Future Leaders from Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme Celebrated at Maynooth University

In attendance, from left, Paul Flynn, GPA CEO, Neil McManus, Antrim hurling, Maria Kinsella, Carlow football and Prof. Aidan Mulkeen from Maynooth University, during the Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme 2019 Graduation at Maynooth University. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Monday, January 28, 2019 - 12:30

Irish Version

Maynooth University is delighted to congratulate 24 talented inter-county GAA players who graduated from The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme at a special ceremony.

A further ten players graduated from the Special Purpose Award in Professional Leadership – an optional accreditation pathway for those who have already completed the initial programme.

Leadership success continues as a further 32 participants completed their first day of the fifth year of the programme which is designed to develop crucial leadership skills among inter-county Gaelic football, hurling, ladies football and camogie players. Participants gain skills which they can draw on in their personal, sporting and professional lives.

The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme is tailored to athletes performing at an elite level with each student working with a professional life coach to address their individual development needs and help them reach their personal goals.

The programme consists of a leadership masterclass, development centre workshop, personal and interpersonal leadership workshops, group leadership skills workshop and a community project.

Paul Flynn, CEO of the GPA, who is a past graduate of the course and said: “We’re delighted to see the growing numbers participating in this programme every year. I know from personal experience how beneficial the Jim Madden Programme is. I, for one, found it empowering to see the different styles, approaches and techniques of a wide host of leaders from different disciplines and how they had their own authentic style. We wish all graduates the best of luck for the future as they bring their learnings into their lives, both on and off the pitch.”

Presenting the awards, Vice President-Academic of Maynooth University, Professor Aidan Mulkeen, said: “Maynooth University is delighted with the continued success of this Leadership Programme and our partnership with the GPA. Maynooth’s Leadership Programme Accreditation Pathway develops the skills required for future leaders to unlock their full potential and to pursue further education.” 

Antrim Hurler Neil McManus who graduated from the programme said: “The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme is without doubt the most useful piece of education I have ever undertaken. The experience will stand to me in everything that I set out to accomplish from here forward.”

Speaking about the benefits of the programme Cork’s dual player Rena Buckley, said: “Participating in the Jim Madden GPA Programme has been an amazing experience for me. I can honestly say I have gained an insight into not only the different types of leadership styles, but an understanding of how these can be applied to my own situations, both in my profession, football and camogie career. It has been a challenge, but in an inspiring way and I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learnt in the real world.”

There is also an optional accreditation pathway for participants of The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme leading to a Special Purpose Award in Professional Leadership awarded by Maynooth University through the Department of Education. 

The Jim Madden GPA Leadership Programme was made possible through the support of Michael Madden and his family who have dedicated this programme and curriculum to the memory of their late father Jim who was a tireless grassroots GAA and community activist in Tipperary. 2019 will be the fifth year and edition of the programme.

Further information:
Paula Kinnarney, Maynooth University Department of Education

Ceannairí na Todhchaí ó Chlár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden Ceiliúrtha in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad

Tá ríméad ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad comhghairdeas a ghabháil le 24 sár-imreoir idirchontae CLG a bhain an Clár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden amach ag searmanas speisialta.

Ghnóthaigh deichniúr sa bhreis an Gradam Sainchuspóireach sa Cheannaireacht Ghairmiúil – conair chreidiúnaithe roghnach dóibh siúd atá tar éis an bunchlár a chríochnú cheana féin.

Leanann rath ó thaobh na ceannaireachta de ar aghaidh tar éis do 32 rannpháirtí eile a gcéad lá ar an gcúigiú bliain den chlár a chur i gcrích. Dearadh an clár chun go bhforbrófar scileanna ceannaireachta ríthábhachtacha dóibh siúd a imríonn peil Ghaelach, iománaíocht, peil Ghaelach na mban agus camógaíocht. Gnóthaíonn siad scileanna gur féidir leo tarraingt orthu ina saolta pearsanta, spóirtiúla agus gairmiúla.

