As the inter-county GAA season resumes, one OTB AM listener living far from home shared with the show what it means to him and many more besides.
The continuation of Gaelic games while people across Ireland prepare for a second lockdown this year has sparked a debate that shall not be easily abated.
On the one hand, there are those who cannot accept that Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions should come with allowances for amateur athletes straddling inter-county competition and day-to-day life within their communities.
Alternatively, there is the significant cohort of people for whom their return is a welcome distraction and, crucially, one that poses no great danger to public health.
"In general, the risk is low," stated Professor Mary Horgan on Tuesday's OTB AM, the infectious diseases expert on the GAA COVID Advisory Committee.
It is an outlook shared by both NPHET and the Irish government. GAA supporters at home and abroad will now try to enjoy what unfolds across the weeks and months that follow.
Such is the hope of one Irishman abroad anyway, Johnny Kennedy of The Long Hall pub in New York City.
During Thursday's OTB AM, Johnny, a former guest of the show and donator of an iconic piece of OTB art to the studio, decided to share his thoughts on the GAA's return.
Making contact with the show via WhatsApp from afar, he appreciates the nuance required for discussing this issue at a local level.
Nevertheless, from his base in New York City - a city with the potential to make one feel very lonely as he explains - it is the GAA alone that recreates the best of what's local for those far from home, however.
On OTB AM, the show's host Ger Gilroy read Johnny's letter on what the GAA means for those who for one reason or another find themselves away from Ireland at this difficult time.
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You can read Johnny Kennedy's letter to OTB AM from GAA supporters across the world here:
This year, well beyond all other years, the Irish away from home need this more than ever.
95% of them didn’t make it home this summer. Most won't make it home this Christmas and that’s going to be a first for a lot of young people. That’s very difficult for both the person here and family at home.
So, to be able to have championship football & hurling means so much to people all around the world. For us in NY, we all hang in so many different circles, guys & girls from all different counties. It’s constant banter about each other’s county.
You don’t get that at home as much. Then the phone calls home. Generally parents aren’t as good on the phone, you’ll get, 'Here, I’ll put you into your mother', after two minutes talking to Dad.
But when you’ve GAA to talk about, that could result in two phone calls a week with the father for some people!
I’ve a friend from Offaly and he’ll speak to his dad about the squad leading up to the game. They’d often chat at half time and always at full time. How beautiful is that? After sport, what do many fathers and sons speak about?
I can only speak for New York, but let me tell you, it’s the loneliest city in the world. There is a lot of single older Irish people living here with the bars closed and no GAA on, that’s a long winter ahead for these people.
We want people to be safe and health at home and abroad. But please, do not underestimate what the GAA championship will do for loneliness and homesickness.
Cheers boys,
Johnny, Long Hall
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