Living in America and Playing
on the Irish National Lacrosse Team
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Michael Lynch, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland, is a lacrosse player with the Irish National Lacrosse Team. What struck me as most interesting was, first of all, that there is an Irish National Lacrosse Team. And secondly, that Lynch, who lives in the United States, plays lacrosse on the national team in Ireland.
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IRELAND'S NATIONAL LACROSSE TEAM.
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"In 2005 the Irish National Lacrosse Team posted a notice for players on a web board and I applied," said Michael. "This was for the world championships that were taking place in London, Ontario, and I also knew a lot of people who were involved.
"I've played lacrosse in the Ontario Junior A League and then in Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia in the U.S., so I had a bit of experience going in.
"Lacrosse is a very young sport in Ireland, but they have made a lot of headway and they have some very talented players now. But, there is a team at UCG and I believe that Trinity is starting a program. And then there is the Dublin Lacrosse Team, that plays in various tournaments throughout Europe."
Lacrosse originated in North America with the native Americans/First Nations. It was the Iroquois Indians in the Eastern part of North America that started lacrosse and on some of the reservations in Ontario, lacrosse is bigger than hockey.
In Brampton, Toronto and Mississauga, lacrosse is big. Woodbridge, St. Catherine's, and Orangeville are probably the three best lacrosse programs in Ontario.
"I also play hockey because they are both played in opposite seasons," said Lynch. "My uncles on my mother's side of the family are Canadian and they all played hockey. I guess I found a stick in the basement and played with it and threw a ball against the garage door. When I moved to Ottawa, my neighbours played lacrosse, so that's how I got started.
"In Ireland they have the Celtic Cup tournament, which is for the Celtic nations in Europe. Wales, Scotland and Ireland and I think England puts a team in also."
When I asked Michael if he saw any similarities between hurling and lacrosse, he laughed and replied, "a little bit."
He said, "that reminds me of when we were having our tryouts in Ireland and they had kids who were four to five years old on one side of the building, and on the other side we were playing. A lot of the kids couldn't believe the equipment we were wearing.
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OPENING CEREMONIES at the international competition. Michael Lynch is standing front row on the far left.
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"These young kids were just wearing helmets and basically whacking their hurleys around. You know, it wouldn't be bad cross training if you hurled one season and played lacrosse the other, because they both rely on good hand, eye co-ordination, toughness and endurance."
Michael Lynch holds down a full-time job with an investment company in Baltimore. He also plays lacrosse for two teams, one called the E-Lacrosse Team and the other the Crease Monkeys, as well as coaching a kid's lacrosse team.
How does he get time to work full time, play lacrosse and coach a kid's team? Lynch said that he is fortunate to have a lot of vacation time and also that his company encourages participation in the community service as long as it doesn't interfere too much with his job.
In February 2008, Michael will return to training camp and tryouts in Ireland. He hopes to make the Irish National Lacrosse Team again to take part in some of the European Championships.
"Just because you're on the team now," he said, "doesn't mean that you'll be on next year. I see the Irish National Lacrosse Team moving toward making the team Irish heavy. They want players to be residents of Ireland and involved in developing the game over there. If you have a whole team based in Ireland, then you can more easily develop the game there."
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MICHAEL LYNCH playing lacrosse for Ireland in the Ireland vs. U.S. match.
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Michael Lynch is the son of well-known Ballyfermot native Mick Lynch who now resides in Vancouver.
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