It's all about Club for the Cahill family

For GAA people Club is very important in so many facets of their lives. School liaison officer Diarmuid Cahill (48) from Greencastle, Co Down, is so involved with Kilkeel club An Ríocht it consumes his “every waking hour” and it doesn't stop there. Although his Dublin-born maths teacher wife Elaine (43) doesn’t come from a traditional GAA background, she’s been completely converted and is now a keen supporter who sits on the Fundraising and Events Committee.

The couple’s daughter Siofra (12) is also a member of the U14 camogie team, and also helps coach the U8s and U6s while seven-year-old son Fionn plays football, hurling and a bit of camogie, because An Ríocht “didn’t have a hurling team when he started”.

Diarmuid is an administrator for “the organisation as a whole”.

“From a club point of view, I do virtually everything,” he explained. 

“I take photographs and I’m an advisor to the club. I’m very involved in funding applications. I’m a trustee of the youth club and I also sit on their PR committee.

“Outside the club, I’m the Down GAA County Treasurer, chair of the National Feile Committee, member of National Development CCC and member of the Ballykinlar Centre of Participation in Development Board.”

What Diarmuid does is “all voluntary” and although it leaves him with no free time, he couldn’t be happier.

“The club is very much about the community,” he said.

“If you want your children to benefit from it, it’s very important to be involved. 

“My father Hugh was involved before me – he was club chair and County Board officer – and, at 91, he’s the oldest member.”

An Ríocht, which has a membership of around 800 people, majors on gaelic football and camogie, but this year they introduced ladies football and hurling.

“We also have the very active Kingdom Youth Club, of which I’m a trustee. And we have the Men Shed, the Women of Mourne and a health and wellbeing centre,” he said.

“Take Tuesday nights for example – it’s just a hub of activity from 3-11pm. It’s a conveyor belt; it’s like a bus station.”

Although he gives a lot to An Ríocht, Diarmuid gets a lot out of it too.

“It’s a club I grew up with,” he said.

“It’s very much about the community. It’s where your friends are. 

“I see what my children get out of it, and it’s important to give back so that the next generation will benefit from it.’

Diarmuid said funding was vital for the club’s day-to-day running.

“It costs an awful lot to run a club so support of businesses, especially national brands like Fibrus, is crucial,” he said.

“It helps provide equipment and kit, which is very important.

“Income coming from sponsorship also helps pay for travel, such as buses to go to games etc.

“A lot of people probably don’t realise what it costs to run a sports club.

“You need finances to tick over so Fibrus coming in to support An Ríocht means they can kit our players, take part in competitions and tournaments and you’re able to travel the length and breadth of Northern Ireland and further afield.”

 Fibrus are putting a spotlight on the inspiring people behind local sports clubs here with a new initiative called 'Fibrus Fans'. Fans are the parents, the grandparents, the sponsors, the physios, even the players themselves. 

To find out if you are connectable to Fibrus Full Fibre broadband call 02890 993230 or visit www.fibrus.com