Abair linn píosa beag faoin gclub.

Is club cispheile é Lasair Na nGael a bunaíodh in 2017 i Stigh Lorgan, a fheidhmíonn go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ag deireadh ár dtréimhse i gColáiste Eoin (gaelcholáiste i Stigh Lorgan), i ndiaidh dúinn grá a fhorbairt don chispheil agus don Ghaeilge, bheartaigh mé féin agus cara liom ár gclub cispheile féin a bhunú.

Gabhaimid buíochas mór le príomhoide na scoile, Proinsias De Poire, agus le Fiona Ní Mhaonaigh, múinteoir sa scoil a bhfuil aithne uirthi mar imreoir d’fhoireann “Meteors Basketball Club”. Ní hamháin gur thacaigh siad linn ag an tús, ach lig siad dúinn halla na scoile a úsáid mar ionad traenála agus ‘cúirt baile’ i gcluichí, rud a chabhraigh go mór linn.

Chuireamar isteach ar léig BÁC DMBB i ndiaidh dúinn bliain a chaitheamh i mbun traenála. Cé nach bhfuil againn faoi láthair ach foireann na bhfear, táimid ag súil forbairt a dhéanamh ar an gclub, ag tosú le foireann na mban. Gan ach dhá bhliain caite againn i léig DMBB, bhaineamar an dara háit amach inár roinn i mbliana (2019/20). Ciallaíonn sé sinn go bhfuil ardú céime ar na bacáin. Is gaisce mór é seo dúinn inár dara bliain ag imirt sa léig. Mana an chlub ná meas agus misneach a leiriú i gcónaí.

Can you tell us a bit about your club? 

Lasair Na nGael is an all-Irish speaking Basketball club founded in 2017 in Stillorgan, County Dublin. My friend and I had just finished 6^th year in Coláiste Eoin, an all-Irish speaking school in Stillorgan. Having developed a love for the game of basketball at the school combined with our love for the Irish language, we decided to set up our own basketball club.

A huge thank you is extended to the principle of the school, Proinsias De Poire, and to one of the school’s teachers, Fiona Meaney, a well-known player for Meteors Basketball club. Not only did they lend their support to the start-up of the club, they allowed the use of the school hall as our home venue which was of huge benefit to us.

After a year of training, Lasair entered the DMBB Dublin leagues. Although we currently only have one men’s team, we are hoping to expand our club in the near future and our newest current project is to start a women’s team. After only having two years in the DMBB league, our greatest success to date is in achieving 2^nd place in our division this season (2019/2020) which results in a promotion. This is a huge step given it’s only our second year of playing in the league. Our club motto aligns with our former school motto which highlights respect and courage on and off the court.

Cén dúshláin a gcuireann sibh aghaidh orthu sa chlub, má táid ann?

Os rud é go ndéantar cumarsáid trí mheán na Gaeilge sa chlub, is dúshlán é imreoirí a mhealladh atá in ann an Ghaeilge a labhairt nó atá sásta iarracht a dhéanamh a gcúpla focal a úsáid. Chomh maith leis sin, tá gach club sa tír ag streachailt le paindéim COVID-19 faoi láthair, agus ní eisceacht sinne.

What challenges do you face in the club if any?

Given communication on the court is through Irish, recruiting new players who are able to speak or are willing to learn Irish as well as play basketball is an ongoing challenge. And, of course, we have had to deal with the consequences of Covid-19.

Cén fáth a raibh sibh ag iarraidh marc club ‘Basketball Ireland’ a bhaint amach?

Mar chlub nua-bhunaithe, bhíomar diongbháilte go leanfaimis na treoirlínte cearta ar son sláinte ár mball. Táimid buíoch de Basketball Ireland as ucht an marc seo a chruthú, mar ligeann sé dúinn caighdeáin níos airde a leagan dúinn féin agus bunchloch a leagan d’fhorbairtí eile sa todhchaí.

What made you want to try and achieve the Basketball Ireland club mark?

