What is a healthy club?
The aim of the healthy club initiative is to transform GAA clubs into hubs for health within their respective communities.
The areas we focus on are Physical Activity, Diversity and Inclusion, Community Development, Mental Fitness, Substance use and Gambling and Healthy Eating.
St Colmcilles has been a Healthy Club since the Initiative was set up in 2013. In fact we were the first Club in Meath and Leinster to become a healthy club as we were part of the pilot scheme from Croke Park.
In October 2023 St Colmcilles were recognised as a GOLD Healthy Club! Our committee and members worked tirelessly to achieve the highest distinction of this brilliant initiative and we were delighted to achieve this honour. This is the first year since the Healthy Club programme began 10 years ago, that there have been different levels of recognition. This year Clubs could achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold award levels. Only two Meath based clubs secured this distinction, ourselves and St Michael’s (Kells). There were just 11 Clubs in Leinster to achieve Gold status.
The Healthy Club programme is all about the Community and in St Colmcilles we put ourselves at the Heart of the Community with everything we do. Here are some of the activities that we run regularly and intermittently that have helped us to achieve Gold Status:
Gaelic for Mothers & Others
Gaelic for Dads and Lads
Gaelic for All
Ireland Lights Up
The Irish Life Step Challenge
Minfulness Programmes
Weekly Card Games
Mature Movers
Healthy Eating Class
Drug Awareness Programme
SafeTalk Class Delivered
First Aid Class Delivered
Caife agus Caint Gaelic Classes
If you want to get involved in any of these programmes or join our committee we would love to hear from you.
Special thanks to James Kelly who ran the Healthy Club Programme in St Colmcilles since it’s inception 10 years ago. James is now the Healthy Club officer for Meath and his hard work was on show last night with 22 Clubs from Meath present and represented. James and current HCO Lisa McDonald received the award on behalf of the Club. Look out for our new sign in Piltown over the weekend! Onwards and upwards!
Healthy Club Committee
Our Healthy Club Committee is made up of several Cilles stalwarts including;
Committee names and contract details
HCO - Lisa McDonald - 087-1368734
Committee:
Ciara Lalor
James Kelly
Sinead Collier
Ken McHutcheon
Aisling O'Donnell
Katie Connell
In 2023 St Colmcilles adopted the GAA Substance Use Policy which you can view / download here.
For more information on the GAA Healthy Club Initiative you can click this link
