Flying the harps flag
September 02, 2010Clubs in the U.K have also realised this and the work is being done to develop the games at underage level with the Harlesden Harps club leading the way in the past few years.
Looking after the Harps' underage teams in Clare native Tony O'Halloran and he speaks to Hogan Stand about the work involved in ensuring the safe future of Gaelic games in the U.K.
Harlesden Harps are a London based club that are relatively new to the GAA scene, having only been formed in 1990 by Longford native George McDermott.
Success was soon to follow as the club lifted the McArdle Cup in just it second year, while they were beaten in the junior championship final in the same year. However, they didn't have to wait long to amend that fact as they were promoted to the intermediate ranks the following year and they also retained the McArdle Cup.
Following a tough couple of years in the intermediate ranks, the club returned to junior status, but in 1996 won their second title at that level, while the McArdle Cup was once again to rest in the trophy cabinet for another year.
Over the course of the next few years, the club competed at the business end of the intermediate championship and contested five finals in all competitions during a three-year period.
Then in 2005, they reached the holy grail of senior football when they captured the intermediate title. The year didn't stop there as the Harps went on to claim the Junior British Championship title, defeating Scottish champions Dunedin in the final.
Harlesden Harps are currently plying their trade in the intermediate ranks and Tony admitted that the club is heading in the right direction again.
"I helped start the underage within the club in 2009 and we now have teams from under-8 to under-12, while there is a reserve and intermediate teams at adult level," said Tony.
"For too long the emphasis has been on getting lads over from home and the reality is that most lads will only stay a year or two and then the head home, so there is no stability there.
"So if you can develop the underage and bring players through to the adult level, clubs will not be as reliant on lads coming over and that will definitely benefit the GAA over here."
Tony has been involved with the London minor board for the past five years as well as working with the club's underage teams. Having played with the Parnells and Harlesden Harps club before hanging up his boots a few years back, Tony decided to concentrate on developing Gaelic football among the younger generation.
The Miltown Malbay native devotes a lot of his time to training the future stars of Harlesden Harps, while he points to the hard work of the committee members for the reason behind the clubs success off the pitch.
"There are a number of people in this club and they have given great service and dedication over the years. People like the chairman Michael Cawley, secretary Steve McGrath and Joe Lynch, who has been treasurer since the club was first established in 1990 are just a few that have made the club what it is today."
Tony revealed that he ended up in the English capital by chance having initially went over to his sister on holidays, the decision was made try for a living there and he has never looked back since.
"I moved over in 1982 and have been here ever since. Work was scarce at home, but it was a holiday I came for at first, but returned shortly after and I'm still here."
Having qualified as a carpenter, Tony began working with Conneely Dry Lining in 1992 and he is now Contracts Manager with the company. Located in Stansted, London, Conneely Dry Lining specialises in dry lining and plastering and has 15 projects ongoing around the city at the moment.
Employing in the region of 200 means that the Conneely Group is a massive employer in its field of expertise and has built a reputation for providing a quality service at competitive rates since it was established by Galway native Eamon Conneely in 1985.
Conneely concentrates on its core areas of expertise and consequently has become a specialist in the dry lining and plastering fields; able to successfully complete the most technically demanding of projects to the highest level of quality. In recent years, we have mastered external facades with the likes of metsec, sto render, timber and terracotta cladding.
"We are fairly busy at the moment and have a number of projects ongoing. The rates are not as good as they were a few years back, but you just have to work hard and hopefully things will pick up again in the near future.
"Eamon is from Galway originally and is a big GAA fan. He is also involved in a business over there called Oyster Homes, which would be a big building firm."
Tony still follows the fortunes of his native Clare, who he admits have gone back a little in football, but he is hopeful of seeing days like the Munster final win in 1992 return sooner rather than later.
"They have slipped back a bit alright and they are probably even behind Waterford now at this stage. The work is being done though and hopefully they can turn things around."
Tony revealed that despite growing up as fierce rivals to Kilmurry-Ibrickane at home, he was delighted to help them out when the Clare and Munster champions played in Ruislip earlier this year.
"They would be great rivals of Miltown-Malbay down through the years, but I was delighted to be able to give them a hand out when they were over here for the All-Ireland club SFC quarterfinal against Tir Chonaill Gaels."
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