The GAA has praised a Co Donegal club – for becoming just the second in the country to make their club grounds smoke-free.
St Mary’s GAA club in Convoy officially launched the plans this weekend.
Grants and signage are available from the GAA to other clubs under its ‘Healthy Clubs’ initiative.
Stacey Cannon. The National Health & Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Croke Park, said the organisation is keen to encourage clubs to introduce smoke-free communities rather than introducing a ban and praised Convoy for the initiative.
“We know this is not going to happen overnight. It’s about wanting to normalise the fact that smoking no longer takes place sat the side of a pitch or training ground. St Mary’s engaged with our programme and we are delighted at the example they are setting,” she said.
Lorena Barron, the Children’s Officer at the St Mary’s club, said she was delighted to see her proposal backed by the club executive.
“I just didn’t think it was fair that I could be watching a game and someone could light up a cigarette beside me and send smoke over the dug-outs,” she said.
“We want to encourage a healthy lifestyle and this is one way of doing that.”
Smokers will have to go outside the gate for a puff.
The move was also welcomed by County Chair Sean Dunnion who was special guest at Saturday’s official ceremony.
The club is being helped by the quit.ie website.
The GAA has asked clubs who want to introduce the initiatve to email community.health@gaa.ie.
Meanwhile the club had its awards night.
The fantastic Mairead Browne was named Club Person of the Year, while Aimee Bonner was voted Young Player of the Year.
Shauna Ward was voted Most Improved Player of the Year.
Pictures: Gabrielle Gallagher.
