Our latest interviews with our team members
Meet the Celtics: Svenja Hennecke
In this article, one of our top camogie stalwarts – Svenja Hennecke – shares some of the differences and surpising similarilites between camogie and her other passion, ballet. Svenja only started playing camogie last year but since then has become an ever-present member of the Celtics.
The Story behind the Francie O’Connor Cup – a Chat with Frank O’Connor
Frank O’Connor is a legend of the Cologne Celtics. The driving force behind our development on the hurling pitch over the last few years. Here, he discusses everything from the trophy named after his father, growing up with a passion for hurling and GAA in Europe compared to Ireland.
FRS GAA World Games 2023: Jan Stolle’s Audio Diaries
What is it like to represent your country in an international sports tournament? This question is something that not many of us can answer. However, our man Jan Stolle kept an audio diary during the FRS GAA World Games 2023 in Derry, and here you can find out about his experiences.
FRS GAA World Games 2023: Our Players‘ Experiences
Our players gave their reactions to a hard but fun week in Derry during the FRS GAA World Games 2023. We had players represent us in all codes. Our club is very proud of them all.
FRS GAA World Games 2023: Meet Our Players
This year, 2023, the FRS GAA World Games makes a return, and this time, it is being held in County Derry. Amongst all these players is a significant group from the Cologne Celtics. Here we had a chat with several of our players.
Meet the Celtics: Santiago Modernell from Uruguay
Santiago Modernell is our first Uruguayan hurler/Gaelic footballer. We discuss how he came to live in Cologne, his time in Dublin and his dream of opening his own coffee shop. ¡Esta entrevista también está en español!
Meet the Celtics: Lucie Griesbach
Meet Lucie Griesbach from northern Germany. Based near the Danish border, she was introduced to camogie while living in Cobh, Cork. She played a crucial role in our German Camogie Cup victory.
Meet the Celtics: Johannes Heyen
It is time to meet another Celt, this time: Johannes Heyen. Johannes is one our most dedicated members – a regular at training and has played his part in Munich, our home tournament and, of course, the German Hurling Cup success. His interview is in both English and German.
Meet the Celtics: Cillian O’Gara
Meet Cillian O’Gara. Cillian is now back home in Ireland but he was a key man in our development as a club. A passionate Gaelic footballer, Cillian established himself as one of our dual stars during his time with us.
Meet the Celtics: Otso from Finland
Meet Otso Tolonen, our Finnish dual star. A veteran Gaelic footballer from his time in Finland, Otso has taken up hurling in the last two years and has established himself as one of our key players.
Meet the Celtics: Seán Fuchs
Meet our international handball player – Seán Fuchs. He’s half-Irish, half-German and 110% a County Monaghan man. We caught up before the Ulster Final clash to discuss his experiences with the Celtics, Gaelic football, handball, his studies and more.
Meet the Celtics: Marnix from Holland
It is time for our only Dutch teammate – Marnix van der Galien. Have a look how he came to the Domstadt and a sneak peak of „Dutch war fries“, a very delicious Dutch food.
Meet the Celtics: Katharina from Cologne
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members and get a little insight into their lives. This time: Katharina, not only a dear member but also our Public Relations Officer.
Meet the Celtics: Finbar Coyle from Drogheda
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members and get a little insight into their lives. This time we asked the illustrator and character designer Finbar Coyle.
Meet the Celtics: Vangelis Bita
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members and get a little insight into their lives. This time: Vangelis Bita.
Meet the Celtics: Bernadette Keohane
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members and get a little insight into their lives. This time we have our first female interview: Meet Bernadette from Cork (baiiiii!) who has some funny stories to tell!
Meet the Celtics: Arun Dhananjay
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members. This time: Arun Dhananjay from India.
Meet the Celtics: Oisín O’Mahony
In our interview series we take the time to get to know our players and members. This time we asked Oisín O’Mahony, who’s also our new Chairman, a few questions.
„Friends of the Celts“ Interviews
A Chat with Daithí de Buitléir – Founding Chairperson of na Gaeil Óga GAA Club
Na Gaeil Óga is an Irish-speaking GAA club based in west Dublin. It is one of very few GAA clubs outside of the Gaeltacht areas in Ireland, where Gaeilge is the club’s first language. Since its foundation in 2010, Na Gaeil Óga has been one of Ireland’s fastest-growing sports clubs, with approximately 600 players across…
Interview with Chris Bethe – European Hurling Officer 2020-22 and Darmstadt GAA Legend
Chris Bethe is a legend of Darmstadt GAA and a former European Hurling Officer for Gaelic Games Europe. He chatted to us about his plans for bringing hurling to the international community in Ireland, and his experiences as European Hurling Officer during the time of Corona lockdowns.
Interview with Amanyire Moses: Uganda GAA
Amanyire Moses and Uganda GAA came to our attention upon finding them on social media. Upon further examination we knew we needed to contact them and hear about their story. Here is their story. far. You can help them by following the GoFundMe links in the article.
Interview with John Murphy: Chairperson of European GAA (GGE)
John Murphy is the chairperson of Gaelic Games Europe, and he kindly gave us an interview about his life, playing in New York and Amsterdam, his role with the GGE and hopes and plans for future growth in Europe.
Interview with Irish International Footballer Amber Barrett
Amber Barrett is an Irish international who played from 2019 until 2022 with 1. FC Köln. A passionate GAA fan (and county-standard player!) she joined us for a chat during the pre-match camp before Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier against Georgia.
Interview with Graham Clifford: CEO & Founder of the Sanctuary Runners
Graham Clifford is the CEO and Founder of the Sanctuary Runners organisation. We came into contact with him last year during the Virtual Cork City Marathon, and here we caught up with him to find out more about him and the Sanctuary Runners.
Interview with Cologne’s Pie Man – Richard Crighton
Meet Richard! He is Cologne’s Pie-Man! We have had several collaborations with Richard at this stage as he has delivered his products to our training sessions and hurling tournaments in NRW. How does a creative designer end up with a pie-selling business in Cologne – find out in this chat!
Interview with Eoin O’Farrell: the Hurler who Rowed the Atlantic Ocean
Eoin O’Farrell is a hurler with Blackrock National Hurling Club in Cork. In the winter of 2017/18, he and three of his mates took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Race and crossed the Atlantic Ocean the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean. Here is his story.
Interview with Irish Footballer Noe Baba
Meet Noe Baba. He’s Cameroonian and Irish, and he plays football for KFC Uerdingen 05. In this interview, we discussed moving from Cameroon to Castlebar, playing professionally in Ireland, England and Germany, and his experience of living in Cologne, including during the lockdown. A big Mayo fan, we also delved into his experience of playing…
Interview with Jason Keelan from „The Loaf of Bread GAA“ Podcast
Jason Keelan is the one-man-band behind the popular podcast – „The Loaf of Bread GAA“. Having interviewed our club members, as part of the GAA Global series, we decided to flip the tables and interview him. Here is the result.
Inspiring women: Waterford Camogie Captain Niamh Rockett and her way to the top
From being told „you’re going to be in a wheelchair by the time you’re 30” and dealing with arthritis to win the Camogie All Star Award, Niamh Rockett is one of a kind. The captain of the Waterford Senior Camogie Team talked to us about motivation, teamwork – and chicken dinner videos.
Cologne Celtics 