fháíl imirt i roinn a 1.

An bhfuil aon spriocanna agat sa spórt gur mhaith leat a bhaint amach sa todhchaí?

I mblianna, ba bhreá liom bheith iomaíoch i Roinn a 1.

Cén ról a bhí ag an nGaeilge i do shaol, sa spórt nó lasmuigh de?

D’imir mé spóirt trí Ghaeilge fad is a bhí mé ar scoil. Bhí sé ar fheabhas gur thóg sé cúpla soicind ar an bhfoireann eile ár dtreoracha a thuiscin

Inís rud amháin suimiúil dúinn fút féin nach mbeadh ar eolas ag daoine?

Is as Ceanada í mo mháthair so níl mé ach leath Éireannach – beagán níos mó go cultúrtha is dócha!

 

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.

Hannah Ní Dheá

What age were you when you started playing Gaelic Games?

I was 4/5 years old

What do you like most about playing camogie?

Playing in the summer in the evening sun.

What do you think is the biggest challenge in playing Gaelic Games and is there anything that helps you overcome any challenges?

Being injured and keeping up with the rehab. Still working this out!

What do you think is most important to become a successful player?

Consistency.

Are there any players who have inspired you?

Lately, I’d say Sarah Healy in athletics. She is extremely dedicated.

What has been the highlight of your playing career to date?

Winning Championship last year and getting the chance to play Division 1.

Have you any future goals you would like to achieve in future?

I would love to be competitive in Div 1 this year.

What role has Irish played in your life, in sport or elsewhere?

I played sport through Irish in school. It was great that it took the opposition a couple of seconds to understand our instructions.

Interesting fact about you that people may not know?

My mum is Canadian so I’m only half Irish – culturally probably a little more!

International Women’s Day Interview – Aisling Groarke

To celebrate International Women’s Day this Saturday 8th March, we spoke to Cuala player Aisling Groarke. Aisling plays on our Cuala first senior football and camogie teams, while also finding time to promote our women’s games on our social media channels. We asked Aisling about her love of gaelic games, her advice for young players, and what she hopes for in future for her own game and women’s gaelic games more widely.

At what age did you start playing gaelic games?
I started playing in the Academy in Cuala, when I was five years old. My earliest memories of the sport probably aren’t actually of playing—it’s doing gymnastics on the sidelines!

What do you love most about playing camogie and gaelic football?
What I love most about Gaelic Football and Camogie is my teammates and the feeling after a difficult training session.

What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of playing gaelic games?
I’m a dual player on the Gaelic Football and Camogie senior teams, which means we train six times a week, often with back-to-back matches. And while the physical demands are high, I’ve often found that the mental aspect can be even more challenging.

What skills do you think are important to become a successful player?
To succeed as a player, I believe determination and balance are essential. I struggle with hand-eye coordination, so I’ve often had to repeat certain skills hundreds of times before it seems to stick.  This has taught me persistence and the value of hard work. I also think maintaining a balance—focusing during training whilst also remembering why I play the sport—keeps me motivated and driven to improve.

Are there any other players who have inspired you?
Sinead Murphy in Camogie and Hannah Tyrell in Gaelic Football. Sinead Murphy was always so encouraging and supportive when I came up to senior level. She always included everyone in the team activities and her physicality on the camogie pitch is something I can only strive to replicate. Hannah Tyrell has excelled in multiple sports, representing Ireland in rugby and her club and county in Gaelic football. Her kicking is unbelievable and she uses her platform to advocate for mental health. I marked her in one of my first senior matches, and was completely starstruck. That being said, every one of my teammates and coaches has inspired me along the way.

What one piece of advice would you give to young girls who are starting out learning to play the game?
Stick with it. There are times growing up when life gets so busy that giving up might seem like the easier option. However, the girls on the team are my closest friends, and they always help put things into perspective. I honestly can’t imagine where I’d be without Gaelic Games in my life.

What has been the highlight of your playing career to date?
So far, the highlight has been winning the Senior 2 Championship in camogie last year. However, I have high hopes of us winning more titles in both codes soon.

Have you any future goals you would like to achieve in your sporting career?
Many. The men’s teams have proven what Cuala is capable of, and we would love to experience that same success with the women’s teams in the years to come.

