Mullingar Shamrocks: A Pilot Club for Ahead of the Game initiative

The Ahead of the Game mental health initiative is a partnership between Movember and the GAA. Mullingar Shamrocks has been chosen as the pilot club for the venture thanks to the enthusiasm that our Healthy Club Officer, Joan Ormsby brings to her role. On Monday night we hosted the UK Trainers who travelled to Ireland to train members of the Gaelic Players Association who will deliver the Ahead of the Game Mental Health Workshops over next 5 years to clubs nationwide. The primary focus of the programme will be on those aged between 12 and 18 Years of age.

On Monday thanks to Joan, our coaches and parents and guardians 23 boys and 23 girls attended two separate workshop delivered by the UK trainers. Members of the GPA, who plan to deliver the programme, attended to observe the delivery. With typical attention to detail Joan Ormsby organised horticulturalist Isolde Dingerkus to deliver a biodiversity walk and talk around our walking track for the GPA trainers who were divided into two groups observing the programme delivery.

Canadian Ice Hockey, UK Rugby, and Australian NFL has already adopted this initiative, and the GAA are the latest governing body to adopt the programme. Mullingar Shamrocks are honoured to act as a pilot club to support the initiative. We are a family friendly, health promoting and inclusive club and are delighted to support an initiative that will potentially be a major benefit to the mental health of all young GAA members.