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World-first for Brisbane club
25 Feb 2005 - Probably the world’s first female coach of a senior mens Gaelic football team has been appointed by Brisbane’s Shamrocks club this week.
Jacqueline Peacock (pictured), a World Cup winner as a player and Australasian Championship winner as a coach, is guiding the Shamrocks Gaelic football club in this year’s Queensland competition, which starts next month.
“We are very excited about that,” said the Shamrocks president, Paul Rice.
“We feel that it is a positive move because of Jacqueline’s experience and knowledge of the sport.”
Gaelic football, an ancient and traditional game from Ireland, has never had a woman coach a mens senior team before, according to leading administrators of the sport.
“Not to my knowledge,” the secretary of the Australasian Gaelic Football Association, Gerard Roe, said when asked about whether there had ever been a female men’s coach before.
Roe’s assertion is backed up by administrators from Ireland.
“Personally I do not know of any female coaches that have trained senior (mens) club teams,” Siobhan Brady, of the Gaelic Athletic Association, said from Dublin.
“I don't know of one,” confirmed Fergal McGill, also of the GAA, the world governing body of Gaelic football that was founded in 1884. “But that is not to say that there hasn't been one,” he added, in case the sport’s long history still holds a secret.
The GAA is the largest sporting organisation in Ireland, boasting 2,800 clubs and around 280,000 members. Membership world-wide of the GAA exceeds 800,000. The players are all amateurs.
Jacqueline has been appointed head coach of the Shamrocks club, which draws its players from across the south-west suburbs of Brisbane, with its training ground at Chelmer. The club has two mens teams and a ladies team.
Her career as a player and coach so far includes a World Cup championship, three-consecutive Australasian All-star medals, two-times Queensland captain, and two Queensland Championships, all in the ladies competitions.
Perhaps her most satisfying achievement came last year when she guided the Queensland ladies team for the first time, and won the Australasian championship in Melbourne.
Now Shamrocks have Jacqueline back to guide her original Brisbane club, including the senior mens team in a probable world-first.
“My five brothers and father played Gaelic football and I had to endure watching every single game, and the re-telling of the game in the car on the way home,” Jacqueline said.
“I’ve coached women, and now I see this as a new challenge.”
Shamrocks are looking for new players. Call Paul Rice 0422 950 275 or register here for more information.
State government backs Shamrocks
10 Feb 2005 - Gaelic football continues its surging profile with Brisbane’s south-western Shamrocks club benefiting from a major Queensland Government sporting grant.
Mrs Julie Attwood, member for Mount Ommaney, confirmed the grant with Shamrocks officials Paul Rice and James Marshall (pictured) at Jindalee recently.
Shamrocks received the 100% grant from the Queensland Government’s Gambling Community Benefit Fund to assist the in major equipment upgrades for 2005.
With the new Gaelic football season starting in Brisbane after St Patrick’s Day in mid-March, the Shamrocks club is now looking to regain the heights of mens and ladies Queensland championships last won in 2000 and 2001.
Gaelic football is surging in popularity due in part to the success of the International Rules series between Australia and Ireland, which is a hybrid of AFL and Gaelic football.
Australasia has won back-to-back ladies World Cups, and Queensland are reigning ladies Australasian Champions.
The Shamrocks club continues to search for new mens and ladies players, and promote Gaelic football news through its website www.come.to/shamrocks
2005 Sign-on in Brisbane CBD
01 Feb 2005 - For the first time ever, Brisbane's CBD will host the Shamrocks annual Gaelic Football Sign-On at Irish Murphys on Saturday 12th February.
All players and supporters are welcome at Irish Murphy’s, The Drinks consultants - on the corner of George and Margaret Streets, Brisbane CBD – at 6pm Saturday 12th February in the upstairs Bar area
Shamrock Gaelic Football team was established in 1983 for South West Brisbane to provide a challenging sports alternative to Rugby and AFL. The Club consists of Men’s Senior, Men’s Reserves and Ladies Senior teams.
Training is on Tuesday night with games played on Sunday. Season runs from March to September. See you there…
Call Paul Rice 0422 950 275 or register
here for more information
All-star committee for new year
15 Jan 2005 - An all-star committee has been elected to guide the Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club for the 2005 season.
Former title-winning captain Paul Rice is the new president, relegating James Marshall to vice president.
Rice (pictured) captained Shamrocks to the 2003 Brisbane Shield title – the club’s fourth Shield success in six years, but since then success has been rare.
Joining the Irish-born Rice on the executive as treasurer is record-holder Matt Mayo.
Mayo last year smashed the club record with eight goals in a single game.
Also on the committee for 2005 is Australasian all-star Renee Moynihan, scoring record-holder Billy Rockett, and former award-winner Sam Porter.
Porter returns after several years in management with Chelsea Football Club in London, and the AFL’s Western Bulldogs.
Others are secretary Aaron Cullen and Dave McNeilly.
New players are needed for the new season that starts after St Patrick’s Day. Those interested should call James on 0400 691 977 or click here to register online.
Related links:
Committee details
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