This past year our pitch has been eerily silent. The long nights were longer with no sound of our senior team training. Spring has had no background music from the sounds of children playing. No excitement is heard from games, especially close ones.
Living a half a mile from Ballymacelligott GAA pitch. I cannot see the pitch from my house. Being within hearing proximity to this wonderful hub of activity is a source of comfort. The most enjoyable thing, always, is the sound of children laughing, shouting and just enjoying themselves.
On a cold wet night in February I would shiver and marvel when I heard the sound of senior team back training in the pitch.
One always knew spring was in the air when the juveniles returned to training on Saturdays. The long nights were over when training commenced in the evenings after school.
All spring, summer and well into autumn this wondrous noise kept me company. Its amazing how one tunes in to the different sounds and one can decide whether it was a senior game or a juvenile game.
For the past ten years another noise was added the girls games! Listening closely I am almost certain I know the difference now between a boys and girls game.
Often, one knows whether the game is close or not from the cheers from the supporters!! I have often checked the games calendar on the club web site to see what game was on! Many times kicking myself for not being there and giving priority to something else..
Silent and closed pitches was sad for us all. No matter how one looked at it it was a loss in one way or another for our community.
So lets just sit back and enjoy the return to training hubs today!
It will be different.
However we have training and the children from our Parish will once again meet up to play football.
The voices of children training and enjoying themselves will once again be heard far from the pitch.
It is a wondrous sound.
Ballymac Abú!
