Feeling Down Speak Up

Just to follow up from my video last week I just feel it’s important to keep up the momentum and keep the discussion going. People have trouble speaking their minds when it comes to important stuff like family matters or what might be troubling them.

We as a nation talk a load of rubbish, we can take the piss out of each other no trouble but as soon as the conversation turns serious people start shutting down and not wanting to say anything just in case we hurt the other person’s feelings. That’s the wrong attitude, we really need to be more open I know it took me a hell of a long time to be open with people but by god it has been a huge help to me.

I realise people will say that we as a society are more open but being open via Facebook and Twitter isn’t much good if you can’t be open in real life outside the confines of a computer screen or a phone.

After what in the Dail last week people have put the Mental Health debate to the front of the queue ahead of the much talked about Irish Water and college students marched on Leinster House to voice their disapproval at what went on during that debate.

 People that are suffering need people like me and you to speak up for them and make it easier for them to open up and seek the help that is around them in everyday life. Places like Pieta House are always open to people who need help and support.

So come on lads and ladies help me reach out to those who need our help. You may come across somebody that is suffering, a friend, family member, boyfriend or girlfriend, Let them know you there for them and if they need to talk you will listen. Don’t forget the darkness in light walk next weekend on May 7^th at 4.15am. Let’s keep this topic at the front of people’s minds….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

01/05/2016

Munster’s Biggest Challenge

Munster face Edinburgh in Irish Independent Park this Saturday in what is being billed as one of the Club’s biggest games as the winner will take an advantage in the final fixture of the regular season. This season has been particularly challenging for all involved in the organisation. Munster have lost a number of games at home and this hasn’t helped in the quest for a top 4 finish or Champions Cup rugby.

The blame for these failures has been squarely put at the door of Anthony Foley but others like Garrett Fitzgerald and also a couple of the players haven’t performed to the best of their abilities. Munster have lost a lot of the sparkle that has accompanied the team in the last 18 years or so. The impact of the result of this weekend’s game will have far reaching consequences that will last for the next few years.

Lose on Saturday and there will be no Champions Cup rugby next season for Munster and although they may still qualify for the Challenge Cup that won’t dampen the disappointment that will surround the lack of Champions Cup rugby for Munster next season.

Some may even say a season away from Europe’s top table may benefit Munster in the long run. Most people will disagree and say that’s nonsense but you have to hit rock bottom before you can begin your climb back to where you once were with hard work and sacrifice. Two things that may have been lacking in the past two seasons.

Moving back to Saturday down in Cork where Munster will hope to put very poor season to bed by winning against Edinburgh in turn will give them the opportunity to gain qualification for the Champions Cup. A number of players will have to stand up and be counted over the final two weeks of the season if Munster are to find a way to victory.

Munster need to turn the clock back to the old style of play of “Boot Bite and Bollock” for the next two weeks. Players like CJ Stander, Conor Murray, James Cronin and Donnacha Ryan will need to lead Munster to the promise land. Both Edinburgh and Scarlets will of course be driven on by the fact that they can with wins in there last two games will put them ahead of Munster.

The time is now for Munster to finally used there famous motto as a motivational tool, the next two weeks aren’t about performance they are simply about results. The equation is simple two home games against the teams above and below Munster. We have always heard about the fighting spirit that Munster is famous for.

 Never truer has that famous motto of “The Brave and Faithful, Nothing Is Impossible “. Not to overstate it but Munster are playing for their short and long term future. Simply put, The Time Is Now…

By

Cian Mc Gibney

25/04/2016

Conor Mc Gregor – The Notorious

So the Notorious aka Conor Mc Gregor has retired or has he?? , He is an incredible person and I must say I haven’t watched him that closely but having followed his career from a far the one thing Mc Gregor will be known for is how much of a draw he was and still is to so many. Let’s not forget he was just like you and me as recent as 2007 as he was doing odd jobs while training in the SBG Gym under the watchful eye of John Kavanagh.

Since he burst onto the scene people have been divided by him so saying he is a genius and some saying the sport he is involved in is barbaric and shouldn’t be on TV for young children to watch as it is a tough sport although it is a number of highly skilled sport that brings a number of disciplines into play.

