Stockholm Convention

I was trying to explain to a colleague why I was in Stockholm at the weekend. Not long into the explanation, I noted the strange look on her face. I think she thought I was describing some sort of cult meeting. I suppose the G.A.A. is a cult of sort and annual convention the mother of it all. Many people descended on the Swedish city for the event this weekend whilst many others were left at home due to the current weather blitz sweeping Europe.

I'd be fairly cynical about this kind of stuff. Committee's wouldn't be my thing and I'd view most who sit on them with suspicion. Of course it is a largely non-sensical viewpoint but I make myself contend by being able to acknowledge this point whilst continuing to thread warily. Despite my views, I did sit on the 2010 committee as Coaching Officer. I don't feel I did the role justice though and achieved enough so I decided to remove myself from the position for 2011 - part of the ongoing strategy to involve myself less on all activities not directly related to playing!

Anyway, back to the Convention which was impeccably hosted and beamed live around the world by the Stockholm Gaels club. Born just last February, they claimed the Scandinavian Championship at it's first attempt and had the balls to send themselves straight into the Championship section of the Pan-Euros. One of their lads, Colin Courtney actually played with us last year up in Copenhagen. He's a great buddy of Conor O'Brien, a friend of mine from Kinsale.

They look like they run an extremely well organised, innovative set-up and are an example to us all. Of course they are still young and haven't yet had the opportunity to have the history of fallings in and outs that other clubs would have. However, early indications suggest they are well ahead of schedule and coming fast.

The speeches and motions and elections are the core activities on the weekend agenda but what I enjoyed most was meeting & talking to the people. It's the only occasion to talk to different clubs when the days activity isn't lurking in the background like an elephant. Everyone is more at ease and focussed on the bigger picture and happy to share and listen to stories.

Each person has an inspiring and motivating tale to tell. Anna-Marie from Rennes and her thousands of kids learning the game of football. Eddie from Toulouse and the Norwegian secondary school teacher getting hurling up and running. You have the Hungarian Adam and his committed group of locals pucking ball around. Trevor down in Zurich with his battalion of Swiss. And about an hour from him you have the unit of Irish teachers teaching their boarding school pupils the ancient game! Their representative at the weekend was a guy called Brian, a best buddy of Lorcan who knocks around the scene here, Sound man and the kind of fella with the enthusiasm to make you pick up a hurley. It's because of guys like this that we continue to grow in Europe.

It's incredible the underage work going on, often because of one adult’s desire to have their child grow up intertwined with their Irish roots as best as possible. This whole identity thing and the G.A.A. is a phenomenon which is hard to explain. Irish people are so proud of where they are from and the G.A.A. is no doubt a big factor in that psyche. It gave all our towns and villages an identity and often launched our place into the wider domain. How many people knew Newtownshandrum existed until the O'Connor brothers and their father marched up the steps of the Hogan. In Europe, it is undoubtedly the #1 vehicle for which to express it.

It wasn't all sweet talking up there though. Jesus, the politics. I asked Keary how he can sleep at night being involved in this disgusting occupation! Fellas working the floor, buying pints, shaking hands, patting backs and selling themselves. All we were missing was a lorry load of babies to be kissing. I had a long chat with a lad from one club. We were agreed on the horrible nature of the whole thing but when we finished the conversation he asked me to vote for their nominee! We laughed though as he was embarrassed to have to ask and clearly wasn't comfortable doing it.

The weekend was refreshing and invigorating. It heightened my 'fear' though. The one which relates to the placing of Belgium G.A.A. in the grand scheme of things. In many ways, so much comes so easy to our club members. Most have arrived to a well structured club and maybe operate in the comfort zone. Financially we are far from rich but have some security. On the field, we have an abundance of players and can be happy with our recent successes. How can we push on though? I see all the work being done elsewhere, the drive, the enthusiasm and know that unless we can continue to be creative and ambitious, that we may fall behind. We ask a huge amount of our players in Europe from a travel/cost point of view. We must find ways to keep them motivated and keep the club to the forefront.

I forgot to mention the highlight. 3am in an Irish bar in Stockholm and Joe McDonagh, former President of the G.A.A. takes to the stage and sings The Wests Awake. Chest beating stuff.