Friends for Life. Ollscoil Uladh
The journey is the reward,
It is said. From small beginnings, big ambitions, look what they started those men back in the Ulster Poly days. Giants’ strides since.
Fifty years later, 106 All- Ireland Titles and still keeping on, kicking on
Onwards, upwards, outwards. Inwardly knowing you belong, pride, friendship. ‘I played for that team.’
Remember, names, remembered games,
And always, always that Jersey and your teammates and comrades, friends for life.
You can pack a minibus with players you know, and by God we did . But not memories or friendships.
No, For that you need something bigger.
A club, a team, a band of brothers and sisters. Play the games at all levels or volunteer and support, everyone welcome.
A unique Jersey to fight for. You know, every player that ever pulled on that shirt is woven into the fabric of this club, stitch by stitch. A true geansai, over years well rinsed in blood, sweat and tears. Of laughter, of joy, in victory and defeats.
We’ve taken many byroads, high roads, and a few unapproved roads; intrepid tours of duty free. Ulster uni tours took us to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, and Red Square Moscow. An Opera house in Sydney, a cricket ground in Melbourne. The European cities of culture? We rolled into Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague. Boston, Philly, the Big Apple too. You know yourself, what goes on tour stays there.
We’ve had silverware don’t forget; won, lost and even found on a doorstep. We’ve had some of the best players in Gaelic games, legends of our sport. As well as the club jokers and clowns to keep their feet on the ground!
No matter what box they tick, we send our players back to club and county better people. They shared seats of learning and trenches of war in Sigerson, Ashbourne, Purcell, O’ Connor, Ryan, Freshers and more. Shoulder to shoulder, Spartan like strength and togetherness. Proud, unbowed, in victory and defeat, but never, ever losers.
We don’t need to name names. If you’ve been on the journey, and worn that jersey, you know who you are. You know who your friends are.
It’s a club you never leave. The memories, emotions, those moments frozen in time, magic. Most of all the friends for life, that make all the difference.
