John O'Mahony and John Prenty pictured with the players at Wednesday's Walking Gaelic Football match at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome.
By Cian O’Connell
“The idea that you'd be playing football would be hard to believe a few weeks ago,” Kathleen Cunnane laughs about how the past couple of months have unfolded.
Ultimately on Wednesday at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome a worthwhile and rewarding Walking Gaelic Football project involving GAA Community and Health Department, Connacht GAA, Alone and facilitated by UPMC was reflected.
It was fitting that two hugely regarded and decorated managers, Seán Boylan and John O’Mahony, played a part in the process. Boylan’s talk on positive ageing struck a chord.
Then on Wednesday O’Mahony was in charge of one of the teams in the game, with the highly regarded Connacht GAA secretary John Prenty managing the other.
“The day that Seán Boylan was there a few months ago, it was about positive ageing, Alone were involved, we signed up, we might be interested in something later on,” Cunnane explains.
“They contacted us to see if we were still interested. We did the six week exercise programme first, which I think was great. I think every one of us improved a little bit with balance, co-ordination, and whatever else they tested us on.
"A doctor had to sign us off first. At least we knew we were good to go. It was very enjoyable.
“Some of us are willing to gave anything a try because you mightn't get too many chances at this stage. You have to try anything. Maybe it is the stubborn streak in me, but I don't like to admit defeat.”
Claremorris’ Denis O’Boyle, who remains hugely involved in the GAA in administration roles, acknowledges Boylan’s words. The fact that so many contributed to this success story matters.
A Walking Gaelic Football match took place at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome this week.
“Connacht GAA deserve tremendous credit, as do UPMC and Alone for actually giving us an opportunity to meet with each other, rekindle previous friendships we had and strengthen them going forward,” O’Boyle says.
“It was a pilot project. The likes of Colin Regan and Stuart Maloney from the Community & Health Department, Kurt Reinhardt, John Prenty, Cathal Cregg, and Daniel Forde from Connacht GAA, Sinéad Reinhardt from Alone.
The two people we had from UPMC were John Correll and Jonathan Doherty. They were very professional, but also very friendly - they made us feel at ease. They conducted the six week class. Then we were told we were going to have a game. That was a new concept for us all.”
O’Boyle, a former Mayo footballer, stresses the post training chats as being vital too. It all stemmed from the atmosphere created in Bekan. “We were always made feel welcome, we didn't feel like we were a burden to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, we felt very much welcomed with open arms which was lovely,” he adds. “The doors were open, we felt very much at home.
“While the fitness classes, balance, strength, and cardio was very important, we had a cup of tea afterwards. The cup of tea and the sit down talk - people you maybe didn't know before, you sat with them, it was amazing.
“You joked, you had a bit of fun and craic. That was the secret weapon of it all. It was unexpected but really relevant. It was a very positive experience.”
Cunnane is part of a walking group with several former work colleagues, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience too. “We went the two days that had the bit of training,” she says. “I just found when they were having us do the warm ups, you were moving a lot of muscles that you wouldn't if you were just walking.
“I'm lucky enough in that I'm reasonably fit, but it certainly did help me. It was the fun and the laughter in the training sessions. Those of us who have reached what they used to say in the bible, three score and 10, we are all either side of that.
“The social side of it was great, there was always tea and sandwiches - not that we were hungry - it was just the social aspect of it. We also got to know other people.”
Action from the game at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome.
An outlet was provided, the sheer joy of sport evident according to Cunnane. “You might have days where you'd feel like not doing anything, there might be something at the back of your mind taking precedence,” she reflects.
“Yet, when you got there, particularly the football aspect, there was so much fun in it, you forgot about whatever you were thinking about before you left home.”
The matchday itself went smoothly too. “In the Dome we had a match programme with all of the names listed,” O’Boyle explains.
“There was a parade, we had the national anthem, we even had team photographs. Then the game began, it was nine v nine, a white team and a blue team - the Connacht colours. We had a referee and two managers, John O'Mahony, the former Mayo and Galway manager, and John Prenty from Connacht GAA.
“All I'll say was it was such fun. It was competitive - don't get me wrong, when the ball was thrown in we forgot our age.
“Everything else went out the door. Like all good matches it ended in a draw, four goals each. It was an outstanding success, a wonderful experience. Everyone was involved all of the time, it was great fun.
“It was tailored to our age group and our needs. Everyone found an improvement in their fitness, it wasn't that we were doing huge amounts, it was just a gradual improvement and it was age appropriate.
“There was a mix of male and female of varying ages and abilities, but everyone got something from it.”
The replay date will be announced by Connacht GAA shortly.
**Any clubs interested in Walking Gaelic football can email Stuart Moloney at this address – **stuart.moloney@gaa.ie