What positive developments have you seen in women’t gaelic games in recent years?
In recent years, the visibility of the LGFA and Camogie has grown significantly. Sponsors like Lidl and TG4 have created incredible opportunities for the sport to gain recognition and highlight the dedication of players. Additionally, Cuala’s one-club model ensures that the women’s section have the same opportunities as the men’s teams, which is fantastic for the growth and development of the game. I see the women’s section growing year after year, and I would love to see Croke Park’s stands fill up more and more for the women’s games to recognize the incredible athletes who play there.

Interesting fact about you that people may not know?
I did ballet until I was 18, though not sure I have much coordination to show for it!

LGFA and Camogie Journalism Awards – Niall Scully

Congratulations to long-time Cuala friend and connection Niall Scully of the Evening Herald, who was recently presented with the ‘Local Journalist of the Year award’ at the LGFA Volunteer awards (image above), as well as receiving an award from Karl O’Brien, chairperson of Dublin Camogie Board in recognition of his coverage of Dublin Camogie since 1983 (image below).

Here is what the LGFA had to say….

‘Niall Scully has been covering and promoting Ladies Football in Dublin both at club and County level coming up on four decades now….Niall has made a huge impact on our sport especially in the early years when many saw ladies football as a novelty act, Niall saw the potential of the game. His coverage back then and throughout the subsequent years gave the LGFA a profile in Dublin and played an integral part in the growth of the sport in the capital’

Niall’s passion and hard work made a similar impact on raising the profile of camogie in Dublin…

‘In 1984, Dublin camogie struggled to gain media attention…This changed when the Dublin Board reached out to the Evening Herald. Since then, journalist Niall Scully has dedicated 38 years to highlighting every aspect of Dublin camogie, becoming one of the longest-serving camogie journalists’

Camogie Association ‘Tell Their Story’ – Daria Niewiadomska

The Camogie Association ran a ‘Tell Their Story’ series last year with journalist Alanna Cunnane, a freelance sports journalist, reporter and broadcaster. Cuala’s Daria Niewiadomska did an interview with Alanna as part of the series which is now featured on camogie.ie. Read Daria’s story of how she fell in love with playing camogie at Cuala following her move to Ireland from Poland in 2021 by clicking the image above or here.

Camogie at Cuala with Máire Ui Scolaí 

 

 

With the Camogie Association celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2024, we took the opportunity to talk to Cuala’s Maire Ui Scolaí (née Ní Chuirc). Máire played camogie for Cuala from the 1970s to the late 1990s as well as working on a voluntary basis for both Dublin Camogie Board and at national level for the Camogie Association, and is hence a source of many insights into the sport at Cuala and beyond. We wanted to find out more about her experiences of Cuala Camogie, those who were involved when she played, some of the successes over the years and her perspectives on how camogie at Cuala and in Dublin is doing now. 

 

Early beginnings 

Camogie has existed in this area of Dublin since the 1930s. The Naomh Mhuire (St. Mary’s) camogie club was established in Sallynoggin in 1952 by Matt Kane and his wife Vera, using a pitch that now forms part of Joey’s Soccer Club. In 1979, having sustained an informal collaborative relationship with Cuala over many years, Naomh Mhuire joined with Cuala in Dalkey to form ‘Cuala Hurling, Football and Camogie Club’. Máire noting the pride in seeing all of the codes on Cuala’s headed notepaper, something that wasn’t widespread in Dublin at that time.  

Máire’s early camogie years 

While attending Coláiste Íosagáin, where Máire first played camogie winning a Dublin Colleges Intermediate League medal in 1973 (her most cherished medal), a Cuala connection was begun. The very first camogie sticks were purchased for the fledgling school through Cuala legend Mick Dunphy! She joined Naomh Mhuire in 1975 before it amalgamated with Cuala, not long really after the marriage bar (which required women to resign from civil service jobs when they got married) was lifted in 1971 and the LGFA was formed in 1974…female participation in sport was not widespread and received little recognition.  

 

Successes of the 70s and 80s

Máire remembers how in the 70s the numbers playing camogie were very small. A campaign was started in the schools in the area to encourage participation, with some of those who joined at that time still well-known and involved in Cuala.  

