Hehir relishing challenge of running juvenile hurling

It is no easy task running a programme of games – in any sport – across a county, particularly a programme as comprehensive as juvenile hurling in Galway. Yet, for the new Chairman of Coiste Chontae Iomána na nÓg na Gaillimhe, Michael Hehir, it is an undertaking he seems to be relishing.

Chatting over a coffee in Tuam, where the Clare-born Garda is based, Hehir is so enthusiastic about his role that you would wonder has he yet grasped the enormity of it all. As volunteer jobs go, it would be recognised as one of the most demanding in Galway sport.

However, Hehir is taking it all in his stride and he talks about “bringing new ideas to the table” and adding “a little bit of freshness” in the manner in which the juvenile hurling programme is run in the county.“You look at Joe Dolan (previous Chairman) and he had served 13 years [on the juvenile board],” says Hehir. “So, whatever way you look it, I have big boots to fill.”

In many respects, Hehir’s ascension to the throne has been an interesting one. For one, his adopted club, Tuam, would not be regarded as a stronghold of the game in the county, while being a blow-in from Clare could also have been seen as another impediment.

Yet, the local hurling populace have warmed to him and he agrees reaction to his appointment “has been fairly positive”. Then again, Hehir by his very nature exudes positivity and you have only to look at what he has been achieved at Tuam Hurling Club to recognise the contribution he can make.

Stationed at Tuam Garda Station in 2003, Hehir, who had been playing hurling and football with his native West Clare club, Coolmeen, subsequently transferred to Tuam Hurling Club the following year, lining out with the Junior ‘C’ outfit.

“Richie Williams (club secretary), as they say, collared me one day when I was on the beat to know if I would be interested in doing something with the club,” explains Hehir, who was not only seconded onto the committee, but at the December AGM was elected Club Chairman.

“I got involved in the coaching then in 2005 – coaching U-10s and U-12s – but it wasn’t as though I started it or reignited it. It was already there, to be fair. However, we also got involved in the schools around that same time. I made a decision if I was getting involved that the schools had to have strong links with the club.”

St Pat’s Primary School and Gardenfield NS came on board and although others have followed suit in recent times, those two still provide the backbone for Tuam’s underage structure. Indeed, seven years on, the fruits of the club’s labour are now being seen.

“We would have a pretty good U-16 team at the moment,” he says. “They would probably be our best team in the club this year, so fingers crossed we will do something.”

Then again, Hehir and Tuam Hurling Club have, quite often, gone above and beyond the call of duty to promote the game locally, underlined when they took an U-15 hurling team to London for a trip which not only included a challenge against the London All-Stars – a side made up of Kilburn Gaels, Thomas McCurtain and Granuaile – but also encompassed a tour of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and a Premier League game between Fulham and Norwich.

Interestingly, London has participated in the U-14 All-Ireland Féile na nGael for the past 14 years and Tuam was the first club to make the return trip back to the English capital in this time. Coincidentally, Tuam won that exhibition 10-12 to 6-3 in a game that was refereed by Tuam’s Charlie Ward.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.