By Aideen O’Flaherty
A GROUP of 65 young people from GAA clubs in Tallaght took part in a three-day Youth Development and Wellbeing Programme last week, where they participated in many sport and fitness-focused endeavours.
The participants, ranging in age from 13 to 15, are all involved in local GAA clubs, and the three-day event gave them the opportunity to connect with other young people who are involved in GAA in Tallaght.
GAA Club members at the Wellbeing Programme in Tallaght Stadium
The first day of the programme, which was organised in partnership with South Dublin County Council, saw the teenagers take to the pitches of Tallaght Stadium for a GAA session. They also went to a wellbeing talk.
The second day took place in Thomas Davis, where there was a hurling session and a strength and conditioning session, while on the third day the teenagers went to Tallaght Leisure Centre where they did aqua-aerobics and Pilates.
Stephen Stewart from Thomas Davis, who organised the programme alongside David ‘Dotsy’ O’Callaghan from St Mark’s GAA Club, told The Echo: “I would hope that the teenagers would’ve taken something out of each [activity], that it might have improved their football and hurling skills.
“The programme was run as a collective, and I think that the kids bought into it with their clubs – the feedback has been very positive.”
Mr Stewart added that the programme fell under “the broader umbrella” of the GAA, and that it promoted fitness and wellbeing among the young people who took part.
This year was the first year the programme was run and, as a result of the positive response the organisers received, Mr Stewart is hopeful that the programme will return next summer.