Grainne’s cups of cheer
Fascinating TG4 series on trophies sees McElwain shine a light on some of the forgotten tales of the GAA world
IT IS not hard to imagine a Sliding Doors scenario where Gráinne McElwain doesn’t spot the advertisement for sports researcher with production company Nemeton and stays in the classroom to continue her teaching career – spends the weekends gigging or singing and indulging her musical passions.
Instead, a chance moment in class when she picked up Irish language newspaper Foinse and decided to answer the job spec saw the Monaghan native uproot to Waterford and work with the company that is at the heart of TG4’s Gaelic games output.
From there, she’s added so many strings to her bow – Sky Sports anchor after taking over from Rachel Wyse on the live Gaelic games coverage.
Her career continues to traverse RTÉ, Sky Sports and TG4 and there’s a sense of combining her past as an Irish and history teacher with her present series, Scéalta na gCorn, which is half-way through its current run and continues on TG4 next Wednesday evening at 8.30pm. It sees her travel across Ireland visiting clubs and county grounds, learning the lesser-known stories behind some trophies.
Before she discusses integration and the GAA, or opinion versus analysis and the punditry wars, she gives a flavour of the latest series.
‘It’s been a lovely series to be involved in because the whole premise of the series is looking at where these cups came from, who they were named after and why are they named after these people. It’s bringing their personalities and character back to life. I find that really, really interesting. It’s like a microcosm of history because we’ve seen so many different aspects of Irish life through the cups.
‘In our Cork episode we have Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney. We learn about the whole rebellion and Cork and War of Independence – that period of history. Or for our Antrim episode then you have someone like Maggie Close who devoted her life to volunteering in the GAA, was hugely involved in camogie. I thought it was lovely that the club recognised the amount of work she did as a volunteer.
‘So you didn’t have to be a massive political leader, or a member of the clergy, or a newspaper – ordinary people could be recognised as well. That’s significant that clubs and counties recognise how important everybody was in making the competitions and the GAA the success that it is.’
Taking in the career of someone like Kathleen Mills, and the cup that commemorates one of the most decorated players of all time who finished her career with 15 All-Ireland medals, the series helps to properly recognise the contribution of women and female sporting achievement in Gaelic games.
‘I think we are evaluating now how important the role women have played in the GAA. And it hasn’t been looked at for a very long time. A lot of the women’s roles in the GAA would have been seen as behind the scenes.
‘Then you learn about the amazing women who have done so much for sport – like Kathleen Mills.’ Or discover along the way the story of legendary Galway hurler Michael ‘Inky’ Flaherty and the cup named after him that has actually gone missing. ‘I’m sure there’s more. We only scratched the surface with six counties. There are over 2,000 pieces of silverware in the GAA so I’m sure there are a lot more missing. If we could find the cup at the end of the series – whether it’s in the attic or in a box – it’s important nationally. That would be a great result from the series if we could find those cups that are missing.’ As someone who has seen the association from so many different angles, what does she think of the news last weekend that former President of Ireland Mary McAleese is to chair the integration process between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association? ‘I would welcome it. I would welcome integration between the three organisations. I think for a long time there hasn’t been a cohesive plan that we’re all working together. That’s not a blame game but just the way it has been. It’s historical.
‘It’s very easy to say, “let’s integrate everything” but what does that look like at a practical level – at club, county, provincial and national level? Are the GAA, for example, happy that they might have a rotating president so that you’d have one year GAA, second year Camogie Association, third year LGFA. Is that what the presidency would look like?
‘There is a lot of talk already and great work being done but I would welcome it all being under the one banner.’
When it comes to the role of host on Sky Sports, she has a clear view of what the audience wants. ‘For me, I’ve always used my role as one of facilitating conversations. I want to get to what the person at home wants to know. I always think of my dad at home or people who have lots of knowledge and know coaching and tactics inside out – and then you’ll have people who don’t, who might be casual followers.
‘For me, it’s about learning.
When someone tunes in to watch a programme you’re involved in, the viewer should be learning something about the game, the personnel, the players so that they are more informed by the end of it. That’s really important for a broadcaster. That’s it.’
As for the television culture wars over opinion versus straight analysis?
‘There are different types of programmes where your opinion is needed. I think it’s very flattering that someone would like to hear my opinion over Jim McGuinness’s but I think most people would like to hear Jim McGuinness’s rather than mine!
‘If I’m sitting there giving my opinion then Jim is not talking. Everyone is frustrated. There is a time and a place – and it depends on the show you’re hosting and how you navigate that.
‘It depends on the programme. On Sky Sports, it’s analysis. “Inside the Game” – that’s the tagline. So you want analysis. The viewers want it and they are used to seeing it on the Premier League. They want to learn.
‘When you have your screens and your tactical set-ups, you’re learning this from Peter Canavan or Jamesie O’Connor and they’ll be looking for it.
‘People want to know the setups. If there’s a sweeper, why is it set up there? If there’s three sweepers, why? They want to know the why but also want to be entertained.
‘If I watch a sports programme or any programme in fact, I want to learn.’
The thirst for knowledge probably comes from her teaching background. And she’s an All-Ireland winner in her own right – just with the cultural phenomenon of Scór, rather than on the field. ‘I would have played the tin whistle, flute, and piano accordion. We would have been heavily involved in Scór growing up. Won a Scór All-Ireland instrumental with Scotstown, my club at home in Monaghan.
‘Music has been a huge part of my life. I used to play a lot in pubs and restaurants and sing as well but I haven’t done that in 10 or 15 years. With sport, you’re gone every weekend.’
That’s what happens when your life is in tune with the games and the rhythm of the GAA calendar.
‘People want to know the set-ups...but also want to be entertained’