As a recently established club, we were determined to follow the correct protocols for the safety of our members/players. We are grateful to Basketball Ireland for creating the club mark system as it has allowed us, as a club, to set higher standards and to establish the groundwork for future developments.

Cad í bhur dtuairim ar an bpróiseas a bhain le Marc Club Basketball Ireland?

Eispéireas dúshlánach ach an-tairbheach a bhí ann. Ní fhéadfaimis an marc club a bhaint amach gan chomhairle Paul Carr, Oifigeach Forbartha Basketball Ireland i gCúige Laighean. Bhí sé ar fáil i gcónaí chun ár gceisteanna a fhreagairt agus muid a stiúradh. Gabhaim buíochas leis ar son an chlub.

How did you find the Basketball Ireland Club Mark process?

It was a challenging but extremely rewarding experience. It would not have been possible for us to achieve this club mark without the help and assistance from Paul Carr, the Leinster Basketball Ireland Development Officer. He was there to answer any questions we had and to steer us in the right direction. On behalf of our club, I would like to thank him for this.

Cén difríocht a dhéanfaidh Marc Club Basketball Ireland don chlub?

Is onóir agus pribhléid dúinn an gradam seo a bhaint amach. Tá súil againn go bhfeidhmeoidh an marc club mar bhunchloch ar féidir linn tógáil uirthi sa todhchaí.

What difference is the Basketball Ireland Club Mark going to make for your club?

It is an honour and a privilege for us to achieve this Club Mark award from Basketball Ireland. We hope that it will allow us to further establish our club and to provide a launching pad for further development.  

An ndéanfaidh sibh iarracht an Marc Club Platanaim a bhaint amach? Cad atá le déanamh chun é seo a chur i gcrích?

Cinnte. Táimid ag féachaint ar na critéir atá leagtha ag Basketball Ireland ionas gur féidir linn an chéad ghradam eile a bhaint amach: an Marc Club Airgid. An sprioc atá againn ná an próiseas a leanúint céim ar chéim agus, ar deireadh, an Marc Club Platanaim a bhaint amach.

Do you think you will engage with the club mark system and achieve all the way up to Platinum Club Mark? If so, what do you need to do to get your club to this stage?

Yes. We are reviewing the criteria that Basketball Ireland have in place so that we can take the necessary steps to attain the next level, the silver club mark. Our objective is to take one step at a time with the ultimate goal of achieving the Platinum Club mark.

Cad iad na spriocanna don séasúr atá romhainn?

An príomhsprioc atá againn ná sábháilteacht ár mball a chinntiú le linn na paindéime. Táimid ag súil go mór le himirt arís nuair átá sé sábháilte agus nuair a ligeann na treoirlínte sláinte poiblí dúinn a leithéid a dhéanamh. Ba mhaith linn foireann na mban a bhunú don séasúr seo chugainn chomh maith.

What are the goals for the season ahead?

Following government and Basketball Ireland return to play guidelines is our immediate priority to ensure the safety of our members. We hope to return to play as soon as restrictions allow us to do so. Another goal of ours is to start a women’s Irish-speaking team for next season.

Cad a déarfadh sibh  le clubanna eile atá ag smaoineamh faoi pháirt a ghlacadh i Marc Club Basketball Ireland?

Ba phróiseas an-fhiúntach é seo don chlub. Mholfainn do gach club páirt a ghlacadh. Lig an marc seo dúinn a aithint go bhfuilimid ar an mbóthar ceart agus go bhfuil caighdeán faoi leith againn sa chlub.

Ba mhaith linn buíochas ar leith a ghabháil le Basketball Ireland agus Paul Carr ach go háirithe, as ucht an deis a thabhairt dúinn an Marc Club a bhaint amach.

What would you say to other clubs thinking about getting involved in the Basketball Ireland Club Mark?

This has been an extremely beneficial experience for our club and I would highly recommend for every club out there to get involved. The Club Mark award has allowed us to acknowledge that we are on the right path and that there is a certain standard our club holds itself to.

We would like to thank Basketball Ireland and in particular Paul Carr for allowing us the opportunity to achieve this Club Mark.