The enormous growth of Gaelic football in the Nordic region has been well-documented, as have the heroics of the Viking Gaels hurling team, but the big story of the sporting summer in Sweden is the emergence of the Stockholm camógie team, who are getting set for their maiden tournament in the first week of September.
The brain-child of Michelle Cotter, the team has found a perfect blend of the sporting and the social as they learn the skills they will need when they travel to the Hague in the near future, and they are looking for the support of the Swedish-Irish community.
“It’s a great way to learn new skills and to meet new people, to further develop a community in Stockholm. Regardless of whether you’re brand-new to the city or not, I think that’s a really important part,” says Michelle Cotter.
“Even if you’ve been living here for a couple of years and you could benefit from a few more friends and something to do mid-week, I think it’s a good opportunity to meet the best group of women I’ve ever met,” she adds.
The Clare woman is a perfect example of someone who jumped in feet first into the local GAA scene – she was only about a week in Stockholm when she found herself on a ferry to Finland to face the Helsinki Harps in a Gaelic football challenge match the Finnish capital.
The camógie team holds weekly training sessions in Hagaparken on the city’s north side, as well as taking part in a weekly parkrun at the same venue. There are regular social activities, from nights out together to volunteering for various charities for a few hours, and it has led to a tight-knit, fun group being formed.
The team will also feature on an upcoming episode of a TG4 show which will air in the autumn.
The women involved are well aware of the physical and sporting challenge that awaits them in the Hague, but more than anything what they are looking for is support.
“Support, in whatever form that arrives – vocal support, or a physical presence or just something that’s encouraging is actually all we need. By the end of next season, I’d love to be in a better position in terms of integration within the community,” Michelle says.
“There’s a lot of women that are coming back to a team sport for the first time in a decade, so just to say ‘we see what you’re doing, we support it’, to show up for them – that’s not just on other people, that’s on us as well to be better integrated, better connected.”
The team is very much open to all and no previous experience is required, and there are hurls and helmets that can be borrowed for training – to find out more and to support the team, get following them on Instagram.
You can listen to the full podcast featuring Michelle and Hazel Reilly here: