Kieran Read has played in two Rugby World Cup finals but the match atmosphere at Kilkerrin Clonberne is what sport is all about
"I was there when they won the cup, it was at a club ground and that was brilliant," admits former All Black captain of visit with Galway GAA club
Former All Black captain Kieran Read has faced down some mighty men in his time playing one of the world's most physical sports.
But the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, twice World Rugby Player of the Year, and seven-time Rugby Championship winner admits to having paled and fled in terror in the face of Ladies Football All Ireland senior club champions Kilkerrin Clonberne.
The Galway girls don't just know how to score a goal, kick their points at Father Stephen's Park and all-points east to Croke Park.
They can light a big fire to herald a return home and, notably, cup in hand celebrate in style.
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New Zealander Read has been visiting Clonberne and a storied, historic club that may have been initially a hurling stronghold, one of the 26 in Galway to play games under GAA Rules in 1885.
But their top-end tradition lives on not least as their ladies football team has won four All Ireland titles in-a-row (2021-24) - this on the back of seven consecutive Connacht and eight county titles.
The All Black's trip westwards for a new documentary series to be aired on TV over the Christmas period, coincided with Clonbrien's build-up to and the 2024 County and Provincial Finals: "I was there when they won and it was at a club ground and that was brilliant.
"People turn up, they come along, it's families, and it's from the granddad to the grandchild and I think that resonated with me in terms of when I think of the small rugby clubs dotted all around the country here in New Zealand.
The build-up, the match, the win, the anticipation of getting back to the village struck a chord with the 39 year-old Kiwi - a rugby player who has played in two World Cup finals, remember.
"Yeah, it was so cool, it was about Louise Ward and her team, I think they just won a week or so ago as well and the football was pretty amazing.
"And then afterwards it was like something you might see in, maybe, the United States kind of football or something when they come back from college.
"The horns are blasting and the bonfire and the turnout at every kind of house along the way. I guess they know the players because it is your home area and so that's pretty remarkable to see how much it meant to them."
Read, keeping company with midfield star Ward, was able to keep up it seems - to that point
"Louise mentioned that there's two pubs in the area and the two kind of alternate because they win so much over there apparently, - so the other pub was missing out this night but they must have got the All Ireland celebration last time around.
"It was good. They had a dinner brought in, they had put on a little bit of spread, you know, a few beers and drinks that they were enjoying.
"So they were down one end and the rest of the pub was full of kind of family and stuff or the public but I got out of there, mate.
"There was, you know, 30 ladies that I was a little bit worried about, so I had to get out of that pub pretty quick. No, no, 30 ladies, man. I was out of my depth!
"Look, I've enjoyed the time, had a good day, said congratulations, and then got out of there - when I caught up with Louise the next day, it looked like they had a good night.
"And, yeah, it was a Sunday night to Monday morning, they were having a good time down at the pub, you know, and then they were back up, getting up the next morning and going to work!"
This came as part of Read's travels across Ireland to meet with a variety of players from different clubs across different provinces.
The idea of exposing an athlete who had experienced the highest-profile role in all of professional rugby, the All Black captaincy - an honour for sure but it comes with pressure of an expectant nation of rugby fanatics - to amateur GAA players who must balance work, college and family life with club commitment had an interesting premise.
"I wanted to see the kind of things that goes on behind it, around it - obviously these people are amateur and they've got full-time jobs or are studying and the care and craft that they put into it of their own volition.
"It was awesome to see it, you could understand the whole reasoning behind why they do it as well because it means so much to them."
Episode One of ‘The Toughest Traits’ will feature Kilkerrin Clonberne and the aforementioned Louise Ward who, talking of her 'other' role, takes Read through the demands of balancing the demands of elite sport with the pressures of launching her own school and sportswear business, 'Gowa'.
Ballydonoghue GFC's Jason Foley, a recent All-Ireland winner with Kerry, who works as a special needs assistant also features.
Episode Two sees Read visiting Antrim and Loughgiel Shamrocks Camogie star Róisín McCormick who talks of her the tricky balance of club, county, and university commitments; this from a girl who overcame a scoliosis diagnosis that threatened to end her sporting dreams at a young age.
There is also a visit to Dublin and the taking in of a Cuala game with footballer Seán Brennan, exploring how he successfully navigates a demanding professional career with playing top-flight hurling.
Concludes Read: "I guess the difference between a professional rugby player and a GAA athlete is quite stark but you can still see the passion, you see what it means.
"There's a lot of similarities in terms of the traits that we operate with in terms of discipline and courage and setting goals and being really dedicated to your craft.
"I didn’t quite understand that it was purely you go back to your club and you play for their club because that's where you were born and where you were brought up.
"It's been pretty remarkable for me to get around the country and see a different side of Ireland to what I usually get to see with the All Blacks which is kind of Dublin hotel rooms and stadiums packed with people so yeah, it was a lot of fun, I really, really enjoyed that."
The Toughest Traits’ series aims to showcase the sacrifices players make to represent their GAA clubs with distinction, to be #TheToughest. Former All Black captain Kieran Read, a 12-year veteran of professional rugby, shadows the players on their day-to-day lives, offering a unique insider's perspective. First episode of ‘The Toughest Traits’ to be released on Thursday, December 26th, the remaining four episodes following on January 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd.
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