If Gaelic4Mothers&Others were listed on the stock exchange, it would have proved a shrewd investment over the past 17 years – and especially in the last five.
Of course, this activity is essentially the opposite of a business commodity, and that social and community element is what has been central to its continuous growth.
Founded in 2008, Gaelic4 Mothers&Others could be described as an adult version of Go Games, insofar as the focus is on participation and activity rather than keeping score.
“It grew slowly at the beginning because people were like, ‘what’s happening here?’” says Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) national development manager, Lyn Savage.
“Just before Covid, we started to see a real uptake in it and then, after the restrictions eased, it really took off.
“I think a lot of women decided they wanted a bit of time for themselves, that’s part of the reason. From 2021 to 2022, we had a 61% increase in clubs.
“In fairness, a lot of clubs found it very hard to get volunteers back after COVID-19 and this has really helped, because it brings in a group of women with a massive skillset that would have been lost to many clubs. This was a way to get them involved,” says Lyn.
Social outlet
Well beyond the actual games themselves and the athletic involvement, the movement has served to unlock further positives for all involved.
“The main reason it started was we just wanted a social outlet,” Lyn says. “Our games, across Gaelic games, apart from Go Games, are competitive, whereas there was nothing that was purely social.
“We wanted a social game and, in that way, it would attract a lot of women who had never played before, but also offer an outlet for women who may be retired and wanted to get back playing.
Lyn Savage is national development officer with the LGFA. \David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“Our initial thinking was to fill that social gap – an hour a week to get fit and connect to the community. But it has just become so much more than that, particularly for the community.
“We’re in the middle of a study with UCC at the minute on the social impact. Not only are the women getting involved in the club, they’re also getting involved in massive fundraisers for charities, runs and so much else.
“When you put a group of women together, they’re determined and capable – and the community is really feeling the benefit of that now.
“Our clubs are getting a skill-set that would have been lost, let’s face it – we can say there’s an outlet for everybody, but where would those women’s outlet be if they didn’t have this?”
While the growing numbers of players and teams might suggest that Gaelic4Mothers&Others could be the launchpad for a ladies’ football version of the male Masters GAA championship, the preference strongly remains on the non-competitive side.
“No, it’s non-competitive and that’s something we have really stayed very strong on,” says Lyn.
“We have a number of women – not very many – that have at times asked for competition, but I mean, there’s football right down to junior F.
“There are plenty of competitions and this activity was designed for those who didn’t want it and we’ve stood strong on that and I suppose that’s a reason why we have grown so rapidly.
“Don’t get me wrong – you know yourself, if you have kids and you put down four jumpers, there’s going to be an element of competition – but there are no scores kept in our games.”
While there may be challenges in terms of securing pitch-time at busy clubs, Lyn Savage makes the point that post-bedtime often suits those involved.
Huge growth
Beyond that, the focus remains on casting the net ever wider.
“We haven’t gone below a 10% increase year-on-year. We have more Gaelic4Mothers&Others clubs than many sports would have clubs altogether, and what we’re really seeing is a huge growth internationally as well,” she says.
Players from the Galbally team from Tyrone, wearing masks of well-known GAA personalities.
“We have clubs in Canada, America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia. Obviously, there is that social element but also, you think of some of the clubs, particularly in say America, where they have younger kids playing, but have no background, like no Irish background.
“It’s hard for them to get involved to volunteer, but if they actually learn some of the skills themselves, it really helps.
“The New York festival is one that so many teams try to get into – three festivals of 10 teams take place there every year and the teams from here travel over.
“I think it’s grown both internationally and at home, but every club has the potential to set it up and so, until it’s in every club, there is potential for growth. We did see – particularly in the likes of Kilkenny, which is a hurling and camogie stronghold – at one stage we had more Gaelic4Mothers&Others teams there than we had actual club teams.
“So it’s not just in football areas, it’s just something that’s a social thing.”
