The Italian Job. Donegal star takes on the World.
Burt camogie player combines life in Rome with international GAA ambitions as she prepares for the World Games.
Burt woman Clodagh McKinney will proudly fly the flag for Italy this week when she lines out on the European Open Camogie team at the GAA World Games in Waterford.
The 20-year-old, who is currently studying Physiotherapy at UniCamillus Medical University in Rome, has combined life abroad with her passion for Gaelic games since moving to Italy three years ago.
A lifelong camogie player with CLG Beart (Burt GAA), Clodagh joined Rome Hibernia GAA shortly after arriving in the Italian capital, where she found both a sporting outlet and a welcoming community.
Although camogie has always been her first love, it was in Rome that she first took up Gaelic football.
"Like most Irish people who move abroad, I joined the local GAA club to help me settle," Clodagh said. “It has since become a home away from home."
Rome Hibernia primarily fields Gaelic football teams due to player numbers, but Clodagh has continued to develop her camogie skills while also becoming one of the club's strongest midfielders.
Last year the Burt woman represented Italy in Gaelic football at the Kingspan Euro Gaelic Games in France, but this year's World Games will see her return to her preferred code.
"At Rome Hibernia we mainly play Gaelic football as our numbers don't facilitate camogie," she explained.
"There are plenty of us in the club who will go for a puck about after our football sessions to keep our touch, but I have only ever played camogie for Burt."
As the only camogie player from Italy selected, Clodagh will represent the country as part of the European Open Camogie team, made up of players from clubs across Europe that do not have enough players to field their own teams.
"I will be representing the European Open Camogie team and, as the only camogie player from Italy, it will be a great honour to fly the flag for Italy."
Camogie has been a major part of Clodagh's life for almost 13 years. Throughout that time she has represented Burt with distinction and also worn the Donegal jersey.
She credits much of her development to the support she received at her home club and from her father, Liam McKinney, who has coached Burt camogie for the past three years.
"My dad has obviously been a huge influence on my camogie development, and I even managed to get him to coach a session with Rome Hibernia when he was visiting last year."
With limited opportunities to train in camogie while living in Rome, Clodagh has had to be creative in her preparations.
"We unfortunately don't have enough camogie or hurling players in Rome to hold proper training sessions consistently, so most of my camogie training is done whenever I am back home with Burt.
"I expect the standard at the World Games to be close to what it is back home, so I have been doing plenty of skill work on my own to prepare."
Away from the pitch, Clodagh is entering her third year of Physiotherapy and is currently completing the final 500 hours of her clinical internship in hospitals across Rome.
Despite enjoying life in Italy, she says her long-term ambition is to return home.
"I will be back in a Burt jersey as soon as I can after university.
"We have a young team who have all played together through the age groups, so hopefully we have many successful years ahead of us."
The Burt Camogie star also encourages other young people to consider studying overseas. "It can be a bit daunting at first, but that's where the GAA is so special.”
"From the very first session with Rome Hibernia, everyone made me feel welcome. It became my place away from home, and I have no doubt that GAA clubs throughout Europe do the same for young players."
Reflecting on life in Italy, Clodagh said she has enjoyed immersing herself in Roman culture while studying and playing GAA.
"Life in Rome is very much how you would imagine: plenty of coffee, pasta and gelato.”
"It has been a great experience not only seeing the typical touristy parts but seeing the real Rome through my hospital placements and meeting people from every corner of the city.
"I wouldn't be Irish if I didn't mention the weather. It's incredible, although the 40-degree heat during July and August is a step too far for my liking.”
Clodagh, who attended St Aengus National School in Bridgend before moving on to Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, is now looking forward to taking to the field in Waterford.
The European Open Camogie team faces a challenging Group A campaign against Asia, Britain 1, Britain 2 and the Middle East, with their opening fixture taking place this Wednesday evening before three further matches on Thursday.
For the young Donegal woman, representing Italy while carrying the camogie traditions of Burt onto the world stage is another proud chapter in a remarkable sporting journey.