Castlelyons fundraisers get new LGFA club up and running

Fundraising efforts that took place last week to get Castlelyons Ladies Gaelic Football Club up and running for the season have went ‘very well'.

Initially, Castlelyons LGFA attempted to set up in 2020 but progress with the club’s official kick-off last year was stalled due to Covid-19. The U6s, U8s, U10s and U12s began training recently for their first-ever competitive season.

Last week, two separate fundraisers got underway for the new club, with a clothes collection that took place on Thursday last and a EuroMillions Syndicate now underway.

“Both the clothes collection and the lotto fundraisers went very well and we have enough funds in the pot now to get the club started,” said Ann Marie O’Connor of Castlelyons LGFA.

At the Community Centre on Thursday, March 31, members of the public dropped off bags full of clothes to help the club raise funds in the hope of purchasing basic equipment needed for training such as bibs, cones and more.

“Lots of people called by and we collected plenty of bags of clothes. It was a great opportunity to chat to people about the club as well as making money from the clothes that were donated,” Ann Marie added.

Club Secretary Donal O'Callaghan, noted that while the club aims to continue with their Euromillions syndicate, it may be a while before another fundraiser is held.

"We have a lot of fees with the LGFA between the East Cork Board fees, county fees and all Ireland fees. We're just hoping to cover the fees and buy some equipment to get up and running. We just need enough to get through this year," Donal said.

There are approximately 50 girls involved with the club, which Donal notes is the first ladies Gaelic football club in Castlelyons.

"Girls were going to Ballyduff and to Rathcormac to play football and it was a shame that there wasn't a club in Castlelyons. Chairman, John Leetch, was really instrumental in setting up the club. He really was the driver behind it all," Donal added.

As a relatively new club, Castlelyons LGFA is currently aiming at younger age groups in the hopes that the club will grow and develop alongside the girls currently playing with the club, according to Ann Marie.

“We’re a new club so we’re aiming at the younger ages so that the club can grow with them and we can bring those girls all the way through to eventually have an adult club. There’s a great bunch of fun coaches. They’re just lovely. It’s all about getting out, exercising and having fun.

“I do think a lot of younger kids and teenagers have been affected due to Covid-19 but this local club is getting kids out and exercising in the fresh air and meeting friends again and it’s just brilliant,” Ann Marie enthused.

Behind the scenes, those involved with the club have been working hard to get the club off the ground and see the respective teams play in a league this season.

“It’s a new club and there’s a really nice feeling about it. The committee have been working hard in advance of the season starting,” Ann Marie said.

“This is something completely new. Castlelyons has always been strong at camogie but there has never been a female Gaelic football team in Castlelyons history. Castlelyons has grown, there are new houses all around and a major increase in population which warrants having a local team,” Ann Marie said.

Monies raised from the fundraisers will go towards the running of the club and the purchase of equipment.