St Kilians GAA Club of Würzburg in Germany certainly raised the profile of Ireland and its culture in January this year. In 2003 this great little club became involved in selecting a film with an Irish connection for the local film festival. The club wants to promote 'Irishness ( be it sport or culture )' in this German region and the Film Festival proved to be a perfect vehicle for reaching those who would not heard of such terms as 'GAA or Hurley' beforehand. It worked well as the film festival is attended by over 10,000 locals and their efforts are much appreciated with newer St Kilians members often being discovered as a result. This year the club was again involved and selected Dierdre Lynch’s film "Photos to Send" for the 2004 festival.

Dierdre was inspired to produce this film after studying the Dorothea Lange photo archive in San Francisco. Dorothy Lange was a famous American photographer who came and took still photos mainly in Co. Clare in 1954. Some of these were subsequently published in Life magazine. Dierdre studied over 2,400 photos and 40 hours of audiotape that Dorothy had taken in Ireland. Dierdre decided to retrace Dorothea’s footsteps and film the people and places in the photos. This film must be seen by anyone with an interest in Ireland and its people.

"Photos to Send" was the winner of the Best Documentary Award film category at the festival. This was a great honour. Speaking at the awards ceremony Dierdre thanked foremost the people who appeared in the film. They are all extraordinary people she said. She went on to thank St Kilians GAA for inviting her and her film to the festival and in particular the Chairman Owen McGuire for ensuring such good pre-screening publicity.

Winning the Best Documentary Award was the highlight of the whole weekend for Frau Lynch and St Kilians and it turned out to be the icing on the cake of a very enjoyable four days for the Irish diaspora in Germany. The "gathering" began on Thursday with the first of the "Wild Geese" Brendan McGuire (Chairman’s brother) arriving. Friday heralded the arrival of a notoriously rowdy Cork element! To paraphrase Christy Moore’s famous song about the Lisdoonvarna Folk Festival " You need to hit Würzburg round or about Friday afternoon, with your tent and groundsheet rolled up tight." After getting some food inside them the Irish delegation congregated at the "Drücker" pub. There it was expanded to include Aidan Helly (sometime Ardrahan hurler!) and Anke who had arrived after driving from Freiburg. The main topic of conversation was how to maximise the publicity for St Kilians from the following night’s screening of "Photos to Send".

With nearly a full panel available to select from and Tom Curry (ex Joe Mc Hugh pub in Liscannor) expected from Düsseldorf in time for the throw-in on Saturday, the team was getting into "the zone". Dierdre Lynch (co-opted onto the team at corner back) suggested that we should all tog off and present a guard of honour ( using hurlies ) at the cinema entrance prior to the film's screening. There was great enthusiasm when the roguish Cork wing forward suggested we should have a "few pucks" on stage before the film started. At that stage Owen McGuire, in typical good Chairman fashion, decided that all these suggestions would have to be referred back to the GAC meeting for a final decision. Unfortunately the GAC were not meeting until the following Wednesday so the "great ideas" had to be put on hold for the following night's screening. This only momentarily dampened the team’s enthusiasm. With a shout of "proust!" they gathered their spirits for the night (and morning) ahead.

Saturday was a free day, but the Chairman had decreed that the team meet 3 hours before the big event for a psychology session (better known as a "pull on everything" speech). In order to spice up the proceedings he marched the team, in format, to an Indian restaurant. It was fast and furious in there with the full back line going back for at least 4 helpings each. The forwards limited their intake to ensure more fleetness of foot later. The tension was starting to build now. Players were taking up their usual positions in the dressing room. Everyone was actively visualising the moves they would make in the upcoming event. The cornerback and captain-elect (D.Lynch) left the dressing room first to make her way to the pitch. Eventually the remainder of the team were dragged out to CinemaxX.

It was typical of a championship match. The St Kilians flag was waving in the wind (it was hanging from the stage) and when the Chairman introduced the film a ripple of pride went through all the team members (co-opted and otherwise). The film, like any great match, was both emotional and uplifting and after a titanic 90 minutes (20 minutes extra time was played) the whistle was blown. Owen McGuire (he really was born for his role as Chairman) introduced Dierdre Lynch to the expectant fans. Dierdre fielded some great high balls in the ensuing lively and fast 'Question and Answer' session. She nearly got caught out for a sneaky goal on one about "Hyphenated Irish Americanism" but managed to scramble the ball off the line. Owen cleared the ball back out field with Lohan like efficiency. The questioner had not the heart to enter "Hells Kitchen" a second time.

The Chairman was so delighted with the team’s performance that he offered to buy us all 1 cidona each (out of his own pocket) on the way home. We followed him expectantly to "The Barleycorn". Unfortunately there was no cidona only Pils so he was off the hook again. Many of the St Kilians had congregated here after the match (film). There was Matthias (gifted wing back showing some signs of the good cooking around the mid rift), Kalle (a crafty wing forward known for confusing his marker by speaking near-fluent Irish to them in a Franken dialect ), goalie Ulf ( "Lock up your daughters" from former East Berlin ), Bodhran playing corner forward Michael with the 'magic water bottle' Physio Barbara.

A good night was had by all. Those that lasted the pace into the early hours saw the Chairman make a "slip-up" on his way to the kebab house. There he claimed to have bought kebabs for "at least all 15 of ye" the next day. The team began to return to their respective responsibilities on the Sunday. The Chairman wished all of them well and said to some he would be calling on them again to turn out for St Kilians. It was noticeable he did not extend this invitation to everyone. There was talk of the club having a reputation and a great tradition to live up to. Your correspondent thought he was doing his best to enhance that reputation all weekend. Hears looking forward to the draw for 2005.

The Hurler on the Ditch