Maynooth University today announced the accreditation of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Jim Madden Leadership Programme, designed to develop leadership skills amongst county Gaelic football, hurling, ladies football and camogie players.
The Leadership Programme is individually tailored to athletes performing at an elite level, with each student working with a professional life coach, addressing their development needs and helping them reach their personal goals.
The students will attend workshops in personal development, interpersonal skills, and group skills, designed to assess their leadership strengths and weaknesses. They also will attend a series of Leadership masterclasses with experts from business, community, and sport which are designed to explore the critical behaviours, attributes, and capabilities that foster key leadership skills. The accreditation pathway, leading to a qualification in professional leadership will be offered through the Department of Education at Maynooth, and has been designed to complement and enhance the student experience.
Maynooth University President Professor Philip Nolan welcomed the accreditation partnership: “The University is fully aware of its role in crafting the leaders of tomorrow, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all our graduates are equipped with the skills to make valuable contributions to their communities. This makes the partnership with the GPA a natural one, as the GAA has always had a strong community focus. This programme presents elite athletes with a tremendous opportunity to develop into the community leaders of the future, and it builds on the wide range of leadership programmes offered by Maynooth University.”
Speaking at the announcement Dermot Earley, President of the GPA, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the GPA Madden Leadership Programme, now entering its second year, will now have this additional accreditation pathway from Maynooth University. It forms part of the Accreditation Partnership between Maynooth University and the GPA and I’d like to thank Professor Nolan and his team for making this happen. As well as welcoming Year 2 of Madden participants we are also honouring the first group of graduate players from the Madden Programme today – a very proud occasion for the GPA and the Madden family – and the announcement by Maynooth is a significant boost for everyone involved, particularly the players participating in the course. The Madden Programme provides a fantastic opportunity for players to enhance their personal development.”
The Programme was made possible by the support of Michael Madden and his family who dedicated the new curriculum to the memory of their late father, Jim, a tireless grassroots GAA and community activist in Tipperary. Jim was actively involved in the Portroe club all of his life and was a selector on the famous Tipperary three-in-a-row All Ireland winning camogie team of 1999 – 2001.
Maynooth boasts a GAA playing population of 400 members across five clubs. The Maynooth University GAA scholarship has been running for around 20 years and includes recipients such as 2013 Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh McAuley and All-Ireland Senior Hurling winner David McInerney.
The GPA, the official representative body for county players, is a not-for-profit organisation that represents over 2,000 current players and an increasing number of past players. The GPA Madden Leadership Programme is part of the GPA’ Education Programme. Since 2010 the GPA has distributed over 3,069 education and training scholarships for players participating in undergraduate, post-graduate and further training programmes.
Further information:
Paula Kinnarney, Maynooth University Department of Education
2015/2016 Graduates from GPA Jim Madden Leadership Programme
Gemma Begley (Tyrone), Anna Conlan (Leitrim), Shannon Quinn (Tyrone), Luke Kelly (Offaly), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Ger Cafferkey (Mayo), Kevin Conlan (Leitrim), Noel Connors (Waterford), Alan Dillon (Mayo), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Stacey Cannon (Kildare), Patricia Jackman (Waterford), Darragh Egan (Tipperary), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry), Stephen McDonnell (Cork), Liam Óg McGovern (Wexford), Gary Reynolds (Leitrim), Aoife Lane (WGPA), Jason Doherty (Mayo), Helen McMahon (Clare), Diarmaid McMahon (Clare), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Cáit Devane (Tipperary), Matthew O'Hanlon (Wexford)
Caption : Pictured are, from left, Dessie Farrell, CEO, GPA, Christine Barrett, Microsoft, speaker at the launch, Mags D'arcy, Wexford camogie player, Philip Nolan, President, Maynooth University, Stephen McDonnell, Cork hurler, Michael Madden, sponsor of the Jim Madden Leadership Programme, Anna Geary, WGPA, Noel Connors, Waterford hurler, Dermot Earley, President, GPA, and Paul Flynn, Secretary, GPA.