Snapshots from the 2024 Francie O’Connor Cup

On Saturday, March 16th, we held the second edition of the Francie O’Connor Cup competition in Bezirkssportanlage, Chorweiler. It was a busy day as we had six hurling teams – Cologne, Rhineland Gaels, Eindhoven, Leuven, Darmstadt and Annaghdown from Galway, Ireland – and three camogie teams with Eindhoven, Leuven and a Cologne/Darmstadt mix. Annaghdown (hurling) and Eindhoven (camogie) proved to be worthy winners in the end.

It was a great day of hurling and camogie action, with matches held throughout the day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good day for the Celtics on the pitch as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming season! We have some big challenges coming up with the German Cup and the European tournaments coming soon.

However, the tournament did make it the fourth year in a row that we’ve held and the third one where we’ve featured two hurling teams (there was no camogie element in last year’s Francie O’Connor Cup), and we are already looking forward to next year’s edition of the Francie O’Connor Cup.

In this article, we had a mix of our players, club members and supporters give their recollections of another big day of hurling action in Cologne.

Frank O’Connor – Cologne Celtics/Rhineland Gaels – Hurling Officer

Let’s dive into the tournament. Let’s start with the negatives. It’s undeniable that this marks our worst performance in both hurling and camogie since our European debut in Amsterdam in 2019, as just like there, we suffered comprehensive losses in every match. It’s disappointing, no doubt. Despite being a home tournament, where we anticipated having a strong lineup, circumstances didn’t align. But that’s sports for you; sometimes things don’t go as planned.

This setback serves as a clear indicator of what areas we need to focus on to regain competitiveness. It’s evident that teams like Darmstadt, whom we’ve known for years, have upped their game. Their victory was well-deserved, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement. Standing still is not an option; while we stagnate, others progress.

Now, on a brighter note, let’s talk about the positives. Thanks to our successful organisation, we had around 80 to 90 hurling and camogie players on the field in Cologne for the tournament. It’s a remarkable achievement for our club, marking the largest tournament we’ve ever hosted. Despite the tight schedule, which I initially thought was unrealistic, we managed everything smoothly through effective coordination and adaptability.

We even had newcomers making their mark, like Oisín and Nikhil, who displayed excellent skills. Additionally, the presence of our younger players (even with the unfortunate injury to Nico) indicates promising signs for the future. Although the club’s dynamic has shifted slightly towards less experienced rather than more experienced players, maintaining our numbers is crucial. With more focused training, I’m confident we’ll become more competitive in future matches.

Personally, having a tournament named after my father holds immense significance for me, linking our Irish heritage to our life here in Cologne. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed, including our spirited visitors from Galway – Annaghdown – who added to the excitement. Special thanks to Ciaran for his exceptional organisation of the team. Overall, it was a fantastic club event, and the collective efforts of all involved paid off. I’m certain we’ll show improvement on the field in the upcoming matches.

Patrick Stapleton – Cologne Celtics – hurling

Overall, it was a great day. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was another significant day for the club, especially for Frank, who puts immense effort into it. Witnessing the continuation of something that began as a casual conversation during Christmas last year was really rewarding. The Francie O’Connor Cup is now up and running, and we’re looking forward to this tradition carrying it on. Participating in it again this year was really satisfying.

While it wasn’t our best day in terms of hurling performance and losing both games, I believe it may have seemed worse than it actually was. Although the defeat against Darmstadt wasn’t ideal, to say the least, I felt we held our own against the Irish team, Annaghdown, who eventually won the trophy.

Our team struggled a bit due to the absence of some key players, younger members, and a lack of fresh and young talent like some other teams had. The other teams, like Leuven and Eindhoven, were very young and fit – Annaghdown also had a bunch of young lads – so we didn’t have that spark, but I think we also have to look at our own collective fitness. However, we can work on these aspects and improve, and hopefully, we can turn them around quickly. We can look at opponents like Darmstadt to see how they have continued to grow and improve year-on-year.

Despite the setbacks, there were positives, notably the camogie turnout and non-Irish players‘ presence in the tournament. The turnout of camogie players and Cologne players generally was fantastic. Witnessing the growth of hurling beyond traditional Irish roots is impressive and exciting. I’m always astonished in a good way, and also really impressed by just the non-Irish players that play at these tournaments. It’s the same at training when new players arrive, take up this demanding sport, and then a few weeks later, they’re flying, and it’s always really cool to see that.

I don’t have much to comment on regarding the photos, as I’m not much of a sports photographer. They’re pleasant memories capturing the essence of the day. One particular image of Frank with his head in his hands on the sideline, captured by Kath, resonated with me, reflecting the team’s performance on the day more than action shots could.

It wasn’t a good day for the Celts on the pitch. This photo of Frank by Kath captures that feeling!

In conclusion, the tournament provided a glimpse of what’s to come this year, whetting the appetite for the upcoming German Cup in Hamburg next month.

You can check out some of Pa’s professional photography work here: https://www.pastapleton.com/

Katharina Breuer – Cologne Celtics – camogie – Club PRO

I had to work when we brought the Francie O’Connor Cup to life last year, so I was really excited to be around for this year’s edition. After Frank could finally clear his name and explain to the world that this event wasn’t named after himself, we were all ready for the weekend to come.

On Friday, I stopped by the pub to say hi to Ciarán and the rest who had just arrived in Cologne. I wasn’t surprised but still a little bit impressed by Annaghdown’s performance on the drinks on Friday and showing up at the pitch before everyone else the next morning!

Even though we lost big time, it was a lot of fun playing with and against all the other Camógs who made their way to Cologne that day. At least I scored my first goal for Cologne as a forward. I really enjoyed watching the Hurling games and had fun taking pictures too! I think you could see the Annaghdown lads getting more sober each game, and even though Frank had a mental breakdown at the sideline while watching Cologne’s performance (photo of the day), I think it still was good entertainment, and I really enjoyed the day.

The after-party at the Black Sheep was great. I always enjoy a night out with the club. It felt like St. Paddy’s Day already with all the free merch the pub gave out. And, of course, there was Irish live music to listen to and sing along to.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I joined Lea’s well-prepared walking tour through the old part of the city. And, of course, the tour ended in an Irish pub. Not the one we thought, but now I know one more pub around here! Great fun, good talks, some drinks and fantastic music (Gareth’s band was playing there in the afternoon) with ourselves and the Annaghdown lads!

I had a memorable weekend, with a great atmosphere on and off the pitch, and I was told I now have friends in Galway/Annaghdown. A great weekend all around!

Nikhil Ghandi – Rheinland Gaels – hurling

Coming from India, I had no prior exposure to hurling until I met the wonderful people at the Cologne Celtics. It all started when I randomly met Phoebe, a club member, at the Corkonian, an Irish pub in Cologne. Overhearing their conversation about hurling tournaments piqued my curiosity, leading me to inquire more about it.

Phoebe provided a brief introduction to hurling and invited me to attend a Cologne Celtics training session the next day, which I eagerly agreed to. Despite my lack of experience, the players and members of the Cologne Celtics welcomed me warmly and made me feel part of their community. Fast forward to the Francie O’Connor Cup, and I made sure to attend as teams from various cities, not just from Germany but also Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, were participating.

Despite the unfavourable weather, the spirit of the event was remarkably high, with people thoroughly enjoying themselves. I got involved by umpiring behind the goal and assisting in moving the goalposts between games for both camogie and hurling. The event showcased a strong sense of community, with skilful and competitive players contributing to the vibrant atmosphere.

The pies from the Cologne Pie Man were also delightful, adding to the overall enjoyment of the day.

Though I couldn’t make it to the after-party due to prior commitments and exhaustion from playing two full games of hurling, I deeply appreciated the effort put into organising the event. The camaraderie and support among participants, despite varying levels of skill, were truly commendable. I, too, acknowledge my less-than-stellar performance in one of the games – the first game was good, but the second one was dreadful – but found the experience enjoyable nonetheless.

A big thank you to everyone involved in making the event possible, and I’m eagerly looking forward to future gatherings. The sense of community and support I experienced underscores the importance of such events in keeping the spirit of hurling alive in Germany. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day amidst such camaraderie with the Irish community here in Cologne was truly special, and I’m grateful for the exceptional level of support and community spirit I encountered. Here’s to more memorable events ahead!

Julia Jeske – Cologne Celtics – camogie – Camogie & Ladies Football Officer

Personally, what stood out for me was connecting with one of our new players, Annika. I found out at our Gaelic football tournament in November last year that Annika and I had known each other since childhood. When we were younger, we both attended the same church in Langenfeld, which is about half an hour away from Cologne. It also led to meeting Annika’s sister, Inga, and their mom at the tournament. It felt like a small Langenfeld reunion at this camogie event! We always hear stories about how these things happen in Ireland, so it was fitting for it to happen at a camogie tournament in Germany!

