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Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Athletics star David Gillick encouraging anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to join free Parkrun coaching, after event became his ‘therapy'
Register at and access six-weeks of coaching to run – with walkers and volunteers also welcome Former Olympic sprinter David Gillick says his weekend Parkrun became part of his 'therapy' after he experienced a huge comedown when he retired from athletics. Now he wants anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to sign up for free Parkrun coaching to improve their physical and mental health. Gillick (42), from Ballinteer, south Dublin, experienced depression after he retired from elite athletics 11 years ago. But the former 400m runner – who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – won't forget the impact the VHI Parkrun at Dublin's Marlay Park had on him two years after he retired from athletics. Back then, he felt unable to run due to a mental block and an identity crisis. 'When I retired from elite athletics, I didn't want to run for two years,' said Gillick, who is a VHI ambassador. 'I went through counselling. I felt like I'd lost my identity because I'd been running since I was seven. It was part of me.' The athlete is today helping to launch Your Happy Pace, a VHI initiative to get as many people as possible participating in Parkruns from this September. Gillick pushed himself to go to Parkrun at Marlay Park, after repeatedly battling with himself about whether it was something he should do. The experience was transformative. 'It became like part of my therapy,' Gillick said. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again 'I was in Marlay Park, where my athletics club was. I had the label 'I'm an Olympian, that I can do every event great'. 'But it wasn't the case. After the first one, I died. I thought I could stay with the others but I couldn't. I ran a 5k in probably 25 minutes. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I expected more but even after feeling I'd not done enough, I realised I was out in the air, I was with my wife Charlotte, I was among people and I was already starting to feel better. "We grabbed a coffee and I was set up for the day. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again. 'I wanted to better myself and I was eating and sleeping again. It was a massive benefit to me.' Gillick is set to release his memoir, The Race, in October, which will track his entire career and the world of Irish athletics. But right now, he's launching free places available for a six-week couch-to-Parkrun programme in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, and Donegal. This is part of his life after athletics – and he says he's keen to help make society a better place. The programme, beginning on September 1, will give participants a training plan supplemented by weekly in-person training with a qualified coach at one of six selected parkrun locations nationwide. Gillick says he understands some people feel out of place when it comes to running. But he assured interested applicants, 'there will be someone there to support you every step of the way'. There's coaches on board, webinars and WhatsApp groups, to help runners. And the public don't have to run, they can walk or volunteer. The initiative is about 'building community, helping physical and mental health and ending isolation'. There'll be people with you every step 'This is about physical and mental health. It's not to put pressure on people to see how fast they run. This is geared towards people who were never involved in parkrun. 'Maybe you might be a bit intimidated, you might not want to go and feel maybe you'll be isolated and left behind. 'That won't be the case. There'll be people with you every step. We want to target people who aren't Parkrunners. 'We want people to embrace it. Maybe you'll ease your way into a jog, who knows.' Gillick still attends the Marlay Park Parkruns and he's witnessed young people increasingly coming to the events. But there's older people too, sometimes volunteering. The events help provide opportunities for people to meet others and form friendships. 'This type of coaching would cost so much if you paid for it, so it's just great,' he said. 'For me, it's about creating an environment we want to live in, where we want our kids to grow up in. An environment where there's opportunities and fun, a chance for people to be happier and take those initiatives because I've gone through it – feelings of isolation and feeling lost. 'And I know the impact running had on my life and what it can do for others, too. We can all play our part in making life better. And tell your friends and family about this too.' Register at There are up to 50 places available at each of the following Parkrun locations, with applicants notified in advance. The locations are: Poolbeg Parkrun, Ringsend, south Dublin; UCG Parkrun, Co Galway; Ballincollig Parkrun, Co Cork; Mungret Parkrun, Co Limerick; Kilkenny Parkrun, Castle Park, Co Kilkenny; Letterkenny Parkrun, Co Donegal.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Ex-All-Star hurler accused of assaulting boy (12) told gardaí he acted in a ‘reasonable manner'
The jury heard that Mr Gilligan made a pre-prepared statement to Gardai at Shannon Garda Station Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan told Gardai that he acted in a reasonable manner to protect himself from injury and assault from others at the Jamaica Inn hostel on October 5th 2023. At Ennis Circuit Court today, the jury heard that Mr Gilligan made a pre-prepared statement to Gardai at Shannon Garda Station on February 19, 2024 in response to the then allegation that he assaulted a 12 year old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel on October 5, 2023. On Friday, the jury was also told that the 12-year-boy that Mr Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted sustained a fractured bone in his left hand. Medical reports from October 2023 show that the boy on examination also had a 2 cm wound to his right forearm, a 2 cm wound to his right shin, bruising to his right shoulder while medics also believed that the boy lost consciousness briefly earlier on October 5, 2023. The boy's hand was placed in a splint and he was advised not to engage in contact sports for one month after its removal later on October 20, 2023. Photographs of the boy's injuries were also shown to the jury along with the muck-stained clothes that the boy was wearing on October 5. In evidence, the boy's father said that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick on the evening of October 5 2023. He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries.' He said: 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.' He said that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike. He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping. He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock." The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of October 5th after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. In his account of the phone call, in his prepared statement read out in court by Dec Garda Noel Carroll, Mr Gilligan said: 'He said that his son got hurt. I made no comment to that after his son and others had broken into my building and caused extensive damage, including lighting a fire, releasing my fire extinguishers, breaking windows, writing graffiti." Mr Gilligan said that he decided there and then to take legal advice 'as soon as I could about this call and make a formal complaint to the Gardai about the damage and trespass'. Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 and accompanied there by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said that on October 5th 2023 at the Jamaica Inn hostel: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed.' In the statement running to five pages, Mr Gilligan added: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage.' He said: 'I didn't know who or what was coming at me that night." 'Something was coming at me, wasn't retreating or calling out to me so I had to defend myself as any reasonable person would." 'I feel sorry for the boy but the fact is that if he and others hadn't broken into my property, lit a fire, stole the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened. He said: 'Since this incident, there has been despicable commentary about me over what actually happened - none of which is true. I am glad that I have the opportunity to set the record straight." On the incident with the boy at the Jamaica Inn, Mr Gilligan told Gardai that he realised on the evening of October 5th 2023 'that I wasn't alone in the building'. He said: "I went back down slowly picking up a wooden stick I found on the ground. As I entered the hallway, I heard voices and then saw two people running away to my left towards the external door I had come in." 'I then heard footsteps fast coming behind me over my right shoulder. I felt I was going to be attacked so to protect myself I drew out with the stick on two occasions and then kicked out twice. 'I shouted at the person to get back as I did this. At that stage, I could see that I was dealing with a male youth. I grabbed him by his coat or jacket and brought him out of the building. 'We went around the back to see where the other two intruders had gone to. 'When we got around the back we got entangled in the dark and fell on top of each other on a slippery path under the pine trees." Mr Gilligan said that he told the youth 'never to again enter my property". He said: 'I proceeded to walk him out to the front gate. I asked him his name at this stage. He gave his name. He made no complaint of any injuries to me.' He said: 'At that stage, I met Pat Donnellan who was parked outside. I told him that managing the property was a nightmare.' Mr Gilligan said that he had been "very concerned about fire and vandalism at the Jamaica Inn hostel'. He said: 'Around this time there were rumours in Sixmilebridge that I was going to lease the building as accommodation for asylum seekers Mr Gilligan added: 'There was resistance locally to this and there was no truth in that rumour as I had never been approached but I was concerned about an arson at the property especially after a fire had been lit and fire extinguishers were discharged.' Mr Gilligan said that as he had every concern that the building would be burnt out, he said that rang the Gardai on October 4th just before lunchtime and the call rang out. He said: 'I called into Sixmilebridge Garda Station a few times that day but did not get to meet any Garda on duty." He said that he called to the Garda Station on the morning of October 5th 'but there was no one there'. Mr Gilligan said that he purchased the Jamaica Inn hostel in 2022 and sold it on in late 2023 to a company in Shannon who required accommodation for staff. At the conclusion of the evidence on Friday, Judge Francis Comerford told the jury that they had heard a lot of evidence today. He cautioned: 'Don't come to any firm conclusions in your own minds until you have heard all the evidence, the speeches by the lawyers and the charge from me.' The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women on Monday.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA star accused of assaulting boy, 12, says he was 'protecting himself'
Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan told Gardai that he acted in a reasonable manner to protect himself from injury and assault from others at the Jamaica Inn hostel on October 5th 2023. At Ennis Circuit Court today, the jury heard that Mr Gilligan made a pre-prepared statement to Gardai at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 in response to the then allegation that he assaulted a 12 year old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel on October 5th 2023. On Friday, the jury was also told that the 12 year boy that Mr Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted sustained a fractured bone in his left hand. Medical reports from October 2023 show that the boy on examination also had a 2 cm wound to his right forearm, a 2 cm wound to his right shin, bruising to his right shoulder while medics also believed that the boy lost consciousness briefly earlier on October 5th 2023. The boy's hand was placed in a splint and he was advised not to engage in contact sports for one month after its removal later on October 20th 2023. Photographs of the boy's injuries were also shown to the jury along with the muck-stained clothes that the boy was wearing on October 5th. In evidence, the boy's father said that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick on the evening of October 5th 2023. He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries.' He said: 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.' He said that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike. He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping. He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock." The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of October 5th after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Niall Gilligan (file photo) (Image: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer) Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. In his account of the phone call, in his prepared statement read out in court by Dec Garda Noel Carroll, Mr Gilligan said: 'He said that his son got hurt. I made no comment to that after his son and others had broken into my building and caused extensive damage, including lighting a fire, releasing my fire extinguishers, breaking windows, writing graffiti." Mr Gilligan said that he decided there and then to take legal advice 'as soon as I could about this call and make a formal complaint to the Gardai about the damage and trespass'. Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 and accompanied there by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said that on October 5th 2023 at the Jamaica Inn hostel: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed.' In the statement running to five pages, Mr Gilligan added: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage.' He said: 'I didn't know who or what was coming at me that night." 'Something was coming at me, wasn't retreating or calling out to me so I had to defend myself as any reasonable person would. I feel sorry for the boy but the fact is that if he and others hadn't broken into my property, lit a fire, stole the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened." He said: 'Since this incident, there has been despicable commentary about me over what actually happened - none of which is true. I am glad that I have the opportunity to set the record straight." On the incident with the boy at the Jamaica Inn, Mr Gilligan told Gardai that he realised on the evening of October 5th 2023 'that I wasn't alone in the building'. He said: "I went back down slowly picking up a wooden stick I found on the ground. As I entered the hallway, I heard voices and then saw two people running away to my left towards the external door I had come in. I then heard footsteps fast coming behind me over my right shoulder. I felt I was going to be attacked so to protect myself I drew out with the stick on two occasions and then kicked out twice. 'I shouted at the person to get back as I did this. At that stage, I could see that I was dealing with a male youth. I grabbed him by his coat or jacket and brought him out of the building. We went around the back to see where the other two intruders had gone to. When we got around the back we got entangled in the dark and fell on top of each other on a slippery path under the pine trees." Mr Gilligan said that he told the youth 'never to again enter my property". He said: 'I proceeded to walk him out to the front gate. I asked him his name at this stage. He gave his name. He made no complaint of any injuries to me.' He said: 'At that stage, I met Pat Donnellan who was parked outside. I told him that managing the property was a nightmare.' Mr Gilligan said that he had been "very concerned about fire and vandalism at the Jamaica Inn hostel'. He said: 'Around this time there were rumours in Sixmilebridge that I was going to lease the building as accommodation for asylum seekers." Mr Gilligan added: 'There was resistance locally to this and there was no truth in that rumour as I had never been approached but I was concerned about an arson at the property especially after a fire had been lit and fire extinguishers were discharged.' Mr Gilligan said that as he had every concern that the building would be burnt out, he said that rang the Gardai on October 4th just before lunchtime and the call rang out. He said: 'I called into Sixmilebridge Garda Station a few times that day but did not get to meet any Garda on duty." He said that he called to the Garda Station on the morning of October 5th 'but there was no one there'. Mr Gilligan said that he purchased the Jamaica Inn hostel in 2022 and sold it on in late 2023 to a company in Shannon who required accommodation for staff. At the conclusion of the evidence on Friday, Judge Francis Comerford told the jury that they had heard a lot of evidence today. He cautioned: 'Don't come to any firm conclusions in your own minds until you have heard all the evidence, the speeches by the lawyers and the charge from me.' The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women on Monday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Former All-Star hurler told ‘you just viciously attacked my son' by father, court hears
In evidence, the father said that he phoned Niall Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father of the 12-year old boy allegedly assaulted with a stick by former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan phoned him from an A&E to say 'you just viciously attacked my son', a court has heard. On the fourth day of the trial at Ennis Circuit Court, the boy's father gave evidence of a phone call he made to the accused as his son was being treated for his injuries by medics on the evening of October 5th, 2023. The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of October 5th after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. Niall Gilligan outside Ennis Circuit Court Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. He conintued by saying that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick. He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries. 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.' The father added that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike. He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' He went on to say that his son had his jacket pulled down over a cut on his arm 'and I could see blood coming from the cut'. The father stated that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping. He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock." He said that once they got to the VHI clinic, his son told him what had happened earlier. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Father of boy allegedly assaulted by Niall Gilligan phoned him to say 'you just attacked my son'
THE FATHER OF the 12-year-old boy allegedly assaulted with a stick by former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan phoned him from an A&E to say 'you just viciously attacked my son', a court has heard. On the fourth day of the trial at Ennis Circuit Court, the boy's father gave evidence of a phone call he made to the accused as his son was being treated for his injuries by medics on the evening of 5 October, 2023. The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of 5 October after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on 5 October 2023. In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. The father said that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick. He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries.' Advertisement He said: 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.' He said that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike. He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' He said that his son had his jacket pulled down over a cut on his arm 'and I could see blood coming from the cut'. The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping'. 'He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock. He said that once they got to the VHI clinic, his son told him what had happened earlier. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
