GAA Healthy Club Phase 5
Our club has been selected to participate in Phase 5 of the GAA Healthy Club Project. This phase will run for approximately 18 months. We look forward to continued community involvement with the new initiatives that we will undertake as part of the Healthy club project.
Healthy Club Project
The Healthy Club project aims to help GAA clubs explore how they support the holistic health of their members and the communities they serve. GAA clubs already contribute to the health and wellbeing of their members by providing opportunities to develop their physical, social, emotional, and psychological health.
The project aims to help GAA clubs identify what they are already doing well, identify areas where they can or would like to improve, and empower them to ensure that everyone who engages with their club benefits from the experience in a health-enhancing way, be they players, officers, coaches, parents, supporters, or members of their local community.
The healthy club model, which is based on best national and international practice, also aims to embed a healthy philosophy in a club while integrating health into the day-to-day club activities in a sustainable way. It also aims to place the local GAA club at the heart of the community, making it a beacon for health in the locality.
Irish Life Steps Challenge
During the summer of 2020 our club took part in the first Irish Life steps challenge. We finished 14th out of 79th in Connaught and 2nd in Leitrim. We had a combined total of over 2 million steps as a club and there was a real sense of pride and achievement with our result. It was very uplifting to see many neighbours meeting on similar walking routes in a time of lockdown when no one could meet normally.
In January of 2021 we completed our second steps challenge with Irish Life. We had 45 people sign up to step it out and together walked an amazing 15,000km. We finished 27th in Connaught and 3rd in Leitrim. Another huge success, which helped many in the community get out and about in the winter lockdown. The club would like to thank everyone who took part in both challenges and contributed to the success.
Pictured are Fiona McManus, Anne Heslin and Mags McManus who were our top three steppers, with a combined total of over 2 million steps. The three ladies are pictured here with their goodie bags from the club.
Darkness into Light 2021
We had many club members and others from the community brave the elements on May 8th and walk in aid of Pieta House. The club shared our own message of hope with the word shining in lights throughout the night. Our 'hope' light was displayed at the club grounds and many chose to pass this on their walk.
One Good Coach
A number of underage coaches have completed the One Good Coach course, highlighting the importance of being there not just as a coach but also as "One Good Adult" when needed, for all our players at the club. For anyone else that would like to complete the course please use the web address below:
https://learning.gaa.ie/courses/OneGoodCoach/#/
Gortletteragh GAA are going smoke free
Gortletteragh GAA club is participating in Phase 5 of the GAA's Healthy Club Project which promotes health and well-being within the club and the surrounding community.
As part of the Healthy Club project the club is going smoke free in 2022. By going smoke free the club is helping to create an awareness about GAA clubs being hubs for healthy living. The club wants to set a positive example, protect their members, volunteers & visitors from the dangers of first and second-hand smoke exposure. The club also wants to reduce the impact of tobacco, vape and other harmful chemicals on sports performance and create a safer GAA grounds atmosphere for everyone involved, especially children.
Recognising the importance of the children in the community in making this a successful initiative, the club asked the children in the local national school to design posters with the slogan "Healthy Lungs At Play". All the posters have been used to create colourful signs to display around the grounds.
The club hopes that all members and visitors to the club take ownership of this initiative by not smoking.
Pictured below are some of the children from Gortletteragh N.S with their prize-winning posters which will be on display at the club grounds.
