Excitement is building in one part of Laois as a group of ladies are preparing to represent the county at a tournament in New York.
The Timahoe Gaelic For Mothers and Others team have been selected to take part in a GAA blitz in New York in October 2024.
The club, which was founded last year, have gone from strength to strength since and now boasts 32 members.
Timahoe G4MOs are made up of women and mammies from Timahoe, Stradbally, and Annanaough.
They are coached by former Laois player Maggie Murphy who is putting them through their paces before they head to play in the NY Ladies GAA Festival of Football in New York on October 12, 2024.
Over the weekend, 35 Irish-based clubs and five New York-based clubs will come together, with over 700 ladies expected to play, and hundreds more expected to support.
Speaking to LaoisToday, Denise Langford, who is one of those set to head across the Atlantic this year, explained how the trip does come at a cost.
She said: “As you can imagine, this is an amazing opportunity for us, and we are very excited to represent our county and country on an international stage. However, it does come with a cost.
“We are a self-funded group of women and mammies that work extremely hard to make time for ourselves to get out and exercise. We have bought all of our own training kits and equipment.
“Many of the women in this group are members of GAA Senior and Juvenile committees, we are coaches, we are the event organisers, we are the taxis, we wash the jerseys each week, we are the reason the kids make it to training.
“This really is an amazing opportunity for us and we would appreciate any donation you can offer.
“We are hoping to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience as accessible to as many local women and mammies as possible.”
Over the coming months, the group have several fundraising events scheduled.
Denise said: “The first being a non-uniform day in St Colmans National School, Stradbally, on May 31 and a PJ day in the preschool on the same day.
“We also hope to hold a disco in June and a raffle night in Headens Pub, Timahoe, in July.
“Una and Liam kindly sponsored our jerseys and we are on the lookout for some spot prizes.
“A possible match against the newly formed Stradbally Dads and Lads is also on the horizon.”
The group have also set up a Gofundme page (found below) to make it easier for anyone who would like to sponsor them.
Denise said: “We are always looking for new members, and we train every Tuesday night in Annnanough from 7-8pm.
“People can follow our progress on our Facebook page and anyone interested can contact me on 085-8380677 for further information.”
MEMBERS: Denise Langford; Cathy McGuinness, Sarah Culliton, Chloe Knowles Conroy, Kim McCormack, Zara Kilduff, Nicole McGuinness, Michelle Collins, Shanon McGinty, Nicola Flaherty
Catherine Buggy, Edel Carty, Louise Kearney, Pamela O’Shea
Annmarie O’Toole, Lesley Lawless, Annabel Laffan, Roisin Holohan, Carrie Bond, Ellen O’Keeffe, Sharon White, Emily Price, Lisa Foley, Rose Maher, Vicky Flynn, Veronica Maloney, Lorna Tuohy, Carol Mooney, Ellie O’Donoghue, Ann Marie Ramsbottom, Shelly Delaney, Lorraine Coady
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