Derry senior star Chris McKaigue

[Auntie.Gerald]

"The Sydney Swans have clearly not been daunted by the defections of Tadhg Kennelly and rookies Brendan Murphy and Kyle Coney, announcing last week the signing of another young Irish GAA star.
Derry senior star Chris McKaigue has just signed a new deal with the club, and will arrive in Australia in November."

Swans sign Derry star McKaigue ? Irish Echo Sport

[CJK]

Meh - I'm over this Irish thing

[Auntie.Gerald]

The article alludes to Murphy definitely goooorn !!

[Damien]

Northern Irish hey?, I have a few Northern Irish friends and they are very happy never to go back. (despite the improvements since the Good Friday agreement)

By the way, it's Londonderry to the Protestants and just Derry for the Catholics. I guess we will find out his religion soon enough once he talks about home

[Bas]

Meh - I'm over this Irish thing

Me too.

Hi Ho the derrio.

[reigning premier]

Hope we signed him up to a contract he can walk away from....

[Bas]

You'd think the Club would be getting Spudwiser.

[SimonH]

He does look like a real unit, that the Swans hope they can turn into a footballer.

Now if only the Swans could be persuaded to take the same approach (via the horribly neglected local rookie system) with some NSW boys who actually play football now.... And who won't need a passport to visit their parents.

[top40]

There must be a particular cultural issue with young Irish boys living abroad, and suffering home sickness and a desire to leave Australia. In the context of other football codes, (eg Rugby League and English lads), I can't think of a similar situation.

[liz]

He does look like a real unit, that the Swans hope they can turn into a footballer.

Now if only the Swans could be persuaded to take the same approach (via the horribly neglected local rookie system) with some NSW boys who actually play football now.... And who won't need a passport to visit their parents.

To be fair, they are investing heavily in developing NSW boys, but by scholarshipping them at 15-16 rather than rookie listing them at 18.

[Auntie.Gerald]

young "Wray" is a fantastic example of that.........

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/77079/default.aspx

[dimelb]

young "Wray" is a fantastic example of that.........


Four new faces at the Swans - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

Stinger!

[Auntie.Gerald]

ha.......Stinger it is

or just "Ray"

[liz]

A wee article about one of our newest recruits.

Irishman to make Sydney home

[Northern_Swan]

Northern Irish hey?, I have a few Northern Irish friends and they are very happy never to go back. (despite the improvements since the Good Friday agreement)

By the way, it's Londonderry to the Protestants and just Derry for the Catholics. I guess we will find out his religion soon enough once he talks about home

If he's a Gaelic Footballer it will be Derry for sure. the GAA games are, or at least have been in the past, almost exclusively Catholic