Tá an Clár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden curtha in oiriúint do lúthchleasaithe ag feidhmiú ar ardléibhéal le gach aon mhac léinn ag obair le hoide saoil gairmiúil chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar a riachtanais fhorbartha indibhidiúla agus cabhrú leo a gcuid spriocanna pearsanta a shroichint.

S’éard atá i gceist leis an gclár ná máistir-rang ceannaireachta, ceardlann an ionaid fhorbartha, ceardlann ar cheannaireacht phearsanta agus idirphearsanta, ceardlann ar scileanna ceannaireachta grúpa agus tionscadal pobail.

Dúirt Paul Flynn, Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin an CIG, a bhain an cúrsa amach é féin tráth dá raibh: “Tá ríméad orainn a fheiscint go bhfuil méid na ndaoine a ghlacann páirt sa chúrsa ag fás gach bliain. Aithnímse an tairbhe atá le baint as Clár Jim Madden ó mo thaithí phearsanta. Ó mo thaobhsa, bhí mé cumasaithe tar éis dom stíleanna, cuir chuige agus teicníochtaí éagsúla a fheiscint ó réimse leathan de cheannairí ó dhisciplíní éagsúla le stíl mhacánta dá gcuid féin. Guímid gach dea-rath ar chéimithe an lae inniu don todhchaí agus tá súil againn go dtabharfaidh siad gach ní a d’fhoghlaim siad isteach ina saolta leo, ar an bpáirc féin agus i gcoitinne.”

Ag bronnadh na ngradam, dúirt Leas-Uachtarán um Chúrsaí Acadúla Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an tOllamh Aidan Mulkeen: “Tá ríméad ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad as an rath leanúnach atá ar an gClár Ceannaireachta seo agus ar ár bpáirtnéireacht leis an CIG. Forbraíonn Conair Chreidiúnaithe Chlár Ceannaireachta Mhá Nuad na scileanna atá ag teastáil ó cheannairí na todhchaí chun a gcuid féidearachtaí a bhaint amach ina n-iomlán agus chun breisoideachas a chur orthu féin.”

Dúirt an t-iománaí as Contae Aontroma Neil McManus, a bhain an clár amach: “Níl aon amhras gurb é Clár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden an píosa oideachais is áisiúla faoinár thug mé riamh anall. Seasfaidh an t-eispéireas liom le chuile rud a bhfuil sé mar sprioc agam a bhaint amach dom féin as seo amach.”

Ag labhairt faoi bhuntáistí an chláir, dúirt an t-imreoir peile agus camógaíochta Rena Buckley: “Tá sé tar éis bheith ina eispéireas dochreidte domsa ag glacadh páirte sa Chlár CIG Jim Madden. Is ag insint na fírinne atáim nuair a deirim nach bhfuil léargas faighte agam ar chinéalacha éagsúla de stíleanna ceannaireachta amháin ach tuiscint chomh maith ar conas gur féidir iad a chur i bhfeidhm sna suíomhanna ina bhfuilim féin i mo shaol gairmiúil agus mar imreoir peile agus camógaíochta. Tá sé tar éis bheith ina dhúshlán dom, ach ar bhealach inspioráideach agus táim ag súil le chuile rud a d’fhoghlaim mé a chur i bhfeidhm sa saol dáiríre.”

Tá conair chreidiúnaithe roghnach ann chomh maith do rannpháirtithe i gClár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden a mbeadh Gradam Sainchuspóireach sa Cheannaireacht Ghairmiúil mar thoradh air. Is gradam é seo a bhronnann Ollscoil Mhá Nuad i gcomhar leis an Roinn Oideachais.
Tháinig Clár Ceannaireachta CIG Jim Madden ar an bhfód mar gheall ar thacaíocht ó Mhichael Madden agus óna theaghlach, atá tar éis an clár agus an curaclam a thiomnú do chuimhne a n-athar nach maireann Jim óir ba ghníomhaí pobail agus chosmhuintir an CLG i dTiobraid Árainn nár lig a scíth riamh a bhí ann. Tá an cúigiú bliain agus eagrán den chlár buailte linn sa bhliain 2019.