Okay, full disclosure. I am in awe of Gaelic footballers.
Their dedication is off the charts, their perseverance is a thing of legend,
they’re the beating hearts of communities up and down the country.
Nothing symbolises this commitment more than a GAA player driving alone to a
big match or a training session.
So I’m going to join them on it, to find out why these players can’t quit.
This is The Drive.
I’m off to Inis Mór, The Aran Islands,
to meet a fella called Seán.
So we’re off!
We’re off
The Aran Islands, this is where you grew up?
It is.
And is football big in the Aran Islands?
It would be big yeah, I suppose it would be tight knit because there is only so few of us I suppose.
And how many other clubs would be on Inis Mór?
No just the one club between the three islands.
Really?
Yeah.
In terms of that I think we’re pretty unique, and then,
you know, for a game at one o’clock, you're leaving at...
getting up at half seven, for the quarter past eight boat, or the plane.
So like, it's the whole day gone pretty much, you know?
Especially if there’s a few lads that have businesses on the islands like,
and you know, they’re giving up their whole day just to come and represent the three islands,
which is great like. It just shows how proud, and you know, how much it means to them, you know?
Am I correct in thinking that you're actually the first Aran Islander to represent the Senior Galway Team?
Yeah, so Senior Intercounty, funnily enough.
And does that bring added pressure do you think?
Well not really, once you come back to the Island you are the same old same old, you know.
Picked up by Galway, by the full back Seán Mulkerrin.
Coming back to the island and you appreciate what is around you then, in terms of support,
that tight knit kind of community. Where everyone knows everyone.
It reminds me of an Island I worked on for a while, many years ago.
Can’t think of the name of that now.
No no, I can’t remember it’s too long ago.
Too long ago.
Here go handy, we’re running into awful traffic here.
The bikes and the horses!
- And this is where you work? - This is where I work yeah!
I mean that's hard to believe, you are an elite athlete by any standards, and yet you work in a shop.
I know.
The people outside this country wouldn’t believe that.
I know, well you have to, you have to earn a few as well, you know.
Like, it is unique to Ireland.
Yeah, I suppose that's what separates us, because we’re actually doing it for the love of it.
Just tell me, what is the commitment?
What is the commitment?
In terms of training?
It could involve getting a ferry or the plane at five or four o'clock in the evening,
Tuesday, going out training, staying overnight, to come back in then,
on the early flight or the first thing in the morning on the ferry to go to work or to gig that night
And it's not just getting the ferry or the plane, it's still another 40 mins into Galway to train.
Yeah, it is yeah.
And 40 minutes back.
40 minutes back , yeah if you put it that way yeah.
It's a huge time commitment.
Huge time commitment, yeah I know yeah.
Are you not missing out on an awful lot?
I suppose I am, but you do it, cause you love it, and I suppose I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t love it so.
Hurry Seán the plane is leaving - run, run, you‘ll be late for training come on!
Seán - who is picking us up?
Cian Breathnach, he is one of our strength and conditioning guys.
How are you lads? How are you doing?
All good? How are you?
Nice to meet you.
- Very good. - Thanks for having us.
So we better hit the road I suppose.
Let's go!
Yeah it's great to get the free lift.
The ‘free lift’. I never said it was free.
He has to buy lunch every now and then so he does, or a coffee on the way.
How do you feel as a Galway man, having Islanders now, playing for the Galway County team?
I still haven’t decided really, I think they should have their own team, or something.
Ah no, when you think about it, coming from an Island like, it's a massive achievement like,
some might say he’s at a disadvantage, he has just proven that wrong. He puts in the work as much as anyone else.
Take us back Seán, to the actual, the serious injury.
When did that happen?
So it had happened in mid January, so it was a Sigerson Game,
I was actually only coming back from a groin strain, and next thing of course,
that injury, so I broke my kneecap.
Sorry take me through that again, you broke your kneecap?
Broke my kneecap yeah.
It doesn’t sound pleasing at all does it.
It's very uncommon now in fairness
Shattered?
Shattered yeah, so it was very, it was very, em, I looked down and yeah,
put it this way this way my knee cap wasn’t where my knee cap was meant to be.
I suppose that is part and parcel of sport, I’m afraid.
And what's the first thought that goes through your head when something like that happens?
Sugar, I’m going to have to probably -
Was sugar the word you actually used?
It was, it was, keep it sweet.
He never curses or anything like that, he’s an angel!
It's very tough, it is, I wasn't able to do anything. In terms of,
I couldn’t get up, I couldn’t like properly, it took me 20 mins to get up off the couch.
Presumably Seán you won’t be involved in any stage this year, but like, does that spur you on?
Oh it would yeah.
Like to want to be involved next year and to go even further.
Exactly yeah, it’s a lot easier being involved on the pitch, than watching on from the line, you know.
But at least thankfully I got to do like the, Maor Uisce [Water Boy], you know your still helping the lads and shouting them on,
from a very very close distance like, even being involved in the dressing room
and just focus on whatever time I do get back, that I’m better, sharper, more powerful and that, you know.
Mentally coming over an injury like this is probably the toughest aspect of it.
And I must say Seán has dealt with it quite well.
Where does that come from, is that something that's bred into people?
Is it something that’s in them from an early age?
I think to a certain degree, we can coach it, but at the end of the day, it has to come from within.
If we were to put a percentage on it, I would say 90% has to come from within, and you have to have it
for confidence and determination and all that.
So we're getting close now.
This is it
so it is.
Well I'm going to leave you here lads.
You’re not going to join us no?
I just don’t want to get in your way.
Maybe next time, maybe next time.
Thanks for joining us!
Lovely.
You seem to be a very single minded individual.
Well...
Were you a stubborn child?
My mum and my family would probably tell you yes.