Kerry legend Aidan O’Mahony, former Antrim hurling captain Neil McManus, and Eimear Kelly, Clare camogie star, have been announced as the special guests at the Irish Life GAA Healthy Club Conference on Saturday, November 18th in Croke Park.
There are a limited number of tickets still available for this free event, which will this year celebrate the tenth anniversary of the award-winning Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme. From a modest start involving just 16 clubs, it has engaged 450 clubs to date. The event will also mark the opening of expressions of interest for the next phase of the Healthy Clubs programme with 150-200 clubs expected to apply. (See link below to register for the free conference which includes refreshments on arrival and lunch.)
The informative and engaging agenda will see Dr. Eilis Lawlor reveal the key findings and insights from the recent independent evaluation she conducted into the Healthy Clubs programme, including the programme’s positive impact on participants and the GAA volunteers who deliver it on behalf of their members and communities. Dr. Lawlor will also reveal the social return on investment that Healthy Clubs deliver, which finally allows the GAA to quantify some of its contribution to Irish society beyond the promotion of Gaelic Games.
A highlight of the day is always the player panel discussion, and all three contributors have a great story to share. While Aidan O’Mahony is best known for his swashbuckling centre-back career with Kerry and the five all Ireland medals he won during that time, he has become an advocate for fitness and well-being since his retirement from the game. His Laochra Gael and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ winning performance revealed another side to the star defender and won him many additional fans.
Neil McManus recently retired following a once-in-a-generation career with the Antrim hurlers. He’s fresh from captaining both his Club Ruairi Og Cushendall to an Antrim Senior Hurling title and the Ireland team to Shinty victory in Scotland. Neil is passionate about his place and people and is a ambassador for the RNLI and the GAA’s Community Hearts Programme.
Eimear Kelly of Clare Camogie also recently experienced County final glory with her club Clonlara Truagh. Eimear is an assistant lecturer in sports pedagogy and coaching science and is also undertaking a PHD with the Munster Technological University. One element of Eimear’s research aims to increase visibility of sporting female role models to inspire a higher participation rate in sports and physical activity among the next generation through exposure to more role models.
Along with workshops facilitated by clubs at the heart of the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme, the afternoon session will see Dr Noel McCaffrey, founder of ExWell Medical (and father to former Footballer of the Year, Jack McCaffrey) take to the stage to share insights into healthy ageing and how clubs can cater for a wider audience than the traditional playing population.
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Limited spots are still available for the Irish life GAA Healthy Clubs Conference on November 18*th Croke Park, the conference is open to all GAA, Camogie and LGFA clubs. Please be sure to register here: https://forms.office.com/e/y3fJthnMiT
For more information regarding the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs Programme please visit https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/community-and-health/
By Tipperary GAA Thu 9th Nov
