Linda Ervine, President of East Belfast GAA, discusses their first year in existence on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One.
Linda described how the East Belfast GAA club came into being unintentionally, last year during the pandemic. Linda had very little experience with the GAA but was enthralled when she attended her first match and was very taken with the joyous atmosphere and the good relations between the opposing teams on the day.
Ervine accepted the offer of becoming the President of the club and whilst she has had some reservations about political aspects of the GAA and has received some online abuse for her role, she feels her role as President of the club is a progressive move.
'If we don't put our head above the parapet, nothing changes.'
Tá Linda ar aistear teanga leis an nGaeilge le breis agus 10 mbliana anuas agus ar nós an club CLG, bhí go leor conspóide ag baint le bean as oirthear Bhéal Feirste ag foghlaim na Gaeilge. Deir sí gur baineadh siar as go leor nuair a thosaigh sí ag dul i ngleic leis an teanga ach ó shin i leith go bhfuil go leor acu siúd a bhí cáinteach anois ina bhfoghlaimeoirí agus ina gcairde maithe léi.
"The people who are most critical are the people who haven't engaged with it, that don't know anybody that speak it, don't really understand what it's about and quite often when they have more of an insight, their attitude changes."
Éist le Today with Claire Byrne ón Luan go hAoine óna 10 go meánlae ar RTÉ Radio One.
