Club Volunteer Profile - Seamas Mac An Bheatha

Club Volunteer Profile-

Name: Seamas Mac An Bheatha (James McVeigh)

Club: Tir,na,nOg GAC

Role at club: Coaching officer and Junior Hurling manager.

How long have you been doing the role?

I have been coaching officer for the last 3 years and held few other committee roles before this, since joining club after moving to Randalstown after leaving Birmingham almost 5 years ago. I help to give direct coaching support to several underage groups with new coaches and well as all the other teams as needed.

I have also somehow landed being Junior Hurling manager (with the support and wisdom of JP, Rory, JC and Paddy) this year as well as coaching the Gaelic for Mums again. At some point I will really learn to use that magic word ‘no’ some GAA people talk about.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at the club?

Once I get over the talk of tractors, farming and country music and they get over me being a ‘Waa Waa’ ‘McHughie’ I would have to say the craic you get with the people around the club, especially on club events like Strictly is fantastic. As coaching officer seeing the way new coaches are developing and trying new ideas after the workshops, we have run is brilliant. Ha may not seem it, but coaching is my stress release from teaching and when I see all the kids from P1 upwards at the Hurling wall or on the pitch practising their skills and improving every game and hear the stories from them of how well they play and enjoy blitzes, that is what makes it all worthwhile.

Most memorable moment or successful achievement with the club?

I have had a few memorable moments with Tír na nÓg such as doing Strictly, Lip Sync and my first time witnessing the talent on display at Malahide 2 years ago with the G4M. Last year I was honoured to be awarded Club Volunteer of the Year, 30 years after my Great Uncle Vincent McVeigh won it. But to be honest in my mind any real sense of achievement will come in future years when the kids I have helped coach are playing senior Camogie, Hurling, Gaelic and LGFA for the club being coached and managed at senior level by club coaches who our Youth Committee have helped support and develop to come up from taking underage teams, with all the systems and structures we are developing still in place supporting volunteers at the club.