Moreover, my boyfriend and his parents were there too, which was special. His dad even took a photo of me during the game, capturing a moment when our coach, Finbar, was giving me advice in English. He was surprised to hear me speaking English! Overall, it was just great to have so many lovely people around the place supporting us, and hearing so much English mixed in with German was special.

Feedback on Richard Crighton, the Cologne Pie Man, a beloved figure at the event, was overwhelmingly positive. Everyone loved the Pie Man!

Personally, it was my second time at the Francis O’Connor Cup in Cologne, and compared to last year, I found it much easier to interact with people, especially since I was involved in organising. The friendly atmosphere made conversations flow effortlessly. I was also impressed by the event’s organisation, particularly when setting up the camogie goalposts. Laura and I called for assistance, and it was heartening to see everyone pitching in without hesitation.

On Sunday, Leah arranged a tour of Cologne, which was enlightening. We discovered parts of Cologne I had never been to before! Exploring the city with the players from Annaghdown allowed us to bond off the pitch, adding to the overall experience. It was really nice to have the opportunity to socialise and deepen connections after the tournament, whether in a relaxed atmosphere at a pub or during city tours. These aspects of tournaments are always highlights worth cherishing.

Oisín O’Mahony – Rheinland Gaels – hurling

After a few years of heavy involvement on the „playing side“ of Celtics‘ life, the last 18 months up to the Francie O’Connor Cup had been a bit barren regarding my playing in tournaments. My last „match“ of any kind was during our club Cork trip against St. Finbarrs in October 2022, as since then, I’ve become a dad, and we’ve moved to and renovated an apartment… 2023 was a big year in my life. Suddenly, getting to training in Cologne from Bonn and spending a few hours away on the weekend has become a lot more difficult. Travelling away for the weekend to tournaments is a much more significant challenge.

Getting to this tournament was a bit difficult as well. The trains between Bonn and Cologne were not running on the day, so I knew I would be delayed, and then family life also led to some further delays… Eventually, I arrived at Chorweiler, and just in time for the second match for the Rhineland Gaels – against Leuven. I had enough time to get on my shorts, put on my jersey and touch the sliotar twice before I was in to play midfield. Frank reassured me that the Leuven lads had a good few international lads playing, so it’d be grand. As it turned out, I was up against two 21-year-old Irish lads, Seán and Liam (names might not be correct) in midfield… Not ideal! The Leuven lads were much stronger than I expected.

Arriving late to the tournament – just enough time to get on my boots and jersey before the start of the match, Photo by Pa Stapleton

I haven’t been hurling as much as I should have in the last year, and instead, I’ve been running a lot – it is a hobby I took up during the pandemic and have kept going ever since. Running 10/15km, even half-marathons at a steady 5:30 per km, is great for overall fitness but not great for hurling where no one has ever run 15km in a straight line at the same speed… hurling is all about that burst of speed over 5m… Simply put, those Leuven young lads ran me ragged! I learned that for any hope of rekindling my hurling career, I need to train more often, find a suitable wall here soon to work on my hurling, and incorporate some sprints into my fitness work!

Long story short, Leuven won out well in the end. I scored one point, so there is still some hope! Overall, though, it was great to get back to playing and meeting all the lads again. Otso also scored a fantastic point for the Gaels, and it was brilliant to see so many new faces lining up with us. That was really fantastic, so many new faces, so many inexperienced players getting stuck in and involved, and some of our younger players and members were also present. It is not all doom going forward, even though we have a lot to work on.

It didn’t work on the pitch, but it was a great day off the pitch, and I was delighted to be involved!

Svenja Hennecke – Cologne Celtics – Camogie

Even though it didn’t turn out too well for us in the camogie tournament, we still had loads of craic playing, and it was great to see that we weren’t demotivated, and it didn’t change our good mood or our team spirit. The weather wasn’t on our side either, really, and it was quite freezing on the sidelines. But cheering for our fellow hurling players with families and friends and good food didn’t make it too bad.

I’m very proud and happy that this year we were able to host the Camogie tournament at home and play a full team with players from the Cologne Celtics and that our families and friends had the chance to come and support us, which was very lovely because it’s a great feeling playing on the pitch, knowing that I’m supported and cheered at by family and friends, not only because I want to make the club proud, but them too.

So thank you to everyone responsible for making this possible and for a wonderful day.

