Maddie Baehr didn’t get to do any of the fun things usually associated with Memorial Day weekend.
No beach. No boating. No barbecues.
“I was invited to a lot of graduation parties, too, but I had to decline,” said the recent Braden River High grad.
And why’s that?
Maddie’s reason floored folks.
“I’m playing flag football for Ireland!”
Indeed, instead of hanging out on Anna Maria Island, Maddie was in Ireland last weekend, seeing relatives in County Cork before accompanying Ireland’s Women’s National Flag Football Team to the Netherlands. There the elite two-sport athlete and her Irish teammates are playing in a friendly tournament this weekend against Sweden and the host Dutch in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, a prelude to the sports’ debut at the 2028 LA Summer Olympics.
“It’s been a little bit of a dream,” said Maddie’s mom, Mary.
A dream come true for her 18-year-old daughter.
She holds dual citizenship thanks to Mom, whose mother was an Irish immigrant, pursuing the registration process a couple of years ago.
“I swear, when I got my Irish citizenship, I joked, wouldn’t that be crazy if we did something like this?” Maddie said. “I was so intrigued by the possibility.”
Luck o’ the Irish?
Turns out one of Mom’s many Irish cousins had a team contact, the Baehrs followed up and, lo’ and behold, Maddie was invited to tryouts in Dublin. So she and dad Matt flew there last February.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It’s definitely different than how it’s played here, but you could tell they have skills that come from their sports like Gaelic football and soccer. They’re such great athletes.”
So is Maddie.
An honorable mention All-State defender in flag football and a Herald-Tribune All-Area soccer midfielder, the McNeese State soccer commit has the chops, all right, and speed, too.
Maddie made the team.
“I was so excited when I got the call. Having Irish roots, it just felt awesome.”
For reasons deeper than flag football.
“I never really had that cultural aspect in my life, especially living so far away,” she said. “But now, being able to go over there more often, a bonus with being on this team, actually immersing myself in Ireland, being a part of Irish culture, seeing my family that much more, is going to be amazing. I feel so connected to it.”
That’s broadened Maddie’s appreciation of what wearing the Irish jersey means, even if it’s going to take a balancing act with her soccer commitments at McNeese going forward.
“Our team doesn’t just represent the Republic of Ireland. We represent Northern Ireland, as well. I know a lot of Irish want a united Ireland and having a team representing both is cool. We have girls from Northern Ireland and they’re so lovely, so nice and welcoming to someone from America.”
And you can bet Maddie’s new teammates are taking her along for some Irish “craic” in Amsterdam, one of Europe’s hippest cities, when they’re not on the playing field.
“We’ve definitely got some team bonding scheduled. It’ll be fun.”
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
