GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 34 – September 19, 2015 | Page 22

INTERVIEW
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

JOE MELIA
In our interview section this issue, we profile Middle East Gaelic footballer, hurler, official and former county player, Joe Melia.
WHERE YOU FROM ARE IN IRELAND AND
WHAT GAA CLUB DID YOU PLAY FOR?
I’m from County Meath. My GAA club is Moylagh GAA,
a rural junior Football, Hurling and Ladies football club in
North Meath.
WHAT LEVEL DID YOU PLAY AT?
Our club have been a junior football and hurling club for
many years. I’ve played county underage hurling up to minor
level, and I would have played county minor and U21 football.
WHAT COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN NOW AND
WHEN DID YOU FIRST COME HERE?
I live in Bahrain in the Middle East. Bahrain is a small island
(about the size of Louth) off the east coast of Saudi Arabia. I
came to work here in June 2011 with ESB International.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE ARABIAN CELTS CLUB?
Bahrain is a small island so the GAA club was the obvious
choice to make friends when I arrived.

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WAS IT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
I guess not. There’s a strong mix of nationalities at the club,
we have currently 15 ethnici