If Gaelic4Mothers&Others were listed on the stock exchange, it would have proved a shrewd investment over the past 17 years – and especially in the last five.
Of course, this activity is essentially the opposite of a business commodity, and that social and community element is what has been central to its continuous growth.
Founded in 2008, Gaelic4 Mothers&Others could be described as an adult version of Go Games, insofar as the focus is on participation and activity rather than keeping score.
“It grew slowly at the beginning because people were like, ‘what’s happening here?’” says Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) national development manager, Lyn Savage.
“Just before Covid, we started to see a real uptake in it and then, after the restrictions eased, it really took off.
“I think a lot of women decided they wanted a bit of time for themselves, that’s part of the reason. From 2021 to 2022, we had a 61% increase in clubs.
“In fairness, a lot of clubs found it very hard to get volunteers back after COVID-19 and this has really helped, because it brings in a group of women with a massive skillset that would have been lost to many clubs. This was a way to get them involved,” says Lyn.
Social outlet
Well beyond the actual games themselves and the athletic involvement, the movement has served to unlock further positives for all involved.
“The main reason it started was we just wanted a social outlet,” Lyn says. “Our games, across Gaelic games, apart from Go Games, are competitive, whereas there was nothing that was purely social.
“We wanted a social game and, in that way, it would attract a lot of women who had never played before, but also offer an outlet for women who may be retired and wanted to get back playing.
Lyn Savage is national development officer with the LGFA. \David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“Our initial thinking was to fill that social gap – an hour a week to get fit and connect to the community. But it has just become so much more than that, particularly for the community.
“We’re in the middle of a study with UCC at the minute on the social impact. Not only are the women getting involved in the club, they’re also getting involved in massive fundraisers for charities, runs and so much else.
“When you put a group of women together, they’re determined and capable – and the community is really feeling the benefit of that now.
“Our clubs are getting a skill-set that would have been lost, let’s face it – we can say there’s an outlet for everybody, but where would those women’s outlet be if they didn’t have this?”
While the growing numbers of players and teams might suggest that Gaelic4Mothers&Others could be the launchpad for a ladies’ football version of the male Masters GAA championship, the preference strongly remains on the non-competitive side.
“No, it’s non-competitive and that’s something we have really stayed very strong on,” says Lyn.
“We have a number of women – not very many – that have at times asked for competition, but I mean, there’s football right down to junior F.
“There are plenty of competitions and this activity was designed for those who didn’t want it and we’ve stood strong on that and I suppose that’s a reason why we have grown so rapidly.
“Don’t get me wrong – you know yourself, if you have kids and you put down four jumpers, there’s going to be an element of competition – but there are no scores kept in our games.”
While there may be challenges in terms of securing pitch-time at busy clubs, Lyn Savage makes the point that post-bedtime often suits those involved.
Huge growth
Beyond that, the focus remains on casting the net ever wider.
“We haven’t gone below a 10% increase year-on-year. We have more Gaelic4Mothers&Others clubs than many sports would have clubs altogether, and what we’re really seeing is a huge growth internationally as well,” she says.
Players from the Galbally team from Tyrone, wearing masks of well-known GAA personalities.
“We have clubs in Canada, America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia. Obviously, there is that social element but also, you think of some of the clubs, particularly in say America, where they have younger kids playing, but have no background, like no Irish background.
“It’s hard for them to get involved to volunteer, but if they actually learn some of the skills themselves, it really helps.
“The New York festival is one that so many teams try to get into – three festivals of 10 teams take place there every year and the teams from here travel over.
“I think it’s grown both internationally and at home, but every club has the potential to set it up and so, until it’s in every club, there is potential for growth. We did see – particularly in the likes of Kilkenny, which is a hurling and camogie stronghold – at one stage we had more Gaelic4Mothers&Others teams there than we had actual club teams.
“So it’s not just in football areas, it’s just something that’s a social thing.”
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