Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and Women’s Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) to benefit from further two year extension to the “Jim Madden Leadership Programme”
Application Process for 2020 is now open
Today, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Madden family announced a further two-year extension to the internationally acclaimed Jim Madden Leadership Programme. The Jim Madden Programme is a bespoke leadership and development programme for county players from hurling, football, camogie and ladies football to help them develop the skills and experience to become leaders in the community and in their professional lives.
Founded in 2014 in memory of Jim Madden, this two year extension will see the programme run until 2021. To date, over 140 male and female inter-county players have successfully undertaken the programme to help them to build on their experience as elite players in a highly competitive environment to develop exceptional leadership qualities to use on and off the field of play.
The programme also includes a school programme, where players have already reached out to over 3,500 primary school children through the “Realta Progarmme” a schools community programme developed by the particpants on the Jim Madden Leadership program.
Some of the participants in the programme have included Galway Camogie’s Lorraine Ryan, Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny, Cork Camogie’s Anna Geary, Derry Footballer Chrissy Mc Kaigue, Antrim Hurler Neil McManus, Leitrim Footballer Aine Tighe and Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny and Wexford Hurler Matthew O’Hanlon, both of whom are nominated for PwC All-Star Awards for 2019..
Currently taking part in the programme are two All-Ireland Winners – Seamie Callanan and Paul Mannion. Both have also been nominated for PwC All-Star Awards for 2019, along with Paul Geaney, who is also taking part in the programme. James Glancy is also taking part in the programme and has been nominated for a Champion 15 Award.
EU Athletes, the leading European multi-sport federation of player associations, are benchmarking the Jim Madden Programme, for a new European wide version for athletes and their programme is underway.
Speaking of the renewed relationship, programme sponsor Michael Madden commented: “We are delighted and honoured with the success of the Jim Madden Leadership Programme over the last five years. We are proud that the programme was inclusive from launch involving both the GPA and the WGPA, the impact and outreach to thousands of primary school children and the participant’s dedication and commitment to the programme each year. The professionalism and dedication of the GPA and WPGA made it an easy decision for the Madden family to extend the support for an additional two years.”
Maria Kinsella, Chair of the WGPA said: “We are delighted with the extension of the Jim Madden Leadership Programme and the positive impact it will continue to have on the young leaders in our communities and our games. Nearing the end of the programme myself, I’ve seen first-hand the growth of confidence and capability among the participants and I want to sincerely thank Michael and the Madden family for their continued support, and bringing players from all four codes together to share in this experience.”
Paul Flynn, Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association said: “The GPA is thrilled that the Madden family are extending their support of the Jim Madden Leadership Programme for a further two years. As someone who participated in the programme, I found it to be invaluable in my growth as a person and a Leader. Members who have participated also found the programme to have a transformational effect on their lives and careers. They have commented that the programme equipped them with leadership and interpersonal skills which had a very positive impact on their lives and the lives of people around them. On behalf of the players I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Michael and the Madden family for their continued support of this programme.”
Extra info
To date, 142 GPA and WGPA members from across the country have taken part in the Jim Madden Leadership Programme.
Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme
Tailored to suit county players, the Jim Madden programme syllabus sits centrally in the GPA Player Development Programme and helps players to harness the many transferable skills they develop at the top level of their sport. The programme was developed by leading experts in education, sport and business and it is designed with the specific requirements of elite athletes in mind. The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme has established a learning pathway for players who wish to develop these qualities which can be harnessed both for their personal development and for the benefit of society.
Primary Schools’ Programme
As part of their participation on the programme, players must design and implement a community-based project, which promotes the importance of giving-back to society. The Players in Year 1 devised the Reálta project, a SPHE-based 8-lesson programme for 5th & 6th class pupils. Years 2 & 3 revised and improved the programme. To date, Programme participants have visited over 100 schools and over 3500 school children have experienced the Reálta programme, a unique programme that emphasises their place within their community
The Programme
The Programme, is a bespoke, one-year blended learning Leadership Course delivered by the Gaelic Players Association to members of both the GPA and WGPA in conjunction with independent leadership experts. The syllabus will be divided into three principal modules:
1. Leadership Masterclasses; 2. Development Centre & Coaching; 3. Project work
Participants will have a GPA Personal Development Coach assigned to them and will undergo personal development training and will have to design, construct and deliver a community project through the primary schools’ network.
Jim Madden
The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme was founded in 2014 in memory of Jim Madden. Jim, a committed GAA and community leader from the village of Portroe in county Tipperary, was passionate about developing players across hurling, football and camogie. Advocating and encouraging participation by all in the community and recognising the importance of GAA players as role models. Jim had a love for all sports especially the GAA and enjoyed success at all grades as a player, selector and manager with his club Portroe. Jim was a selector with the Tipperary Senior Camogie team when they won their first ever All-Ireland championship in 1999 and was a selector for two further All-Ireland’s in 2000 and 2001 completing an historic three-in-a-row. His three daughters all played camogie for Tipperary with his daughter Claire wining five All-Ireland senior camogie championships.
Significance
1. First Player Development Programme available to men and women from both codes
2. First Leadership Programme of its kind in Ireland
3. First Player Development Programme with a specific community-based project
EU Athletes
EU Athletes was set up in 2008 and is the leading European multi-sport federation of player associations (sports trade unions) with 35 members in 17 different European countries in a wide range of different sports. More than 25,000 elite athletes are represented through the membership.
EU Athletes brings the member player associations together to share best practice, form collective policies on behalf of players, and develop and deliver education and training programmes.
EU Athletes is owned by its members.