National Health & Wellbeing Conference   29/04/2015

The second National Health and Wellbeing Conference was held in Croke Park on Saturday, March 21. In his address, Aogán O’Fearghaill, Uachtarán CLG, stated that since its formation the GAA has been in the business of health. Conor Cusack’s keynote address truly inspired the audience. He reminded all present that they are part of a movement that has the power to make the GAA a healthier, happier, and more welcoming place for everyone. Dr Brendan Doody, a member of the GAA’s National Health & Wellbeing Committee, highlighted the health enhancing opportunities GAA clubs naturally provide. The Community and Health team in Croke Park, who organised the event, outlined the new structures in place including the formation of committees at national and county level, and the creation of the role of Club Health and Wellbeing Officer.

Dr Eddie Murphy, a clinical psychologist who has worked with the GPA and on RTE’s Operation Transformation, addressed some of the concerns Club Health and Wellbeing Officers may have had about their role, noting they weren’t expected to be counsellors for their club, but rather to act as a coordinator and signpost to the services in their communities while linking in with their county and national committees for any necessary support and guidance.

Another member of the GAA’s National Health & Wellbeing Committee, Fiona Teague, launched the GAA’s Critical Incident Response Plan, which was developed with the support of the Public Health Agency, the HSE’s psychological services, NEPS, and numerous clubs that had experienced their own critical incident in recent years. This toolkit – full of practical advice and resources – is now available to all GAA units and should be downloaded from www.gaa.ie/community as soon as possible for review and adaptation to suit your club or county’s needs.

The day came to a fascinating close with RTE’s Marty Morrissey chairing a lively afternoon panel discussion featuring Tony Griffin, Clare All Ireland winner and founder of the Soar Foundation, Valerie Mulcahy, nine time All Ireland winner with Cork, Eamon O’Shea, Tipperary manager and Professor in the School of Economics, NUIG, Críonna Tobin, a leading performance nutritionist, and Jason Hughes, former Monaghan footballer and one of the leader of Castleblayney’s Faughs award winning ‘Operation TransFAUGHmation’.

Topics under discussion included the importance of empowering our youth to reach their full potential while allowing them to become champions of their own destiny; the role clubs and coaches can play in fostering healthy eating habits in young members by linking such behaviour to their performance; the need to re-evaluate our nation’s use of alcohol as a component of so many of our social activities and gatherings; the importance of retaining an open and inclusive attitude to the lifestyle choices of all GAA members; and the valuable input our older generations can offer the GAA.

The event was also used as an opportunity to highlight the incredible work done by the 16 clubs, including Cumann Fionnbarra Naofa, who are participating in Phase 1 of the GAA Healthy Club project – all of whom received a special certificate on the day.