Shamrocks G4M&O enjoy sport and sights on trip to Big Apple
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Sunrise in New York.Image 2 of 3
Members of the Mullingar Shamrocks G4M&Os squad in New York, (from left) Anne Ryan, Maria Baker, Kacie Wellington, Lisa Corcoran, Jolanta Plesanova, Julia Jegorenkova, Sandra Mulligan, Kirsten McCormick, Rachel Beirne, Laura Morgan, Karen Hennessy, Elaine Frayne, Clara Gomez Barron, Jean Timmons, Jane Loughran, Sarah Dowling, Fiona Healy, Yvette Keogh, Niamh Kelly and Marie Meehan. Missing from photograph are Kylie Kavanagh, Orla McCormack, Áine Faughnan, Aoife McAnaney and Laura Keenan.Image 3 of 3
Twenty five players from Mullingar Shamrocks G4M&Os travelled to New York recently to play football and enjoy the sights and atmosphere of the Big Apple, (back from left) Kylie Kavanagh, Marie Meehan, Kirsten McCormick, Maria Baker, Sandra Mulligan, Aoife McAnaney, Rachel Beirne, Elaine Frayne, Yvette Keogh, Laura Keenan, Sarah Dowling and Julia Jegorenkova. Middle row: Fiona Healy, Laura Morgan, Clara Gomez Barron, Lisa Corcoran, Jane Loughran, Kacie Wellington, Jolanta Plesanova Front row, from left, Aine Faughnan and Anne Ryan. Missing from the photograph were Orla McCormack, Niamh Kelly, Karen Hennessy and Jean Timmons.Twenty five players from Mullingar Shamrocks Gaelic 4 Mothers and Others recently returned from an incredible trip to New York where they played football and enjoyed the sights and atmosphere of the Big Apple.
The ladies were up bright and early on October 8 to begin their journey, and thanks to sponsorship from Specsavers Mullingar, they travelled in comfort and style to Dublin Airport and back via private bus transfer.
That evening Mullingar comedian and impressionist extraordinaire, Conor Moore, laid on delicious platters at The Westbury Hotel for the group. It was the perfect start to a trip that would be packed with memorable moments and great camaraderie.
Thursday began with a sunrise walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, followed by a visit to the Statue of Liberty, where many made the climb up to the iconic crown. That evening, the group enjoyed a lively opening night party in The Tailor public house, setting the tone for the days ahead!
On the Friday morning, the ladies took part in a 5k fun run/walk in Central Park, joined by other travelling teams. Afterwards, the day was filled with sightseeing, shopping and soaking up the New York atmosphere. The evening brought a touch of Broadway magic as the group attended a spectacular performance of Chicago.
Saturday was all about the football. Teams were transported to Rocklands GAA for the highlight of the trip, the New York Festival of Football. Brendan McCole, Donegal county star and boyfriend of Claire Fagan, was a special guest on the day. A particularly warm welcome came from Mick Healy, brother-in-law of Andrina and Peter Finch, who is originally from Athlone and is now a proud and active member of Rocklands GAA.
On the pitch, the Mullingar ladies played five 20-minute matches against teams from Kilkenny (Railyard), Cork (Ballyhea), Antrim (Kickhams Creggan), Tyrone (An Charraig Mhór), and New York (Mayo). The facilities at Rocklands were top class and the event was superbly run.
The Shamrocks ladies gave a stellar performance, impressing others with their footballing skills, and with their fitness and team spirit, both on and off the pitch. The day concluded with live music, dancing, and plenty of craic before everyone headed back to the city for the closing party at Stout NYC.
The group departed JFK on the Sunday evening, arriving back in Mullingar at 7am on Monday, tired but thrilled after an unforgettable adventure.
A spokesperson for the group said: "This incredible experience would not have been possible without the ongoing support and generosity of the Mullingar Shamrocks Club, local sponsors and the wider community. The G4MO team extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this trip a reality. The memories made will be treasured forever."