Mayo team returns from trip of a lifetime

The Castlebar Mitchels Mothers & Others have made it back safely from their unforgettable trip to the New York Ladies GAA Blitz.

The team took part in a weekend of football, fun, and friendship across the Atlantic as over 800 women gathered for a Festival of Football in New York on the weekend of October 11/12 at the highly-anticipated Gaelic for Mothers and Others tournament.

The event, held at Rockland GAA grounds, brought together players of all ages, as 27 teams representing a different county in Ireland, as well as New York, took part in the Big Apple blitz.

Almost 300 supporters attended the expanded ‘2025 Mothers & Others’ creating an electric atmosphere that underscored the strong sense of community spirit this tournament fosters.

Reflecting on the experience, player Barbara Tighe, one of the main organisers from Castlebar, summed it up perfectly: “With sore bodies and hoarse voices from all the football and singing, we couldn’t have asked for more. There was plenty of laughing, singing and dancing, and we’ll treasure the memories forever.

“New York GAA, along with Rocklands, did an incredible job providing the platform for us to travel and have this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” 

The team also extended a special word of thanks: “We are so grateful to Mike Morley from the Mayo Society of New York, it was a pleasure to meet yourself, John Dunne, Mike Ruane and Kathleen Rowland-Prior out in Rocklands on the day of the blitz. Your warm welcome added so much to our trip.

“It’s an incredible honour to wear the Castlebar colours and represent Mayo internationally. This trip was a dream come true and reflects the dedication, teamwork, and spirit that defines our club.

“The group would once again like to sincerely thank everyone in Castlebar Mitchels LGFA and the wider community for the fantastic support they received in making this trip possible.” 

Tina Melvin added: “The travelling panel included not only players but also women who give back as coaches and volunteers across a wide range of local sports in Castlebar, from GAA and soccer to racquetball and basketball.

“This underlines the heart of the Mothers & Others programme with fitness, fun, and friendship at its core while inspiring participation in sport at all levels.” 

Eilis Keane said: “How lucky were we to spend time in the city that never sleeps, with the best bunch of ladies, and to represent Castlebar Mitchels and Mayo on the football field.” 

The weekend's activities began on Thursday with an open party at The Tailor, where participants and supporters met for the first time. A 5k run through Central Park, hosted by Sláinte Retreats and The Irish Yank, followed on Friday, setting the tone for a fitness-packed weekend.

It was an early start on Saturday as fifteen buses loaded up with the Irish contingent and headed to Rockland where Mothers & Others officially began at 9am. Almost 100 games across three blitzes later, the day concluded with a celebratory closing party at Stout Penn Station, capping off a weekend of sport, camaraderie, and celebration in true Irish style.

“We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many, many women – and a few men! – who travelled from Ireland, who spent months preparing, fundraising, and organising to bring groups ranging from 15 to 50 between players, coaches and supporters across the Atlantic,” said Claremorris native Amy Brett, co-chair of the Festival and PRO of LGFA New York.

“The energy and spirit throughout the weekend was incredible. This event is about more than football – it’s about creating space for women to play, laugh, and connect, whether they’ve been involved in Gaelic games their whole lives or only just picked up a ball.

“Both Michelle [Dowd, co-chair] and I wish to extend a special thank you to the volunteers, referees and Rockland staff, whose tireless efforts helped ensure the event ran smoothly, as well as to the staff in both venues that managed the opening and closing parties,” Brett noted.

The Mayo woman added: “Organising 800 women can definitely be stressful – it took eight months of planning – but I wouldn’t change a thing. There’s nothing I love more than seeing women involved in sport. As a new mother in the last seven months, it hits differently now watching moms take to the field again after years away.

“What football gives you goes far beyond fitness – it’s friendship, community, and connection. I’ve been in New York for ten years and I’d be so lost without my own team [ODR Ladies] and the second family it has given me.” 

The Gaelic for Mothers and Others initiative is about encouraging women to reconnect with team sports, get involved in their communities, and most importantly, make new friends while staying active; something the board in New York could not get more behind.

The New York Ladies GAA is proud to have hosted such a fantastic event and remains committed to promoting women in sports and the tireless work of the LGFA. For now, they are going to take a much-needed break but are already looking forward to what 2026 will bring.