By Cian O'Connell

In London, the Harrell family name will always be linked with hurling. Tommy Harrell, who sadly passed away in December, gave a lifetime service to GAA affairs in London, and his son, Martin, is continuing the tradition.

At 37 Martin Harrell still lines out in the purple and gold of the famous Father Murphys club, who have also reformed their underage set-up. It is a project chiefly being driven by Harrell, a London born player, who hurled for the Exiles seniors in his pomp.

On Saturday Harrell manages a London Under 14 selection in the Provincial Féile being staged at the Connacht GAA’s splendid Centre of Excellence. Harrell’s mission is to increase the amount of homegrown players capable of operating for London at senior level in the next decade or two.

“That is the aim, 20 years ago in London and Great Britain it was a golden era for underage hurling,” Harrell recalls. “You had Mick Dwyer, his son Michael was a top hurler. Brendan O'Connor from Kilburn Gaels, his son Rory was one of the best in Britain. You had the Healys from Birmingham and Matthew Macklin, the boxer.

“I used to hurl against him in Great Britain finals, he was that good Tipperary wanted him to play minor. What was produced 20 years ago when I was 17 or 18 was a golden era. That has kinda died down. Two years ago when I started the underage hurling with the club it was virtually extinct, it was two clubs trying to meet up, trying to keep the game going.”

Suddenly Father Murphys began to attract larger numbers of juvenile players and Harrell is encouraged by the progress being made. “I sponsored a load of kit, my cousin gave me big backing, and it has gone in a really good exciting way. We have 64 registered hurlers now.

“I have an Under 16s, Under 8s, Under 11s and another team for the ABCs which is Under 13/14. The first year we had two or three, but now we have four really. We will be progressing on to Under 15s.

“One thing I have proved is that it can be done. The most important thing I have got is eight coaches with me. It is not a one man band, Adrian Mulchinok, he has been brilliant, he is the Vice Chairman.

“I have a mixture of ex-county hurlers, club hurlers, and we even have one or two ex Camogie players. So we have a very special background team with up to 10 coaches.”

Harrell fondly remembers playing in the Féile when a young teenager himself. “What happened is back in 1993 or 1994 I was probably number 20 of a panel going to the Feile in Limerick,” Harrell remembers.

“I have gone on to represent London. Back in 1999 I was captain of the London minors in the All Ireland B Final against Mayo in MacHale Park. Then 10 years later I was on the London senior hurling team.

"About six months ago I found my polo shirt from back then and I was going to give it to one of the lads playing in the tournament this weekend. I had it ready in case one of the lads played well I would give them a memento of something that was special to me.

“There has been no county underage team for six or seven years, the feedback is that the team is far better than what it was. I'm not going over to the competition thinking I'm going to walk it. Athenry, New York are in it, you have decent teams in it.

“We might be coming up against the next Joe Canning from Galway, but what I'm looking to do is to put a stamp on it, to show that London hurling is back. I want to ensure that the next group of Liam Gavaghans or Killian Butlers coming through are helped.”

In Gaelic Football, London have attempted to bring through homegrown talent and that is the way forward according to Harrell, who praised Tir Chonaill Gaels for helping Fr Murphys to relaunch their underage section.

“We train at what you could call the second home of London GAA which is Tir Chonaill Gaels,” Harrell says. “I played for Tir Chonaill Gaels underage, I had a chat with Tom Mohan and he asked our plan. We weren't a threat for a Gaelic Football team, I just wanted to bring hurling back.

“My dad and I negotiated it and he has given us the grounds of Tir Chonaill Gaels which has been instrumental. To have their clubhouse and pitches means it has gone from strength to strength.”

Harrell remained adamant that playing in tournaments such as next weekend’s in the west of Ireland was vital for the development of his players. “In the panel we have two from Kilburn Gaels, and two from Thomas McCurtains,” Harrell says with the rest of the players involved with Father Murphys.

