In Search of that Spirit

I don't ever remember being overly enthusiastic about celebrating St. Patrick's Day but this year I bought into it lock stock. From the sports day in the Parc on Sunday, to the impromptu session in The Oak that night and on to the mayhem in The Oak on Paddys Day itself. The energy created by the wave of community spirit which swept Brussels was immense I keep saying it but the Irish community here is becoming more and more integrated and it creates a great buzz.

With Ireland's urbanisation, that community spirit has been eroded and become more difficult to recognise at home. It may be fair to say that Paddys Day is now more of an experience abroad where people make a far greated effort to come together and celebrate all things good about Ireland.

This weekend I expect to see our country in its truest form however. Belgium G.A.A. has given myself and my teammates the opportunity to see all sorts of places in Europe and even as far east as Dubai. This trip may top them all. On Saturday morning the bones of 30 Belgium G.A.A. members will board a ferry in Roonagh, destined for Clare Island, home of Olof Gill.

Timewise and financially, it is not an easy journey to make. We will land in Dublin tomorrow night shortly before 22h and head for Westport. On Saturday morning, we will take the 10h ferry to the island and return on the 16h Sunday sailing. The final leg will be the red eye flight Monday morning which should land us at our desks by 10h. Its a mammoth journey but one which is an absolute must for the club to take.

Last year we hosted Clare Island and Roger Casements of Coventry. It was a massive occassion for Olof and we had a fantastic weekend of football, music and drinking!! The Islanders were a great group to host and it was great hearing about their way of life on the island and feeling the passion they have for their home place.

It was a must that we repay their efforts in coming to visit us and also important to support Olof's quest to bring his adopted team home to 'the rock'. We will be joined there by some old friends in the form of daddy-to-be Cluxton and also Eoghan Kelly. It promises to be another epic journey in the life of our club.