Tom Lacey – Cologne Celtics – former Healthy Club Officer

Firstly, it was a fantastic day out and well organised by the Celts‘ team management, chairperson, and organisers, as always. It provided a fun day for everyone, especially with the St. Patrick’s weekend timing, which made it perfect for families and friends to join. Due to my time constraints and occasional injuries, I can’t participate in playing and training as much as I’d like. Still, these occasions are great for bringing my kids, Fiona and Killian, along to experience Irish culture by watching hurling and playing with small hurls and sliotars.

As a proud Irishman with children who are half German and half Irish (well, approximately 50/50), I find it essential to maintain our Irish heritage. Events like this hurling tournament, organised by the Cologne Celtics and others, help keep Irish traditions alive in Germany, which is crucial for families like ours living abroad. Hurling stands out as a significant Irish tradition (up there with Guinness and Leprechauns!), and I’m impressed by the increasing turnout and the improving quality of the game despite the results on the day not favouring the Cologne Celts. The club has come a long way since when I first got involved five or six years ago!

I commend the training and management teams for their efforts in organising such events. I plan to attend more tournaments in the future and hope my children will eventually participate in training sessions or find enjoyment in watching Irish sports. Even if hurling and camogie do not become „their thing“, at least with the Celtics and the other clubs around, they now have the option to play it here. I believe it’s essential for the club to continue promoting the sport locally and across Germany and Europe.

The Annaghdown boys and mentors appreciating the sights of Cologne the day after the tournament (photo: Katharina Breuer)

Looking forward, I anticipate bringing my kids to more tournaments and training sessions as they grow older. Additionally, I’m excited about the possibility of another summer Family Day, similar to last year’s, which was a fantastic event showcasing various aspects of Irish culture.

I’m proud that the Cologne Celtics embrace Irish culture not only through sports but also through the Irish language, music, and social gatherings. I hope this tradition continues and flourishes in the coming years, as it’s important for me and my children to maintain our Irish heritage while also embracing our German connection.

Let me share some of the highlights of the day. I didn’t play on the day but I was on social media duty for the club and also organised the gig with my band, Gabhair Rua, for the after-party. So, I was tasked with updating the scores, but thanks to Deutsche Bahn, I arrived late to the tournament because my train broke down in the middle of nowhere. Quite the adventure, I must say.

Anyway, I promised everyone that I’d update the scores live on Instagram and Facebook. Initially, things were going smoothly – the first couple of scores came in, great, and I could keep it updated, but then people stopped sending me updates. Turns out, nobody knew who the referees were, which led to a hilarious scramble to figure out the scores. I had to run around asking everyone what the scores were – and of course, some fellas decided to add on a couple of goals to the final score…

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Eventually, I managed to get it sorted, and people appreciated that I not only listed the goals and points in the „traditional GAA style“ but also added afterwards the total score – so, for example, 3-09 (18) to 2-06 (12). The non-Irish social media followers, in particular, appreciated the clear scorekeeping.

Later in the evening, we headed to the Black Sheep. It was awesome to see our club pulling off such a fantastic cultural event over Paddy’s Day weekend, with sports and music all organised by our own members. The gig afterwards was top-notch. We even attracted some potential social members through Gabhair Rua’s performance and the general craic. Dave Field, is that his name? The „handsome Dave“, I get them mixed up… Anyway, some Dave got up and sang „The Ferryman“ with Gabhair Rua, which was unexpected but brilliant. Bearded Niall was in full voice, as was Sligo Niall, adding to the fun.

On Paddy’s Day itself, many of us, especially the lads from Annaghdown, hopped between Barneys and the Copperpot for some pub hopping. They were following our gig schedule around. Some even attempted to follow us to the Black Sheep for another gig, but their legs had other plans. All in all, it was a day filled with laughs and memorable moments.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the article, from players – experienced and inexperienced – to supporters and volunteers. It was another successful competition hosted in Cologne. Our focus now turns to the German Cups in Hamburg and the coming rounds of the European tournaments. We have a lot to work on on-the-pitch, in both hurling and camogie, but off-the-field the club is going from strength to strength!

If you would like to join the club, please do not hesitate to write to us here on the website or through our very active social media accounts. We are always looking for new members to get involved with our men’s, women’s and youth teams. We are also always looking for social members who want to get involved with the organisational side of the club. Whether you have played hurling/camogie/Gaelic Football all your life or are now checking out YouTube videos for more information, the Celtics are looking for you! Just come along, what’s the worst that can happen?

If you have reached this far into the article, the reward is some of the rest of the photos from the day. Bain sult as iad!