TG4 is to show a seven-part documentary series starting next week and looking at every aspect of life in a GAA Club.
With 2,500 clubs across Ireland, the GAA is the biggest, and perhaps the most important sports and cultural institution in the country.
The series, produced by Aniar TV, will tell the stories of four very different GAA clubs as they compete, battle for honours, and strive to survive the 2018 season.
An Ghaeltacht in Kerry, Na Piarsaigh in Galway, Na Dúnaibh in Donegal and Kilmacud Crokes are the four clubs who will feature and here is an outline of how the series will develop
Programme 1: January 2018 and we follow the supporters of Cumann Caide na Gaeltachta to their All Ireland semi-final match against Moy Tír na nÓg from Tyrone, both clubs battling for a place in the final and to play in Croke Park. Back in Conamara the Liam McCarthy Cup arrives at na Piarsaigh clubhouse as the under 8 team begin their first training session of the season. At CLG Na nDúnaibh preparations begin on and off the field as they will host the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta finals in June. In Dublin a lack of playing pitches is proving to be a real problem for the Kilmacud Crokes GAA club.
Clár 1: I mí Eanáir 2018, tá Cumann Caide na Gaeltachta ar an mbealach chuig cluiche leathcheannais idirmheánach na gclubanna, iad ag súil áit a fháil sa gcluiche ceannais agus ar dheis imeartha ar Pháirc an Chrócaigh. Thiar i gConamara tá Corn Liam Mhic Cárthaigh tagtha chomh fada le Cumann Peile na bPiarsach an oíche chéanna a bhfuil an chéad seisiún traenála ag na gasúir faoi 8. Ó thuaidh sna Dúnaibh, táthar ag ullmhú do Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, onóir mhór ach tá obair mhór le déanamh roimhe sin. San ardchathair tá fadhb ag an gcumann is mó sa tír, Coill Mhochuda-Na Crócaigh, nach bhfuil dóthain páirceanna imeartha acu.
Programme 2: In West Kerry teams from across the country arrive for the weekend to play in the annual Comórtas Caide Páidí Uí Shé which is organised by CLG na Gaeltachta and the Ó Sé family. In Dublin we see the how the Kilmacud Crokes GAA club are promoting camogie in the area, the girls and parents of the u12 camogie team must manage rush hour traffic to make training. In Donegal, due to costs the members of CLG na nDúnaibh take control of the construction of their new stand. In Connemara the manager of Na Piarsaigh ladies football team fears they may not be able to field a team, can the club survive?
Clár 2: Tagann foirne as gach áit go Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne in Iarthar Chiarraí do Chomórtas bliantúil Pháidí Uí Shé atá á reáchtáil ag muintir Uí Shé agus CLG na Gaeltachta. I mBaile Átha Cliath, tá Club Chill Mochuda na Crócaigh ag iarraidh Camógaíocht a chur chun cinn sa bparóiste. Caitheann na cailíní ar an bhfoireann faoi 12 agus a dtuismitheoirí dul i ngleic le cúrsaí tráchta. Ceal airgid i dTír Chonaill, tugann baill chumann na nDúnaibh faoin seastán nua a thógáil iad féin. Agus i gConamara, tá imní ar bhainisteoir fhoireann na mban i Ros Muc nach mbeidh dóthain imreoirí aige le foireann a chur chun páirce.
Programme 3: The supporters of newly promoted ‘An Ghaeltacht’ enjoy the build up to their first round senior championship match against county champions Dr. Crokes of Killarney. In Conamara, Na Piarsaigh ladies football team manage to field a team for their first match, but will it be enough to beat their local rivals. Kilmacud Crokes & Dublin intercounty hurler Fergal Whitely discusses the ‘club versus county’ debate as he does linesman for his club at a senior league match. As the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta nears, hosts Na Dúnaibh welcome its returning emigrants as they come for the club’s biggest day.
Clár 3: Tá craobh sinsear Chiarraí ag tosú agus tá pobal na Gaeltachta dóchasach ach is le Curaidh an Chontae, Crócaigh Chill Airne, atá siad sa gcéad chluiche. Tá féile camógaíochta á reáchtáil ag Cill Mochuda na Crócaigh agus labhraíonn an t-imreoir idirchontae Fergal Whitely faoin gcoimhlint idir club agus contae. Éiríonn le foireann ban na bPiarsach foireann a thabhairt le chéile dá gcéad chluiche ach cé mar a éireoidh leo ar pháirc na himeartha? Anois go bhfuil deireadh seachtaine Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta beagnach linn, tá imircigh ó ar fud an domhain ag filleadh abhaile ar na Dúnaibh don imeacht is mó i stair an chlub.
