Coaching in Cork Conference 2005.

The County Cork Local Sports Partnership held its first conference on 16 April 2005. Entitled ‘Coaching in Cork’ the conference proved an outstanding success with over 100 delegates in attendance.

The Conference had major contributions from Cork hurlers fitness trainer Seanie McGrath, nutrition and diet expert Anne McKiernan of Trinity College while Declan O’Leary of the National Coaching Training Centre, Limerick, advised on the building of pathways in Irish sport. Liam Moggan, also from the National Coaching Training Centre, spoke on psychology for individual and team sports.

The conference closing proved a real treat as Ted Owens, Chairperson of the County Cork Sports Partnership, chaired an hour long question and answer session with hurler of the year for 2004 Séan Óg O’hAlpin, Skibbereen’s Paul O’Sullivan, who represented Ireland in the 2003 World Rowing Championships and former Munster and Cork Constitution rugby star Ultan O’Callaghan who is now an IRFU Provincial Development Officer.

The trio spoke openly on their introduction to sport, the people and clubs that helped them on the way, the personal challenges encountered, the importance of family support, the goals they set for themselves and the attitude changes they and team mates had to make as the quest for top flight performances became the all-important focus.