A new kind of GAA getaway

THE effects of the global downturn can be seen everywhere, and the lack of inter-county teams travelling for pre-season training in the sun is one example. But Brendan O’Brien met the man who found a silver lining in that particular cloud.

SOMETIMES there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Just ask Kevin Madden.

A community sports development officer with Lisburn City Council by day, he can be found most evenings performing some duty or other in the name of the Derry senior footballers with whom he is involved as a selector and coach this season.

Added to that in recent months has been his new business venture, a company called Break for Ball which is offering specialised training weekends for GAA teams of all ages and abilities.

“Aye, it has been busy,” he laughs, “and I’m getting married in March up in Ballymena but, you know what they say, if you want something done ask a busy man. I don’t mind it. It’s all about good time management.”

The nature of the new business should at least ensure it isn’t a time-guzzler 52 weeks of the year. New Year and pre-championship are likely to be the busiest periods and nothing is likely to be as full-on as the launch itself.

The scope of the initiative is impressive. Eight locations have been brought on board, including the Avon Rí leisure resort in Wicklow, Breaffy International Sports Hotel in Mayo and the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan town.

High-profile names including Martin McElkennon, Damien Cassidy, John O’Mahony, Conal Keaney and Oisín McConville have signed up to conduct coaching courses and each team can individualise a package to suit.

Team-building activities like kayaking and paintballing can be complemented between sessions on sports psychology, video analysis, massage therapy, strength and conditioning and even media training.

Local GAA pitches are also provided while local opposition can be organised for a challenge to round off proceedings. The logistics have been endless but it has all nonetheless all been bound together.

“There was a lot to get done, meeting hotels, coaches and building up contacts. It has been time-consuming but it’s been worth it. I’m confident we have a weekend package that will suit any side from Junior B to inter-county.”

The idea began 18 months ago, soon after he brought the curtain down on ten years service with Antrim’s footballers.

With a BA in sports and events management along with his GAA CV, he felt sure he had something to offer the sport.

“The idea came from the fact that nearly every team is going on a team-building weekend these days.

“Some invest a hell of a lot of money on them and maybe then going on trips with very little structure.

“I saw there was a gap in the market for something like this. I felt I could offer something with more structure, something that offered a level of professionalism and real value for money.”

The official launch took place earlier this week, just days after reports claimed that Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly had been sent home from camp in La Manga for an apparent breach of discipline.

Connolly’s unwanted publicity is an indication of just how the ethos of these trips has changed. Madden was on his fair share of such outings as a player and he cuts to the chase in summing them up for what most were.

“There was no structure to them. There was very little benefit to be gained. If we are to be honest, most trips in the past were alcohol-fuelled junkets. An excuse for a piss-up.

“Teams of every level are more professional now. Teams are copping on to the need to get more from these things, they want value for money. That is the nature of the way that GAA has gone.”

It may seem like an inopportune time to be launching, but Madden’s assertion that clubs will go on spending money on teams is holding water.

Interest in Break for Ball was brisk long before the launch thanks to an assault on GAA websites and message boards and he has been taken aback by the number of queries from sides further south where his name doesn’t open so many doors.

Moy Davitts from Mayo were the first to make a booking and Pat Spillane’s club in Templenoe has been in touch.

So too have a ladies football team in Clare and a camogie club in Kildare.

If anything, Madden might actually benefit from the recession. The majority of business will no doubt come from clubs, but his door is open should any county sides wish to avail of his services.

Spain and Portugal have become the destinations of choice for numerous inter-county sides in recent years but bookings are likely to suffer as county boards tighten the purse strings with the cost of a week in the sun estimated at €40,000.

“Aside from the chance to get away to the sun for a week there isn’t anything that you do over there that can’t be done here in Ireland,” says Madden. “Staying in Ireland cuts out on travel and expenses too.”