He of course has an extremely emotive person that brings out the best and worst in people, some say he is a mouth piece and more people wanted his face on a new five euro note.  Nobody can argue that he is an incredible draw. His fights have given the UFC a real boost because in revenue as huge numbers of people from Ireland and elsewhere across the globe have travelled to watch his fights while more have bought his fights on pay per view.

He has been beaten by Nate Diaz in the recent past and of course after so many years where he said he was the best in the business and would never be defeated his defeat came as a shock to many but like all unbeaten runs they must come to an end at some point, just ask Katie Taylor who was defeated last week for the 1^st time in 5 years.

Social media plays tricks on people where they follow their favourite celebs or sports stars, with a tweet which is 140 characters let’s remember and the world goes mad, did he or she mean what was said in the tweet, if we begin to live our lives by a tweet or a Facebook post we haven’t really moved on in the world.

Conor Mc Gregor is a man from Dublin that has gone out and done really well in his chosen sport. whether he has retired or not only time will tell. After the death of Jose Carvalho last week in the National Stadium has brought MMA into everybody living room’s with the story of his death and the fact that the MMA is not regulated and in turn have looked to have it regulated under the banner of Sports Ireland.

Like him or not, he has made the most of his short career and made his mark on the sports world. He may or may not be back in the Octagon in the future but for now he has exited stage left and who knows when we will see the “ Notorious “ again…….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

20/04/2016

Female Sport Stars

As one of Ireland’s best known female sports stars, Valerie Mulcahy brings the curtain down on her intercounty career that yielded 31 National titles including 10 senior All Ireland’s it set me thinking about the lack of coverage that people like Valerie receive.

Everybody in Ireland knows Katie Taylor, Sonia O Sullivan, Niamh Briggs and Catherina Mc Kiernan. But there are countless numbers of women in Ireland who play sport on a weekly basis and receive little or no coverage.

The Ireland women 7s side will be in action this weekend in Canada after winning the Bowl competition at the Atlanta 7s last weekend. Players like Louise Galvin and Aimee Leigh Crowe to name just two have gone about their business without much fuss.

Coming back to Valerie, She has won 31 National titles and yet to many she is unknown. If a man had 31 National titles in any sport he would be on the front of every paper following his retirement. I am not trying to devalue anybody’s achievements but more should be made of a person male or female when they retire. Will Valerie be in the running for an RTE Sports Awards Hall of Fame place at the end of this year, only time will tell…

Having spent time in the presence of some of this country’s best known female sport stars and also spoken to a number of them, they are delighted to receive attention and coverage to highlight their achievements on the field of play.

 I spoke with Joy Neville yesterday about her time playing for Ireland and also now her new career as a referee which she combines with her duties in Limerick Institute of Technology. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to chat about her rugby life and also her time as a referee. The one thing that I have realised is they are easy to speak to and they have some very interesting stories to tell.

Into the future I hope to bring to life the stories of more female sports stars locally, nationally and internationally. They deserve the same level of coverage as their male counterparts get on a daily basis.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

14/04/2016

Darkness Into Light

The darkness into light walk will take place across the country on May 7^th to highlight the work that Pieta House is doing in helping people overcome dark thoughts and bad moments throughout life. Thousands of people take part in this annual event that has grown into a worldwide event.

For most people, this organisation has helped shed a light on suicide and they have made it easier for people who would normally suffer in silence to open up and talk about what may be bothering them.

 Having experienced problems back in 2014, I really wish I had known about this organisation and I may have then gone to them and spoken to somebody instead of suffering in silence and feeling like there was nowhere to turn. In recent years this is a conversation that has become more frequent and more people are opening up about issues that they may be having at work, home and school.

Having first-hand experience of mental health issues has helped me gain a better understanding of the work that organisations like Pieta House do on a daily basis. This walk is a great way for people to show their support to those who may be suffering in silence.

I urge anybody that may be suffering at this moment in time to find somebody that you trust and speak to them about how you are feeling because it will make you feel much better and you may start to see the light.

Put the date in your diary, Saturday May 7^th at 4.15am….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

06/04/2016