Gaelic girls' rugby half-time exhibition

January 17, 2012
St Anthony's ladies gave a demonstration at half-time during London Irish V Sale Sharps.

The Exiles won the Ariva Premiership match by 21-19, but from a GAA perspective the main talking point in Reading was certainly the half-time entertainment.

St Anthony's Hospital employs around 150 Irish nurses, having experienced a huge influx due to the recession back home. The Reading-based ladies GAA club was set up in 2010 and won the London junior championship and league double in their first competitive year, losing just once all season.

Mayo native Dee Donohoe, who set up the club, said in the Reading Evening Post: "We have a huge breadth of girls to choose from with a large number coming over from Ireland to Reading, a lot of interest in the sport and a really dedicated core group. I think this and good management have all been the reason why we have been successful.

"We played at the Madejski Stadium when we first started out and it was nice to go back with a proper team and showcase the sport. It's one of the fastest-growing ladies' games in Europe and becoming more and more popular.

"The crowd was really welcoming and atmosphere was awesome. The playing surface was unbelievable. We could have played out there all day."

Most Read Stories