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Gaelic football success for Royal Berkshire Hospital nurses | Gaelic football success for Royal Berkshire Hospital nurses |
(1 day later) | |
An influx of Irish nurses at a Berkshire hospital has led to the creation of a successful ladies Gaelic football side. | An influx of Irish nurses at a Berkshire hospital has led to the creation of a successful ladies Gaelic football side. |
St Anthony's Gaelic football team draws its players from staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) in Reading, which has about 150 Irish nurses. | St Anthony's Gaelic football team draws its players from staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) in Reading, which has about 150 Irish nurses. |
Many have left the Republic of Ireland because of the economic situation. | Many have left the Republic of Ireland because of the economic situation. |
The team is due to play a demonstration match at Reading's Madejski Stadium on Sunday. | The team is due to play a demonstration match at Reading's Madejski Stadium on Sunday. |
The St Anthony's team was set up in 2010 by Dee Donohoe, 29, who works as an occupational therapist in the stroke unit at RBH and plays as a forward in the side. | The St Anthony's team was set up in 2010 by Dee Donohoe, 29, who works as an occupational therapist in the stroke unit at RBH and plays as a forward in the side. |
Ms Donohoe, who moved to Reading from County Mayo in 2002, said: "It was an idea which came from the girls living away from home wanting a bit of home comfort and tradition. | Ms Donohoe, who moved to Reading from County Mayo in 2002, said: "It was an idea which came from the girls living away from home wanting a bit of home comfort and tradition. |
League winners | League winners |
"It's about more than the sport - it's about support, and getting to meet people when you have moved away from home for the first time. | "It's about more than the sport - it's about support, and getting to meet people when you have moved away from home for the first time. |
"We've had the core group of Irish girls bolstered by others just wanting to learn a new sport - we've got a pretty successful team on our hands." | "We've had the core group of Irish girls bolstered by others just wanting to learn a new sport - we've got a pretty successful team on our hands." |
The team will be playing a demonstration match at the half time break during the London Irish v Sale Sharks rugby union match at the 24,000 capacity Madejski Stadium. | The team will be playing a demonstration match at the half time break during the London Irish v Sale Sharks rugby union match at the 24,000 capacity Madejski Stadium. |
"We're hoping we can show people how far we've come," said Ms Donohoe. | "We're hoping we can show people how far we've come," said Ms Donohoe. |
In their first year of competitive action, the team won the London Junior Championship and Junior League, losing only one game in the process. | In their first year of competitive action, the team won the London Junior Championship and Junior League, losing only one game in the process. |
There is also a St Anthony's men's team, which has been going since the 1960s. | There is also a St Anthony's men's team, which has been going since the 1960s. |
The women's squad is made up of about 80% of Royal Berkshire Hospital staff - nurses, nursing students, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. | The women's squad is made up of about 80% of Royal Berkshire Hospital staff - nurses, nursing students, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. |
'Recruited very heavily' | 'Recruited very heavily' |
It is estimated that 42,000 Irish people emigrated last year - almost 1% of the Republic's population. | It is estimated that 42,000 Irish people emigrated last year - almost 1% of the Republic's population. |
With the unemployment rate edging towards 15%, the same number is expected to leave next year, if not more. | With the unemployment rate edging towards 15%, the same number is expected to leave next year, if not more. |
"It's all the qualified people who are leaving. It'll be a while before the economy is strong enough to sustain all the jobs in the health sector," said Ms Donohoe. | "It's all the qualified people who are leaving. It'll be a while before the economy is strong enough to sustain all the jobs in the health sector," said Ms Donohoe. |
A Royal Berkshire Hospital spokesman said: "We have recruited very heavily for nurses in Ireland over the past couple of years as there are always shortages of nurses in this part of the country. | |
Another 19 Irish nurses are due to start work at the hospital this week. | Another 19 Irish nurses are due to start work at the hospital this week. |
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