Irish Sports Day in Seyring

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Ciara Keenaghan

Feature image: The women’s camogie team

On Saturday 8th August Vienna Gaels, Slovak Shamrocks, and admirers of Gaelic culture & sports joined for a day of exhibition games and fun. Hosted at the Seyring Sportsplatz, Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie were all ímpressively demonstrated by a large turnout of players. It was the first camogie game for Vienna Gaels, and the intensity on the pitch proves the energy required to build a team is already there.

It was a hot, sunny day, and everyone was keen to play games after a long hiatus – Photo: Ray Abery

The event was well organised, including the adherence to current hygiene and safety rules. Not only did spectators get a chance to watch Gaelic sports, but there was also the opportunity to have a go at a long puc. There was also a BBQ and chance to catch up between the games, with live Irish music throughout the day and into the evening.

Shown below: Award winners across different codes

Many thanks to all that organised and took part in the sports day, special thanks go to Ray Laverty for organising, and to the Irish Embassy for generous sponsorship. We were also covered in the Austrian news! https://m.noen.at/sport/korneuburg/seyring-ein-tag-im-zeichen-des-irischen-sports-gerasdorf-bei-wien-irish-sports-hurling-gaelic-football-sv-seyring-218749594#476226,218748241

Vienna Gaels Player Profile – Laura Connally

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Ciara Keenaghan

Vienna has been opened up for the summer, training is back in full swing, and finally we have another player profile! Let’s get to know Laura.

Name: Laura Connally
Age: 24
From: Toronto, Canada

Where have you lived?
I grew up in Toronto, moved to Bangkok, Thailand for a year in 2018, and then to Vienna in 2019.

How did you end up in Vienna?
While in Bangkok, i was offered a position at the International School in Vienna and moved here for the job in August 2019. I teach Special Education/Learning Support.

Do you speak any other languages?
Ich bin lerne Deutsch ??? Nein, I only speak English.

Favourite places in Vienna?
Am Nordpol 3 in the 2nd for Austrian food, and Lamee Rooftop for drinks.

What Gaelic sport do you play?
Football – mid/forward.

What teammate would you pick to be with in quarantine?
Zina for many reasons, but also because she gives me cooking inspo everyday and is always up for canal drinks.

What is your secret skill?
Please don’t make me regret admitting that I competed in Irish dance for 12 years.

Best thing about being a Vienna Gael?
Playing sports with friends!

Worst thing about being a Vienna Gael?
The shorts are lime green.

Best thing about living in Vienna?
The wine, the food, the architecture….to be honest the price and efficiency of public transit is really what sold me in the job interview.

Worst thing about living in Vienna?
Unfair pricing of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Favourite snack?
Baked Sweet Potato with hummus

What advice would you give to someone moving to Vienna?
Join the Vienna Gaels!! and learn German ASAP.

Thanks to Laura for taking part! She actually told me she would love to be challenged to an Irish dancing dance-off, incase anyone sees her out at a rooftop bar sometime. Stay tuned for more player profiles, and as always, feel free to nominate yourself or others to take part. In other news, we are planning lots of training, local competitions and other events over the summer, so get involved!

Vienna Gaels in the news once again – ahead of the curve

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Ciara Keenaghan

Vienna Gaels’ reputation in Ireland is once again strengthened by our feature in this week’s Northern Standard newspaper. The Northern Standard is available as an ePaper @ northernstandard.ie.

Co-chairperson Noel Fitzgerald was interviewed by the paper to highlight Vienna Gaels and our post-lockdown measures. As Austria was one of the countries to go into an early lockdown, it means we are also coming out of lockdown before other countries. Our position means that we can share our successes as well as our challenges with others.

Another article in the same paper focuses on the journey of the Vienna Gaels GAA club, with an interview of one of the club founders, Des Reilly. Des is one of the club’s active members, from helping newer players, becoming one of the most prominent referees within Gaelic Games Europe, as well as representing his native Monaghan.

This follows on from Vienna Gael’s recent feature in the Irish Examiner – again the current Covid-19 situation was the contextual backdrop for the interview.

Vienna Gaels puc about as featured in the Irish Examiner

We are always happy to chat to media, please get in touch with Vienna Gaels if you would like to do a feature or interview.

Thanks to the Northern Standard and the writer of the original articles; Colm Shalvey.
Thanks to the Irish Examiner and the interviewer Colm O’ Connor.
Thanks to Ray Abery for the photographs.

Vienna Gaels triumphant return to training – numbers exceed all expectations

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Ciara Keenaghan

Vienna Gaels have returned to training, with Monday night’s numbers (38) exceeding those prior to the pandemic. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all. On Monday we decided to use our regular Gaelic football training pitch for a combined hurling/camogie training, aimed at all experience levels. The result was a massive turnout from complete beginners to advanced players. The men’s hurling team have successfully grown over the last few years, and on Monday we saw a huge level of interest in camogie, based on the crowd of women that turned up.

Creating an active and varied training session while still adhering to the current social distancing restrictions has been a challenge that individuals within the club have risen to. Credit is due to the coaches and other people who have helped out, including Fiona Fleming, Kilian Smith, Anne Murray, Noel Fitzgerald, Stephen Walsh, and Darren Gilbert.

Following the regulations is also a whole club effort, and Vienna Gaels members have really come together as a community. The measures in place on Monday were sent out to club members in advance, and included the following: arrive in sports clothes, disinfect hands before playing, do not share equipment, respect 2 metres distance between players, train within your smaller group, respect general hygiene rules, and avoid travelling to or from training in large groups. These measures were put together with the aim of having clear guidance for club members, and will be updated as the situation changes.