There were, however, many achievements for Cuala around this time. In 1984, the loss of the Senior B championship final led to the enlisting of Cuala’s John Bailey, a former Chairman of Dublin GAA board, to train the team. Máire recounts travelling with Cuala’s Hilary Thompson from Galway (where they both worked at the time) to matches back in Dublin. The determination of the team paid off, with Cuala winning the Senior B league and Championship double in 1985 (read more here). Having won the double in 1985, Cuala went up to Senior A and remained so until 1987. 

Meanwhile, Dublin camogie was reaching the heights of the game, with many rural players coming to the city for work and study, and second level colleges doing well throughout the county. We are proud to have had many Cuala players involved in Dublin at the time. Sheila Wallace won an All-Ireland Junior medal in 1971 and captained Dublin to the 1976 All-Ireland Final. Pamela Howard won a junior All-Ireland medal in 1975, with Jo Holden and Bernie Kehoe among others from Cuala who proudly played for county. Dublin won the Senior All-Ireland Championship in 1984 with Sheila Wallace in the backroom team. Sheila also achieved a remarkable place in the camogie story by being appointed as long-standing General Secretary of the (all Ireland) Camogie Association (read more here)

  

Máire’s roles in camogie administration 

Máíre retired from playing with Cuala in 1998, but her involvement with camogie did not diminish. She spent several years as secretary and then PRO of Dublin Camogie, before becoming national PRO for 12 years until 2012, a highlight of her career during which she says she has made lifelong camogie friends to add to those made on the pitch. She is passionate about promoting the sport and points out how despite the inequality in coverage of camogie vs hurling that can still exist, we have come a long way in comparison to the couple of inches that might be written about camogie in the papers in the 1970s. We still have a bit to go so Máire’s advice is for us all to get out and support our women’s camogie teams whenever we can!  

 

How Máire sees Cuala camogie today

2024 has been a huge year for celebrating 120 years of camogie, alongside 50 years of the LGFA and 140 years of the GAA. Camogie at Cuala has flourished thanks to the work of so many over the years and the structures that were put in place from the beginning to put camogie on an equal footing to the other codes. In 2024 Cuala won the Minor Division 1 and Junior 2 Leagues, reached the Minor Division 1 Championship Final, won the U21 Championship Shield and the Senior Division 2 Championship title.  

Dublin camogie is also experiencing a resurgence, winning the National League Division 1B title for the first time since 1983 as well as the Division 3B league, where Cuala’s Sinéad Murphy won player of the match, playing alongside Hilary Thompson’s daughter Róisín Ní Drisceoil. Dublin also reached the All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final for the first time in 7 years with Sinéad Wylde, Hannah O’Dea and Sinead Murphy on the panel. 

Let’s hope for even greater success for Cuala and Dublin camogie in 2025.  

 

A final word.. 

We asked Máire what she would say to our young girls starting out learning to play camogie at Cuala, taking part in GoGames and moving on to competitive matches. Her ultimate advice is to enjoy playing and spending time with the friends you make. Playing field sport is so important as you have to take the good and the bad. But the team spirit lifts you up through the harder times so you can celebrate the achievements. Keep having fun!  

Ní fhéadfainn mo shaol a shamhlú gan Camogie agus Cuala!

 

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala (Cuala Digital Archive) maintains an on-line archive of images and stories relating to Cuala, its ‘ancestral’ clubs and other Gaelic clubs that once operated in its area.  If you have any information or material to share with us, please contact –
Michael Goodwin, +353 (0) 87 2266140,  history@cualagaa.ie

U21 Camogie and Hurling Success

Congratulations to our U21 Camogie team who won the Div1 Championship Shield, beating Ballinteer St. John’s by a single point.

Meanwhile the Cuala U21 Hurlers clinched the D Hurling Championship title against Skerries Harps. Congratulations!

Camogie Wall Ball-A-Thon

The Women’s Section camogie wall ball-a-thon was a huge success last weekend with a stream of players, members and supporters keeping the Cuala hall alive for 24 hours of camogie fun. Thank you to everyone who supported the event through donations, the cake sale or showing your support at the hall, it is much appreciated!

