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GAA CLUBS ACROSS the country are opening up to entire communities and not just those who know how to kick a ball.
The Healthy Clubs Project means that clubs are now hosting a range of initiatives from mental health management programmes to classes in healthy eating.
So far sixty clubs have taken part in the project which is aimed at targeting everyone in the community – especially those who are not normally involved in sports.
Michelle Morgan from Roscommon told TheJournal.ie that while her brothers played GAA, she was “never going to be the sporty girl”.
She went along to her local Oran club after a neighbour mentioned it to her last January.
“It was nothing like what I thought it would be. The first night I went, I remember the girls at the door being so friendly, everyone went at their own pace.
Nobody was looking to see how you were, they were just happy to see you came.
People aged from 16 to 70 took part in the eight week programme that involved fitness classes on Thursday nights and a run on Saturdays, ending with a 5 or 10k on the final Saturday.
Morgan added that while the trainer Ciara was always watching, “She would never correct anyone out loud so people didn’t have to be embarrassed.”
“Everybody has the craic and each week you don’t know who you’re going to be with so you’re meeting new people.”
Morgan said it was a great way for her to get to know the community better.
“I’m originally from Roscommon town, but doing this meant I met people from all of the Oran community and even the neighbouring parish.
I’ve met people I never spoke to in the parish before, I didn’t come from Oran but I couldn’t move back to the town now, I feel like I’m from here.
Morgan said things have evolved this year and she’s now on the committee.
“Now I’m on the other side giving back what was given to me.”
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The GAA is already embedded in every community in the country, great to see them branching out like this so they are a focal point for the whole community rather than just those who have an interest in football or hurling.
Fair play to those involved, hope to see this initiative spread.
It’s hard to find a badly run GAA club and they are a credit to every community, unlike a lot of them FAI boys. You really only appreciate the difference when you have kids who want to play ball without the bull sh!t.
Pat they’re clutching at straws people are getting sick of HQs attitude to grassroots level and youngsters are opting to play other sports like never Before the GAA is losing its clutch on rural Ireland and i for one am delighted to see it.Every other sporting club/organisation in the world offer and do the same as the GAA to communities etc it’s just GAA heads think they’re special and doing people a favour
I’ve plenty of interest in sport just none in the GAA. Not all of us were born into GAA families.
You’re the type of person this initiative is aimed at
About time too!! Great initiative
Don’t Waste your time reaching out to me. I hate the GAA.
Thanks for that Alex. I’m sure everyone is relieved to know that.
Why?
@Alex Falcone: Lots of people see GAA as a hick sport, and the players something out of Deliverance. But in fairness, they have a foothold in every community in the country. If any sporting organisation has the means and infrastructure to get involved at that level, it’s the GAA.
And in country areas, most of the people not involved directly with the club in one form or another, drink in the club bar for chap drink. It’s like a mens shed on steroids.
@Mr Snuffleupagus: Rugby is more associated with alchohol especially Guinness. Eg the Guinness series, Guiness pro 12 etc.
@Alex Falcone:You’re a total spanner guy, that comment was unnecessary.
Just goes to show it’s a sign of the times youngsters and even older people are leaving the GAA in their droves in favour of other sports and they’re scrapping the barrel looking for more members to fund HQ
@Alan b..: @Gerard Heery: well time will tell if this is true or not. Other sports have problems too, head injuries in Rugby, not great teams in LOI soccer, and high cost of Golf.
Lol not great teams in LOI soccer have you not seen the standard of Gaelic football being played here bar maybe 3 games a year in the latter stages of the GAA not mention hurling outside outside of the top 5to 6 teams.as for rugby and head injuries they’re few and far between at amateur level thank god
GAA has problems but so does other sports. Why pick on the GAA. They are offering their grounds to Rugby world cup. And lots of Irish soccer players are ex GAA also.
They are only thinking about the few pound
About time. Considering that they are all about the centre of the community. This way all can embrace the local GAA even if they don’t like gaelic games
GAA – embedded in every community! Sadly, no other country has heard of our games, which are only played here – and by those of us who had to leave.
@Mahmoud O’Connell: Not true ,there are GAA clubs in every major city in the world. GAA is better than the Irish government if you ask me. But the GAA hating media and others always slag it off. Gaelic football is the greatest game in the world, followed by hurling!
Every major city. Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai? Walk up – soccer is played in every country on earth – all 200+
wake* asked in an Irish pub, in Berlin recently – where could I get a game of Irish football – they had no idea. ex-pats play the odd game. Pubs teams mostly..like Marseille. Where is there a league, except UK?
UK GAA centre is Ruislip, where I play on Sundays. But we’re realistic – very few spectators, just there for the cheap beer – and to watch Sky at 4, soccer.
@Mahmoud O’Connell: just be greatful you get to play in Ruislip.
the grab all association
Gaa darts championship
They can try reaching out to me but I can’t see them letting me use the field for polo, mounted skill at arms (sword and Lance) and archery practice or the hall as a Kendo and Iaido Dojo. I did ask once about cricket for the craic and got a pint thrown over me. No sense of humour at all.
For the record, in case anyone thinks it a British thing, I come from a long line of Wild Geese that served in just about every army in Europe. 300 years of cavalry since the family left Ireland. Those skills were essential for employment and the Irish were known as the best in Europe. After the Treaty of Limerick we went to France then on to Russia and Vienna and more. It is a tradition that has been handed down and every generation trained the next as I will do. The real martial arts of the Irish were always mounted. My great grandfather is often held up as one of the best known of the Wild Geese in Russia. What I am saying is that if you think it’s a British thing you need badly to learn some European history and the place of the Irish within it. The Irish horseman on the field of battle was the best. That is something to be proud of. I have completed in competitions in many countries. The Polish are currently the best and the Germans a close second. It makes GAA like montessori.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: what is your point? Do u want the GAA to play on horseback?
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: what is your point? Do u want the GAA to play on horseback?
OK, that’s an interesting idea. All I was trying to say is that they claim all heritage of Irish sport and nothing outside of their field of vision is even tolerated. There a lot more to the history of Irish sport and culture than the GAA. Apart from that the Irish polo teams are world class and they are never heard of. The horse has played a bigger part in Irish history and heritage than any stick-waving sport. Again the problem J have had with the GAA is the whole pseudo religious nationalist thing that belongs in the past.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: well if that is how you feel about the GAA how do you feel about the Orange order and the 12th of July. Remember 1690 and so on. Not too many GAA lads/lassies marching in these parades!
Ois this mo just an admission that the rossies are giving up football
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