Scotland GAA eager to develop homegrown talent

By Cian O'Connell

In the GAA world, there is always something for Oisín Curran to do.

Operating a dual role as Scotland GAA Community Development Administrator and British Universities GAA Co-ordinator means something is always on the agenda. Curran wouldn't have it any other way.

A decade ago Curran encountered Stephen Lavery (Britain GAA Head of Games Development & Operations) for the first time. Curran was playing in the Féile for Armagh outfit Tullysaran. Lavery was in charge of Hertfordshire's team, but 10 years later they're collaborating, important contributors in Britain GAA's admirable progression. "Stephen Lavery is my boss, I met him in 2016, I was playing Féile," Curran recalls.

"He was managing Hertfordshire. It was my first introduction to Gaelic games in Britain at 14 or 15 years of age.

"They absolutely tanked us, it really opened my eyes. This was in Cork. My now boss was managing that team. It has gone full circle."

Lessons were learned in Cork. Curran appreciates what County Boards, clubs and volunteers throughout Britain are trying to accomplish. So, in June 2025, Curran was delighted to commence work as a CDA. "My whole thing coming into it was that I wanted to give every child in Scotland the chances I had growing up with Gaelic games," he explains.

"My closest friends and core childhood memories are going to Féile, playing with my Gaelic Football club, Tullysaran, and hurling club, Cúchulainns in Armagh. Just because I was born on the island of Ireland, it shouldn't mean the chance to be a gael is exclusive to me.

"Through the support of Britain GAA, the County Board, and our new minor board, too, we're able to do that. We're giving these children opportunities to play Gaelic games over in Scotland. It is about giving children the chance to experience these fantastic sports that we have."

In 2021, Curran enrolled in Stirling University to study history. It has been a whirlwind. "The thing that kept me here was the Gaelic Football team within the university," Curran says.

"I'm also the British Universities co-ordinator and the university element is a real passion of mine. I was club chairman for three years, got a start getting involved in administration stuff in the GAA.

"I've leaned on that experience to bring it into this job. The university scene is absolutely thriving with more than 45 teams across mens and ladies in England, Scotland, and Wales. What we're trying to do is push that into clubs.

"We've new areas popping up like Cambridge, Newcastle, Northumbria, St Andrews, Sheffield, and Cardiff. The thing is really taking off. That is a by-product of the homegrown talent and the homegrown players emerging through Britain GAA."

Throughout Britain, CDA's are employed, and Curran is adamant that all the coaching work is now being reflected in the adult grades. "The chairpeople, and captains I'm dealing with are Scottish born, English born, and Welsh born," he adds.

"They have grown up playing Gaelic games, they've gone on to third level education, and want to continue our sports. So, it all really ties back in."

That is why Curran is passionate about assisting clubs in Scotland to enhance their underage structures. Dundee Dalriada and Stirling Saltires will be assisted by Curran. "In the next couple of weeks and months, we're going to have every single team or club in Scotland with an underage set-up behind it," Curran says.

"We've supported Dundee Dalriada with funding, they've received National Lottery funding. They've their launch day on March 21. With Stirling Saltires, we're in the schools at the minute, and we've a blitz on March 5 with 300 children off the back of a block of schools coaching in the Stirling area. These kids when I go in with footballs, hurling sticks, and helmets, they're absolutely enthralled.

"We've 210 kids from the North Lanarkshire area playing hurling and camogie. This thing is really taking off. It is a great balance of CDAs, myself going into schools, setting up links with clubs and for club liaison officers to form partnerships with schools. That is how we thrive.

"I'd go in, introduce the sport, and provide the link to a club in terms of flyers or external coaching, after schools clubs. That is how we're going to grow. It is all about partnerships."

The homegrown element is key for long term sustainability. "If we want the Stirling club to remain, to be an established club that will stand the test of time, what is needed is an underage behind it to supplement the senior ranks as players get older," Curran remarks.

"This is vital. Scotland is a massive area with so much potential for development. I'll go to any corner of Scotland, any of the islands to help people set up Gaelic football, ladies football, hurling or camogie teams.

"That is what we're able to do with the support of the Irish consulate, our chairperson Jenn Treacy, our secretary Liam Luporini, and our new youth board Stephen Grant and Kostis Athanasiadis.

"We've some fantastic people involved in Gaelic games promotion in Scotland. I call them the 120 per centers here in Britain GAA. Our chairman Seán Hopkins, the amount of support he gives me, Stephen Lavery, my line manager, the support he gives me, and the other CDA staff.

"We're all rowing in the same direction. What we have is people who want to give 120 per cent, to develop the games. It is going in a really positive direction and the numbers don't lie when you look at our youth registrations."

Increasing and improving the games programme is vital for emerging players. "In the season just gone, we'd an U15 Championship back after a period of absence.

"Off the back of that successful Championship, that has led into an U17 this year. There is no resting on the laurels, you've to keep going.

"What we're really trying to do is tapping into these schools.

"We're in the process of organising a schools competitions for this year. What we're hoping is these schools competition align with Britain GAA's strategic plan and we can have these competitions all around Scotland.

"It will feed into a sort of county wide tournament in a couple of years time. It is small steps.

"What we need in Scotland is more games opportunities, more games, more kids. This will feed into a greater Scottish pool of talent for our Feile teams, U17 squads, U20 squads, and feed into a Scotland senior team."

The hard work continues.