By John Harrington
This week is International Men’s Health Week which aims to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages, support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices, and encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
Exercising in groups has been proven to be especially beneficial because it provides both physical exercise as well as a social outlet which is why team sport is so popular among men.
Quite often though males lose that outlet when they reach a certain age, and the void left when they step away from team sport can lead to both poor mental as well as physical health.
Thankfully age should never be a reason for hanging up those boots, because the ‘GAA for Dads & Lads’ social football and hurling programme provides the opportunity to enjoy Gaelic games outside of the traditional competitive structures.
The emphasis is on social interaction while doing something fun to keep fit, and everyone is welcome regardless.
The explosion in the number of clubs who now offer ‘GAA for Dads & Lads’ testifies to the popularity of the programme.
Group exercise initiatives such as 'GAA for Dads & Lads' can have a hugely positive impact on both physical and mental health.
As the old saying goes, if you build it they will come, which is something that Colm O’Brien discovered first-hand when he set up ‘The Ould Puckers’ social hurling team in Oylegate-Glenbrien GAA club in Wexford.
“Around minor I finished up hurling in the club but then once my three chaps came along I started getting back into it again and this opportunity came up because my brother started social hurling with Naas and was telling me about it so I said I'd give it a lash here as well,” O’Brien told GAA.ie.
“So, I put it up on the club's facebook page one evening and the phone was pinging for two weeks after that with lads expressing an interest so we held a meeting one evening and we took it from there.
“We set it up two years ago and at the moment we have 27 on the group with a good few more dipping in and out.
“The lads all absolutely love it. A few of them never hurled before and are new to the game but have children involved and this has brought them more into the club.
“We get out together once a week and the club has been great to us in facilitating that. We got a new astro last year and we used that all over the winter.
“No matter what the weather, we get up there, whether it's six of us or 20 of us and we get our hour in and have the craic. It's good for both body and mind because you're exercising but you're also having the banter and having the craic.
“It's just great in general, it's one of the best things I've ever done.”
The 'Ould Puckers' from Oylegate-Glenbrien GAA club pictured taking part in the 2023 GAA National Social Hurling Blitz in Abbotstown.
The vacuum left in their life when someone retires from competitive Gaelic football and hurling can be a significant, and not just because they no longer play the sport they love.
No longer being a part of a team and the craic that goes along with a dressing-room environment can feel like an even greater loss and sometimes leads to social isolation and mental health issues.
Social hurling and Gaelic football gives players the opportunity to remain part of a sporting and social network long after their days of competitive club action have ended.
“Yeah, there's a brilliant social side to it as well, we try to get out together as a group at least every second month of a Saturday evening or else if we have a match we'll often socialise after it,” says O’Brien.
“It's great that way too for building connections with other clubs and other teams.
"We have a couple of social hurling groups that we arrange matches through and we have our own social hurling blitz coming up this Saturday in Oylegate-Glenbrien. We have St. Olaf's, Cuala, and Maynooth coming down to us.
“We're raising funds for Jack and Jill and have a big local raffle going as part of the weekend for what's a great cause.
“There's a great wider social hurling community now and if you ever want to meet up for a game it's very easy to contact other clubs.
“GAA for Dads & Lads is just a great initiative, I couldn’t say enough good things about it.
“All the lads in our club who do it would tell you it's one of the best things they've ever done. Its' across the board in every club.
“You get to know the lads from other clubs and build relationships and then you'll bring up your club's U-14 team to play their club's U-14 team on the strength of that.
“So as a community thing it's brilliant and for both your mental and physical health it's excellent.”
If you think there is an appetite for social hurling or football group in your club or county and would like more information and/or to register a GAA Dads & Lads team, click on the link below to the Dads & Lads section of the GAA Learning site.
GAA Dads & Lads Information and Registration Form - https://learning.gaa.ie/DadsandLads