By Cian O’Connell

These are exciting and encouraging times for Parnells GAA Club in London. The past, present, and future are connecting, ensuring significant hope is attached to their journey.

Colin McGuinness, chairperson of Parnells’ juvenile section, is delighted with the progress that continues to be made. Using Harrow Rugby Club as a base, Parnells’ playing numbers are increasing.

There is energy and a vibrancy, but McGuinness doesn’t forget those who kept Gaelic Football going in tougher times.

“We are 25 years in youth football - it started in '98 as a youth section,” McGuinness explains. “The seniors obviously started in '51 or '52, but the youth started in '98.

“A couple of people started it off with their own kids. Tony O'Halloran has been very involved with the GAA and British Council, he was one of the founders of the youth set-up. He is now involved with Harlesden Harps. When it started the numbers were 60 or 70 in Norfolk Park in north west London.

“I became chairman about five years ago. We have moved up to Harrow Rugby Club, that has been one of the main keys for us with our numbers, facilities wise. We have an agreement with Harrow where we take the lease in the summer to have the use of the facilities and clubhouse.”

The London GAA scene has altered dramatically according to McGuinness. There is an increased emphasis on developing homegrown players. McGuinness’ parents were from Belmullet, he played for St Kiernan’s, but now London GAA clubs are especially eager to craft underage talent.

“With the movement of people, with emigration dwindling and most of the second generation Irish are now moving out from central London, from Cricklewood and Kilburn as it used to be, where we all grew up,” he says. “It is now moving to the outskirts of London. Harrow Rugby Club is right on the boundaries of London.

“We currently have 296 children registered this year. We are up as one of the biggest registered. Parnells over the past 10 or 15 years have been strong, ourselves and a couple of other clubs, Kiernans and Tara.

“In general the club has grown in the last couple of years, it has become huge. If you take the kids we have, you can double that with parents and other backroom people involved.

“We have a committee of 10 or 11 of us for the youth section, just to make it all work. It is full on, I've got greyer in the last five years.”

Undoubtedly it takes courage and commitment, but providing a suitable programme of matches is vital. Clubs are willing to adopt different approaches to include everyone. “Game wise when I played in the late 80s or early 90s as a kid, no offence to the lads then, it has come on so much,” McGuinness reflects.

“Between safeguarding and the protocols, it is more official now. Years ago it was get into the back of a van, play somewhere and have a game. If you had a few older lads, it didn't matter. That is the main thing for us as a club, trying to stamp out overage kids.

“It has come a long way. Game wise they play the zones. In Ireland at a younger age some places might do it, we do it up to U9 in London. We play the three zones, it gives every kid a chance in that zone. It isn't just one or two running the length of the pitch.

“A few teams that came over to us from Ireland, they have taken that on board, they learned from us. It is a good way of giving every kid a chance. You only have two kids in each zone, it is a big help for them. It has come on massively facility wise. Every club in London is trying.

“It is hard in London, at home you can get your own facility or pitch, over here it is tough. People are trying to club share with rugby clubs or football clubs or local authority parks.”

On Wednesday evenings Harrow Rugby Club is a hive of GAA activity. McGuinness acknowledges the crucial role occupied by second generation Irish people, who are striving to keep Gaelic Games relevant. “In Brent when I was growing up you had a quarter of a million Irish born living there, that will tell you the numbers that were around,” McGuinness recalls.

“Over time people have moved out and moved back home. People have passed on. Now it is predominantly second generation like myself bringing our kids through. Most of the parents are London born lads that have played, we often played against each other. Now we are up coaching our own kids together, which is a great thing.

“We used to push for schools, up to a few years ago clubs would be targeting certain schools within their area. In the last few years our numbers have risen, we have actually stopped advertising in schools. It is more word of mouth now, seeing things on social media is another thing.

“For us we haven't really advertised because in the last year or two we have sorted of struggled to coach the numbers we have, especially at the younger age groups.

“We have 54 U7s, 48 U9s, and then maybe 28 at U11. So they are getting younger and younger. We have more and more siblings coming along with the younger kids, not alone us. Other clubs too are experiencing the same.”

McGuinness’ introduction to Gaelic Football was with St Kiernans, a proud outfit, renowned for developing London talent. “I will get stick for this, I was a St Kiernans lad,” he laughs. “Kiernans are one of our rivals. In 1988 I think they started, I joined them in 1989 - my cousins were there, we were all brought along.

“I played until I was 16 or 17. The way it was then back in the earlier 90s you'd have lads coming over from Ireland and they'd have played them before the London born lads. That is the way it really was. A lot of lads involved with Parnells now, coaches and parents, who were involved with other clubs, Kiernans and Tara.

“Kiernans are a very strong club with great people. My two idols are still there, Patsy Redmond and Jerome O'Shea. Patsy is the President of the club, he is still there at 81 years of age. He would be at every blitz. When I turn up with my own kids, he always gives me a bit of a tut or a shake of the head being in the Parnells colours. That is what you love about the community.”

Now, though, McGuinness is contributing to the Parnells cause. He has a similar vision to Tony Griffin, a highly regarded figure in the London GAA scene. “I took over from Tony Griffin, who was chairman before me, he has done a great lot of work in the club,” McGuiness responds. “Tony has three lads, his youngest has just left the youth last year.

“Tony pushed to get a homegrown Parnells team made up of the youth lads coming through. He has taken on management of the senior team this year and he is also doing the reserve team which is predominantly the London born lads.

“There is something to go for now for the lads, to move on to the next level. If you aren't good enough for senior you can play reserve and still be with your mates. We have 37 or 38 lads between reserves and seniors. It is big numbers. Our ladies team were involved in the World Games.

“Our girls section is thriving in the last few years. Every club in London has seen girls football grow massively. It is a lot to do with the Lionesses winning the Euros.

“That really gave girls sport a massive boost, especially here. We had on average 10-12 girls five years ago in U12, U14, and U16. We are now up to 68 girls on a Wednesday from U14 to U18.”

Trips to Ireland are organised frequently. A travelling party of more than 100 recently went to the Geradlines club in Louth, while last year there was a poignant trip to Belmullet for McGuinness.

“Last year as coach of the U13s we went to Belmullet, that was emotional,” he says. “I lost both of parents only two years ago so it was emotional to go back.

“We met Ryan O'Donoghue, he did a bit of a talk for the lads, he was a really nice fella. We played Kilcummin and Belmullet, we beat them both, it shows London and Warwickshire lads. The only thing is when you get older the game time goes out a bit.”

Still the signs are positive. Parnells provided several players for a homegrown London junior team, who lost an All-Ireland semi-final, while Josh Obahor is impressing for Michael Maher’s seniors.

“The lads lost to Kilkenny, we had seven lads from Parnells, who had come through from the youth which was amazing to see,” McGuinness says.

“To put that out into our parents groups, it was amazing. We have one lad in the senior, Josh Obahor, a great kid, a lovely young man. He fell in love with the game and is now playing with London.”

Ultimately the planning and plotting never stops. Early next month a celebration is planned to mark a quarter of a century of underage football. “We have a big day on September 9 marking our 25th year anniversary,” McGuinness says.

“We have Belmullet U14s boys travelling over, we will try to get in a couple of Hertfordshire clubs and local clubs. We will have a competition from the morning right the way through to five in the evening playing games from U7s to U17s with boys and girls.

“A lot of the lads that have played through youth, who mightn't have gone into the reserve team, we are inviting them back, just to have a game against each other.

“We will have a presentation to the original founders of the youth set-up with live music from The Craicheads.”

That promises to be another memorable occasion. Parnells’ adventure continues.