The role played by GAA clubs in supporting the health and wellbeing of their communities across Ireland and beyond will be showcased and celebrated at the virtual Healthy Club Conference 2021 on Saturday, January 23rd from 10.00-14.00. (Registration required, see link below.)
Throughout the event, delegates will have the opportunity participate in workshops covering healthy eating, diversity & inclusion, social Gaelic Games and youth leadership in the GAA. The topics will be brought to life through practical club case studies with additional contributions by exciting guest speakers.
The event, proudly delivered with GAA Healthy Club partners Healthy Ireland and Irish Life, is open to all GAA clubs and interested members. Attendees will get a flavour for the project and have an opportunity to experience some of the initiatives available through the GAA’s Community & Healthy Department.
The Healthy Club Project started as a small pilot involving just 18 clubs in 2014. As of 2021, it has engaged 300 clubs including a small number of the GAA’s international units. Its intention is to turn clubs into hubs for health in their communities. Before he became a household name, Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, attended in Croke Park in 2013 the first meeting held by the GAA to explore the potential of developing the Healthy Club Project. His keynote address will touch on the GAA’s community-based response to the pandemic and the place of the Healthy Club Project in supporting the health of the nation.
Other guest speakers on the day will include the head of performance nutrition for the Dublin senior ladies and Longford senior men’s football teams, Kate McDaid, activist and journalist Joanne O’Riordan, and former Wexford senior hurling captain Diarmuid Lyng.
Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, John Horan, said:
“Throughout 2020 our clubs delivered to our members and our communities invaluable supports and services. Clubs involved in the Healthy Club Project were to the fore of this work and I thank all the officers and volunteers involved for their efforts. This conference, delivered with our partners Irish Life and Healthy Ireland, offers the opportunity to celebrate this work and hopefully inspire other clubs to get involved.”
Declan Bolger, CEO, Irish Life said:
“During 2020, club volunteers and supporters did an incredible job looking after each other in their communities and helping everyone stay active. As we all work through another period of lockdown, the GAA Healthy Clubs programme has never been more important, and we are sure the generous spirit of supporters and volunteers will carry into 2021. At Irish Life, we hope that our MyLife app continues to help the GAA community throughout 2021, by keeping the competitive spirit going and allowing people to challenge each other to keep fit and healthy every day.”
Ciara Mellett, Head of Healthy Ireland, said:
“One of the key actions of Healthy Ireland is to empower people and communities and this is at the heart of the Healthy Club Project. This partnership highlights what we can achieve when we work together which is evident in the response by the members of the GAA to Covid 19 in communities across Ireland. It highlights the role a national sporting organisation can have in promoting health and wellbeing and I would like to acknowledge the commitment of all the members to this agenda.”
Click HERE to register your attendance for the conference and to receive any future correspondence regarding the event.
For more information regarding the Healthy Club Project please visit www.gaa.ie/community
By Majella Boyd Tue 19th Jan