Programme 4: The Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta weekend has finally arrived for CLG na nDúnaibh with club players, officials and supporters both excited and nervous in anticipation for the competition. With large numbers of visitors expected to arrive, the whole community takes huge pride in the improvement works which have been just completed on time. On the field both the men’s and ladies teams begin to feel the local pressure to win the Comórtas on their home pitch. The men’s team have not won the competition since 1982 and the newly formed ladies team face an uphill battle if they are to upset the odds.
Clár 4: Tá Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta linn sa deireadh agus tá idir bhród agus bhís ar oifigigh, imreoirí agus lucht leanta Chumann CLG na nDúnaibh. Tá obair mhór déanta ag an gcumann ar a gcuid áiseanna le go mbeidh siad sásúil do na sluaite a bheidh ag triail ar an gcomórtas ach cén chaoi a bhfuil foirne na bhfear agus na mban réitithe? Gan foireann na mban ach dhá bhliain ar an bhfód, an bhfuil an taithí acu leis an gcraobh a thabhairt leo. Tá slua imirceach sa bhaile don fhéile agus cuireann sin brú ollmhór ar fhoireann na bhfear an Corn a bhuachan don chéad uair ó 1982.
Programme 5: Late Summer in west Kerry and local farmers are busy harvesting before a vital championship match for An Ghaeltacht. A win for An Ghaeltacht will ensure their position in the senior ranks of Kerry football. In Dublin Fergal Whitely & the hurlers of Kilmacud Crokes face the mighty task of having to defeat All Ireland champions Cuala if they are to book their spot in the county final for a 3rd year in a row. In Connemara we see how the underage teams of Na Piarsaigh are doing in their club’s amalgamation with their neighbouring club and the ladies team look to win their first game of the season.
Clár 5: I gCorca Dhuibhne tá feirmeoirí an cheantair ag obair go dian sna páirceanna ag sábháil an fhéir roimh chluiche cinniúnach an deireadh seachtaine, áit a gcinnteodh bua sa gcluiche stádas na Gaeltachta i ngrád na sinsear. Tá cluiche tábhachtach craoibhe iomána le himirt ag Fergal Whitely agus Cill Mochuda na Crócaigh, iad sa mbabhta leathcheannais le seaimpíní na hÉireann, Cuala. I gConamara, feicfimid mar atá ag éirí le foirne faoi aois na bPiarsach atá, ceal imreoirí, tagtha le chéile leis an mbaile is gaire dóibh chun foireann a chur chun páirce agus beidh deis iontach ag mná an chumainn a gcéad chluiche i mbliana a bhuachan.
Programme 6: For the third year in a row the hurlers of Kilmacud Crokes have reached the Dublin senior county final. Having lost the two previous finals, they are determined not to lose. In West Kerry, and on the back of local fundraising An Ghaeltacht begin preparations for the 2019 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta competition with the construction of a new football pitch. In Galway, Na Piarsaigh play an important underage final where they are hoping that this young crop of players can bolster their adult junior team which has been decimated by emigration.
Clár 6: Tá iománaithe Chill Mochuda na Crócaigh i gcluiche ceannais an chontae don tríú bliain as a chéile, iad buailte le dhá bhliain anuas. Tá imreoirí agus lucht leanúna an chumainn ag súil nach amhlaidh a bheidh arís i mbliana. I gCorca Dhuibhne, tá déanta go maith Cumann na Gaeltachta i bhfeachtas áitiúil bailiúcháin airgid do Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2019. Tá obair tosaithe cheana féin ar pháirc nua. I gConamara, tá na Piarsaigh ag fáil faoi réir do chluiche ceannais faoi aois.
Programme 7: In the final episode of the series we are with the clubs in the final weeks of the 2018 season. The hurlers and supporters of Kilmacud Crokes are nervously anticipating their Dublin senior county final replay. In West Kerry the supporters of An Ghaeltacht are also feeling the pressure as they play their Senior relegation final. After only one year back in the senior ranks they face relegation back to intermediate if they fail to win. In Galway, Na Piarsaigh ladies football team face a difficult choice as they battle to save their club, might this be their last year?
Clár 7: Sa gclár deiridh sa tsraith, is é am na cinniúna é do na cumainn éagsúla. Beimid i dteannta iománaithe agus lucht leanúna Chill Mochuda na Crócaigh agus iad ag fáil faoi réir le cluiche ceannais sinsear Átha Cliath a imirt arís. Tá an teannas agus an brú le brath go láidir in Iarthar Chiarraí freisin mar go bhfuil foireann sinsear na Gaeltachta ag fáil faoi réir do chluiche dícháilithe. Má chaileann siad, dícháileofar iad go dtí an grád idirmheánach. I gConamara, tá cinneadh crua le déanamh ag mná na bPiarsach faoi thodhchaí fhoireann Pheil na mBan an chumainn. An í seo an bhliain deiridh ag an gcumann?
It looks like a cracker and it all gets underway on Thursday, February 7th.
