Our chairman John Smyth welcomed Gerry Cooney (Offaly senior football manager and counsellor with the Rutland Centre), and Dr Niamh Farrelly, (Trim Junior Comhaltas and consultant psychiatrist at Trinity College). With an attendance of 75 prior to the Monalvey GFC Juvenile AGM, they engaged in an interactive discussion of “Preparing for life through sport” including the challenges for young people around drink, drugs, gambling and internet abuse. Both speakers acknowledged the tremendous efforts and success of Moynalvey and Kiltale GAA clubs, boys and girls, not only in terms of medals but also in creating a sense of family and community support.
Self esteem is the key
Gerry spoke about the important and unique contribution of our GAA clubs in creating a sense of self esteem, beginning at the nursery and underage where young player’s participation during the training and games helps build a self confidence. Gerry spoke directly to the team mentors in suggesting that they had a key role in building life shaping confidence through coaching and encouraging kids. He embraced the concepts in our “code of good behaviour” which focused especially in early years, not in a “win at all costs” approach but on inclusiveness and participation. The constant theme during the evening was the role of the parents. He challenged coaches, supporters and parents to teach respect for other teams, mentors, and referees.
Teach us to solve problems
Niamh suggested that the value of the GAA clubs was that it provided an opportunity for young people to begin making their own decisions, from tying bootlaces in the nursery to minors preparing a game plan for championship. She emphasised that young people relate very well to role models, be it the older players or coaches. Many of the kid’s behaviours were learned from parental and sporting role models.
Club support – child to adult
Niamh related how she encountered many young people in university who had mental issues, often triggered by over reliance on internet & facebook interactions, where these young people develop an internet ID. – miles away from reality. Subsequently when real life problems arise they can’t handle it and they “collapse in a heap”. Sporting in particular GAA clubs involvement helps provide young people with the skills to meet people, solve problems, and deal with life challenges that inevitably arise.
College students – drink or drugs?
When she began her role as psychiatrist in Trinity College she related how she had expected drug abuse issues to dominate. Surprisingly it was the student drink culture that shocked her and drink was the background issue behind most of the mental challenges she dealt with in her professional career. She had to learn a new vocabulary e.g. “shoulder of vodka”. She described how scientifically the brain cellular structure was still in a state of development up to 22 years of age and that constant over exposure to mild altering substances such as alcohol undoubtedly had an effect on cognitive and learning ability.
She suggested to the young audience and their parents and older role model players the Irish drinking culture was out of control. Gerry challenged both parents the club by asking “how can we expect our kids to use alcohol responsibly when, often as parents we behave differently and are poor role models?” “How do the minors celebrate championship success?” “What messages are sponsors seeping into our brains with “Heineken cup” “Guinness hurling championship” or even “Budweiser Derby”? Audience members suggested that the “in your face” presence of cheap alcohol in many local grocery stores in itself was inappropriate. Gerry explained that he wasn’t against drink parse but suggested that parents and young adults should realise that at 16 or even 18 years of age we are not really mature enough to handle alcohol, and that we often made poor decisions during and after excess alcohol consumption. There was significant evidence that repeated drinking at a young age leads to dependency and crisis. The audience suggested that, in many cases, parents tolerated a “few drinks” at an early age (16-17) almost as a trade off and relief that their kid wasn’t using drugs. Others asked about the culture of wine drinking in France but Gerry pointed out that not only was the French culture completely different but also that France had the highest level of liver damage in Europe.
The bottom line was that the club had a very positive role to play – but to be careful that the correct example was given especially from our sporting heroes and mentors! To conclude we all wished Gerry All Ireland success with Offaly in 2012 and wished Niamh a belated congratulations for her All Ireland success with the Naomh Padraig ceili band!
