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THE TAKE OFFWhen Michelle Boyle rolled into town in 1997, she was determined to keep her love of Gaelic football alive. Having played for the Ottawa Gaels ladies football team in the Toronto GAA for four seasons, she was not going to let her move to Vancouver deprive her of enjoying the game she had grown to love. “When I lived in Ottawa after finishing university, I played soccer with an Irish girl, Rita Kelly, who got me onto the idea of joining the ladies Gaelic football team,” explains Michelle. “Of course, growing up in a small town called Antigonish (population 7,000) in Nova Scotia, I had never even heard of such a game. But once I started playing, I just loved it.” THE LANDINGAfter finding the Irish community here in Vancouver through Catholine Butler and The Celtic Connection, Michelle discovered the Vancouver Harps Gaelic football team. Not having a ladies football team in the club was no deterrent for this committed athlete. President at the time, J.J. Hyland (R.I.P.) was initially amused but very impressed by Michelle’s enthusiasm and welcomed her like a breath of fresh air to the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club. Michelle was indeed a breath of fresh air (not hot air!) and in no time she had rounded up an impressive group of teammates from her Meraloma Club ladies rugby team along with some other friends to come out and play this great game. With the full support of the club and Michelle’s enthusiasm, the Vancouver Harps ladies team had arrived in force.
After playing and coaching the men's team for a few years previously, I was impressed how quickly all of this happened. Growing up in County Kerry – the home of Gaelic football in Ireland – the idea of ladies football was a mere novelty, a side show at best. Seeing Michelle and her squad assemble was amusing, but I was not taking this very serious as it was just probably a fad. At this stage the squad was growing fast with bona fide Gaelic footballers such as Nuala Cyr (nee McLaughlin) from County Offaly joining up. So this was getting serious enough to require a coach. When I was asked by Michelle and her newly formed squad to act as coach, I found myself in a real dilemma. They were really serious about playing the game and didn't seem willing to accept any lame excuses from yours truly. How was I going to coach a bunch of lady footballers? I had grown up with the idea that this was solely a man’s game which I began playing practically from the cradle. How was I going to explain these skills that I was almost born with, to a group who would be learning from scratch? I reluctantly said yes, fearing the worst. This was going to be trouble. I could see lots of complaining, and sub-standard football, and it would all fall apart after a few weeks. THE DISCOVERYWas I wrong! In our second training session I tentatively asked, “Is everybody OK with the drills?” “Why? Are you afraid to ask us to run harder or practice more skills?” was the reply. These girls meant business. And so was the beginning of the first of many successful ladies Gaelic football sessions.
Off the field, Michelle had made contacts with the Seattle Gaels ladies team and our first game of this new (and still strong) rivalry began. The very first game was a big test for the team. Seattle boasted an impressive number of Irish-born, experienced players, but despite their strength, the Vancouver Harps played superbly and pushed their rivals to the limit in that and every encounter that season. As always, old and new members of the Irish community would come out and support the Gaelic football tournaments whether they were held in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary or Seattle. The team has also competed against clubs from San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco, California. The buzz generated from the arrival of ladies football created an excitement that had not been witnessed in years. Great rivalries along with even greater camaraderie grew between the teams, both on and off the field, and the women players became the most reliable and active members of the ISSC. The team has subsequently been coached by former County Derry star Mickey Hurley and now confirmed football fanatic Chris Cyr. Both coaches have enjoyed great success with the team winning the J.J. Hyland Memorial Tournament several times, as well as the Calgary Cup. Over the 30 years that the ISSC has existed there are many success stories to recall, but the addition of the ladies team must rank right up there with the greatest of the club’s accomplishments. The excellent standard of play by these women is truly amazing and it is complimented by their volunteer work with the club off the field. The ISSC was lucky to have such a great sports person such as Michelle Boyle initiate and bring to fruition this great expansion of the club to women of all ages, backgrounds and talents. We should also remember our sadly missed former president J.J.Hyland who recognized the opportunity offered the club to be energized by these new members. He enthusiastically threw his full support behind the new team when it needed recognition. It’s great to see his name remembered every year at the J.J. Hyland Memorial Tournament. As its name suggests, the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club encompasses both a sporting and a social activity. Seeing individuals meet and become couples through the club is testimony to its success as a social entity. Couples such as Nuala McLaughlin and Chris Cyr; Mark Ford and Christine Robidoux; Mickey Hurley and Jen Heal; Liam Mackin and Arlene Bergsma, shows that Gaelic football is not just good for your health….it’s also good for your heart!
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