A special thank you to the following sponsors:
Linguaviva
The Juice Yard Health Bar
T Bourke
McMahon O’Connor Residential
Winthrop Technologies
Cronin’s Newark Service Station
Debra Ireland
Core Real Estate
GMC Ireland
The Club
Finnegan’s Dalkey
Hick’s Butchers
Saus Byrne and the Cuala Sporting Potatoes!

Cuala are Senior 2 Dublin Camogie Champions 2024!

Congratulations to the Senior Camogie Team who clinched the Senior 2 Championship Title last Sunday in a thrilling match v Erin’s Isle!

 

Match Report by Dermot Malone

The venue was St. Peregrines, the date was Sunday 13th October and the opposition were a teak tough Erins Isle, side led by Dublin stalwart Louise O’Hara. The result however was exactly what our senior Cuala Camóg’s were training so hard for, a delirious one point win that elevates Cuala to Senior Division 1 of Dublin Camogie.

It was a full stand of anxious onlookers with fan numbers split equally between the two clubs. The game started with Isles benefiting from a strong breeze and racking up a point every two minutes without reply until they had garnished a 3 point lead. Cuala dug deep and started getting on top of the possession stakes, drawing level after 12 mins with the help of two nicely taken points from Rachel Hartnett. Cuala benefitted from lots of direct running, which opened up the Isles defence, with two goal opportunities coming from our own Dublin stars Sinead Wylde and Sinead Murphy, with Wylde’s effort skimming the crossbar for a point and Murphy’s incredible bit of individual brilliance matched by an equally brilliant save by the Isles keeper. It wasn’t all one way traffic however, with a few heart stopping moments as Isles had their own goal opportunity denied in a goalmouth scramble, in which the Cuala defence came out on top. Points were traded up to half time, with Cuala’s direct play giving the opposition no option but to foul, and three well taken frees from Eimear Hurley led Cuala into the break three points up 0-8 to 0-5.

The second half began as the first half had ended with another accurate Eimear Hurley free to extend Cuala’s lead, but from there Isles increased their intensity and the tackles hit harder. A point for Isles followed by another from Sinead Wylde and another again from Isles, brought the game to within three. Not to be outdone however, a clever ball from the aforesaid Louise O’Hara, dropped into the Cuala square, which led to momentary panic, with an Isles defender hitting the ground and a Cuala defender adjudged to have transgressed… referee David Murphy raised both arms and signalled for the penalty, which was duely dispatched to the corner of the Cuala net. Level scores. Cuala dug deep and the next three scores were for the red and white, courtesy of “Laoch na himeartha” Sinead Murphy, the newly introduced Julliette O’Flynn and the ever reliable Sinead Wylde, which meant that the travelling Cuala fans could breathe once more. But not for long. Minutes to go and Isles were on the attack on the left flank… a well taken pacey strike with a low dipping trajectory and the ball once more found it’s way into the corner of the Cuala net. Isles were not giving up without a fight… Yellow cards were traded, and Cuala somehow found strength from within, fuelled perhaps by the pain of near misses, having played and lost 3 previous Senior 2 finals in 4 years. In the dying minutes of the game, Eimear Hurley found herself as our furthest forward attacker on more than one occasion, gathering possession and taking on multiple defenders. It was a real battle that the Cork player relished, feeling right at home in red and white. One more pressure play from Cuala resulted in one more free… Confident and bold, Hurley steadied herself, Took a deep breath, lifted and struck a beautiful ball over the bar! Would that be it? Whistle ref? But not before 4 minutes of sustained pressure from Isles in extra time.. ball after ball dropped just short of levelling the game and forcing a replay. The Cuala defence stood firm and with possession in hand, the shrill of the final whistle, there were hugs and tears of joy all round for the red and white!

Receiving the trophy, our jubilant captain, corner back Ciara Byrne was generous in her praise for the opposition and officials, but left special thanks to Donal Murphy for his 10 years of dedication in guiding Cuala camogie to the pinnacle of the high table of Dublin Camogie. The pairing of Donal Murphy with JP Byrne, supported by a fabulous backroom team, has brought growth and success to this team and adult Cuala camogie in general.

Comhghairdeachas go Léir!
Cuala Camogie Abú