Football

More than a GAAme - Irish News and Michael Gerard Doherty launch new six-part series

Michael Gerard Doherty’s innovative ‘Live, Love, Learn Gaelic Games’ booklets are aimed at primary school children but go far beyond traditional coaching tips and techniques. Picture by Hugh Russell
Michael Gerard Doherty’s innovative ‘Live, Love, Learn Gaelic Games’ booklets are aimed at primary school children but go far beyond traditional coaching tips and techniques. Picture by Hugh Russell Michael Gerard Doherty’s innovative ‘Live, Love, Learn Gaelic Games’ booklets are aimed at primary school children but go far beyond traditional coaching tips and techniques. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE Irish News has joined forces with the man behind the ‘Live, Love, Learn Gaelic Games’ booklets for an exciting six-part series - ‘More than a GAAme’ - which gets under way this week.

Michael Gerard Doherty’s innovative booklets are aimed at primary school children but go far beyond traditional coaching tips and techniques, focusing equally on feelings, frustrations and, most importantly, fun.

They are part skill sheet, part photo album, part scrapbook, offering a chance to learn and a chance to bond – and have proved hugely popular with clubs across Ireland and beyond since their launch earlier this year.

Exploring themes such as ‘The good team-mate’, ‘GAA superheroes and super skills’, ‘The GAA reporter’, ‘My Kit Bag’, ‘At home with the GAA’ and ‘I care, let’s talk’ across the next six weeks, Doherty hopes to connect with younger readers and parents alike as their journey within the GAA unfolds.

“I saw how excited my son was to be a part of the paper when the initial story appeared about ‘Live, Love, Learn Gaelic Games’, and that’s what I hope can happen here – for children to feel they have a role in the newspaper,” said the west Belfast man, a primary school teacher at Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh and a juvenile coach with Ssrsfield’s.

“I want young people to be able to interact with this series, and to spark meaningful conversations between parents and children, grandparents and children, and even children with other children.

“It’s so important to create any kind of space where children feel they can have a voice, and hopefully this collaboration with The Irish News will offer that.

“Even looking ahead to the first part of the series, which focuses on team-mates, it’s an opportunity for kids to talk about the values they see in people, and creating an ethos where children appreciate the power they have when they turn up to a session. It’s not just a coach’s job to look after everyone, they can play a massive role too.

“I can’t wait to hear the feedback on what I see an interactive piece based around every day life skills, with the focus on parents and children working together.”

Annette Small, Group Marketing and Communications Manager said: “The Irish News is delighted to partner with ‘Live, Learn, Love Gaelic Games’, an organisation that produces resources promoting the inherent values of the GAA; respect, community and inclusivity.

“Sunday, October 10 marked World Mental Health Day and the purpose of this six-week initiative is to highlight the importance of positivity in sport and create opportunities for young people to express their feelings.”