Kerry football team masseur recalls caddying at 1975 European Amateur Team Championship in Killarney
Kerryman
Harry O'Neill has two main roles this week: a ball spotter in Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and as masseur to the Kerry football team at Croke Park.
Golf and Gaelic football have forever been intertwined throughout the course of O'Neill's life and this week will be a little more extraordinary.
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Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Sunday World
More than third of women playing football and camogie experience urinary leakage
Urinary leakage – a form of incontinence – remains a hidden struggle for many female athletes More than one third of women playing Gaelic football and camogie experience urinary leakage during training and match play, research has found. Urinary leakage – a form of incontinence – remains a hidden struggle for many female athletes, largely due to embarrassment and stigma, a report found. Dublin City University's research, published in Science and Medicine in Football, explores how menstrual cycle-related symptoms, hormonal contraceptive use, and indicators of pelvic floor dysfunction affect players of ladies Gaelic football and camogie. Among players not using hormonal contraceptives, 97.7% reported menstrual cycle–related symptoms, most commonly abdominal cramping (84%) and fatigue (82.2%). Around 85% believe their menstrual cycle affects onfield performance, with 59% indicating a negative impact. Dr David Nolan (DCU/PA) Approximately 37% of athletes experienced urinary leakage during training or matches, suggesting potential pelvic floor concerns. A high proportion also experience urinary urgency (47.8%) and genital pain (43.4%). Dr David Nolan, assistant professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the DCU School of Health and Human Performance, said urinary leakage is a current taboo in women's sports. He said: 'There's more and more data being gathered, more studies coming out showing that active young sports women are experiencing urinary leakage at a significant rate, very high prevalence in gymnastics, in strength sports. 'But now in field sports, you get more data that it's affecting up to one third of our players. 'From working in female sport myself, I knew there was a prevalence of it, but I didn't expect it to be that high. This is probably the issue of why it's not spoken about more, and why players probably don't speak about it as much as they themselves probably don't realise that it's as commonplace. 'If they think that it's something that's not affecting their teammates as much as them, they're probably less likely to speak because they don't know how common it actually is.' He added: 'The common symptoms are the urinary leakage, then urinary urgency, so the strong desire to go to the bathroom. You can have prolapse within the vagina, and then you can have anal incontinence linked to it. 'The most common symptoms, though, would be the urine leakage and the urinary urgency. The sad and frustrating thing about them suffering in silence is with physiotherapy and just exercise interventions, we can significantly reduce those symptoms.' He said the effects can lead to women dropping out of their sport. He added: 'We do have evidence to show that it's linked to drop out in sport and again, because there can be potential shame or stigma around it and a source of embarrassment. 'So players might, in extreme cases, drop out of sports, or be less motivated to train. It can occur mostly in high impact, high kind of stress sports and performance – so they might be hesitant to push themselves hard or to engage in intense activities for fear of of this embarrassment.' The new peer-reviewed study of ladies' Gaelic footballers and camogie players in Ireland has thrown new light on the issue. Some 455 female Gaelic games athletes across both club and inter-county level were surveyed. The study asked players about their menstrual cycles, use of hormonal contraceptives, like the contraceptive pill, and any pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. Firstly, the survey confirmed that menstrual-related symptoms are highly prevalent. Among players not using hormonal contraceptives, 97.7% reported at least one menstrual-related symptom each month. The most common complaints were abdominal cramping (experienced by 84% of players) and fatigue or low energy (82%). Perhaps not surprisingly, a large proportion – about 59% perceived a mostly negative impact on how they play, citing issues like pain, heavy bleeding, or sluggishness during certain cycle phases. The study also looked at hormonal contraceptives. Just over half of the Gaelic players (51.7%) were on some form of hormonal contraception, with the pill by far the most popular choice (used by about 69%). Some 62% of the athletes using hormonal contraceptives reported side effects, including fatigue (37.2%) and experiencing mood swings or low mood (35.0%). About one in three contraceptive-users (31.6%) even felt that their contraception was impacting their athletic performance. However, issues around the pelvic floor is an aspect of women's health that athletes and coaches rarely discuss, the research found. 'Pelvic floor dysfunction' is an umbrella term for problems like urinary incontinence (leakage), urgency (sudden intense need to go), or pelvic organ prolapse. The stereotype is that these issues only impact older women or those who have had children. In this research, the average age of players surveyed was just 23.6 years old, and most had likely never given birth as the average first-time mother in Ireland is 31.5. Despite this, a considerable number of these young athletes reported troubling pelvic floor symptoms. The authors behind the report recommend enhanced education and support for athletes, coaches, and support staff on menstrual health, contraceptives, and pelvic floor health – as well as individualised symptom management strategies, integrating physiological monitoring with athlete feedback.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Irish Independent
GAA President Jarlath Burns confirmed for official opening of Kennedy Summer School in Wexford
Few embody the Gaelic games, culture, and community spirit mission more fully than Armagh man Jarlath Burns, who has dedicated his life to Gaelic games both on and off the pitch. A former school principal, Mr Burns captained Armagh to the 1999 Ulster Senior Football title and has held numerous leadership roles within the GAA, including serving as chairperson and secretary of his club, Silverbridge Harps. Before his election as Uachtarán, he chaired the GAA Standing Committee on Playing Rules from 2015 to 2018 and contributed extensively to the development of the Association. On Thursday, August 28, at 6 p.m. in St Michael's Theatre, New Ross, Mr Burns will perform the official opening ceremony and following his opening address, he will join renowned broadcaster and Kennedy Summer School Chair, Eileen Dunne, for a fireside chat exploring his career, the future of the GAA, and the enduring role of sport and community in Irish life. 'We are honoured to welcome Jarlath Burns to open this year's Kennedy Summer School,' said Eileen Dunne. 'His dedication to community, culture and sport reflects the spirit and values that the Summer School celebrates each year,' she added. The Kennedy Summer School, held annually in New Ross, brings together leading figures in politics, history, media and culture for a unique festival of ideas and conversation inspired by the legacy of President John F. Kennedy and the enduring Irish-American connection. For further information and for tickets, visit The Kennedy Summer School is supported by Wexford County Council, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland, Purdue University, Boston College, and New Ross Municipal District.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry LGFA IFC preview: MKL Gaels will be hoping to go one better in 2025
Clounmacon/Moyvane have been installed as pre-tournament favourites Kerryman The Intermediate Championship is once again extremely difficult to predict. Will MKL Gaels channel the hurt of losing last years final and go all the way this time? Will Abbeydorney go from Junior A champions to Intermediate champions? Or will Clounmacon/Moyvane live up to their favourites tag and go all the way? All will be revealed over the coming weeks.