“Some lads are good hurlers and good footballers. In 2017 when I said I wanted to enter the Féile, everyone was saying no that the club wasn't strong enough to do that, it was just a flash in the pan. I said no lads I've got a good Under 11 team, 2018 came they still were happy with the development, but felt the players were young. I wanted to prove that I had the ability so I ran a hurling blitz with 100 children last September.

“My Father Murphys Under 13 team took on a mixture from Great Britain which was lads from Erin go Bragh in Warwickshire and Thomas McCurtains in a memorial game in memory of my uncle Sean Diviney.

“We did a memorial game and we won that, it is on YouTube. We showed a good standard, everyone was really impressed. They didn't let us enter Féile, but we are entering the Connacht Games, hence here we are.

“I’m managing, Adrian Mulchinock is a selector and Mark O'Dalaigh from Thomas McCurtains is a selector as well. We have a really good bunch of lads, who are the future stars of London GAA. I can only influence them so far, but you have some really passionate, devoted lads, who love it.”

In Harrow, Tommy Harrell assisted so many people and will always be respected for his efforts with Father Murphys. “Hopefully I will follow in the same footsteps,” Harrell replies. “He was a massive, massive GAA man, but most of all a hurling man.

“I'm really excited about this weekend, I think he would be really proud. I only reformed the underage side of Father Murphys two years ago. Out of the panel of 20 hurlers travelling, 16 of them are Father Murphys.

“Dad founded the Father Murphys Youth teams back in 1973, I reformed it about two and a half years ago in 2017, that was our kick off year. It has gone from strength to strength, it is really exciting times. London is predominantly big ball. I'm really proud that within two years we can produce a team that are of a good standard.

“There is a mixtures in terms ability, but hopefully you can have a future Liam Gavaghan, like in London football. It is going in the right direction and I'm looking after the lads just like the way dad would have back in the day. To get this trip is absolutely massive.”

Martin’s five year old son, Oisín, is the fourth generation to hurl which is a source of pride. Martin also hopes to be involved in the upcoming Renault World Games with an all London born team participating.

“For me to commit to the World Games training twice a week, I've not been able, it is a time thing, once this weekend is out of the way I will give it a shot, if I get picked I get picked,” Harrell states.

“I'm still playing for the club, Father Murphys. My hurling is still good, but I'm getting a bit older. There will be a team of London born hurlers in the World Games, I have been supporting it.

“In Father Murphys we are quite unique in the adult club, we have about eight or so London born hurlers. The World Games panel is 20, only 15 can get picked to go, and it is nine a side. The other clubs involved are Kilburn Gaels, Fulham Irish, Thomas McCurtains.

“Really the World Games London born team with lads from their teens up to my age, 37, is instrumental to ensure guys get to the next level. It ensures lads when they turn minor have a chance of playing at Croke Park.”

Important events and games remain very much part of the Harrell’s story. Recently a Wexford delegation travelled over to London and it brought huge joy to Martin Harrell. “We had some of the Wexford team over during the winter,” Harrell states. “Davy Fitz and Matt O'Hanlon, I won the All Ireland sevens with his uncle, Declan O'Hanlon. Declan's granddad won an All Ireland for Wexford.

“We won the Kilmacud 7s in 2002. It has gone from strength to strength. GAA is a massive part of the Harrell's life. We are trying to carry on his legacy.

“My dad had been there from the beginning when they won nothing, maybe a few junior titles. I miss him loads, I moved out from Harrow, I live out near Oxford now. Ruislip is about 35 minutes away, I wouldn't be in Harrow so much.”

It is precisely where Tommy Harrell helped so many hurlers settle in London, affording them hope and opportunities. Club and county always mattered deeply. On Saturday morning his son will step off a plane at Ireland West Airport in Knock with 20 budding hurlers from three different London clubs ready, willing, and able for action.

The torch has been passed on. This unfolding London hurling story is worth monitoring.