Mick ‘An Fear Iarann’ Murphy (English Below)

Sean teach tuaithe, gan troscán, gan teas. Píosaí de ghach rud gach áit. Leabhair, buicéid, éadaí, adhmad, miotal, bia caorach. Suíochán amháin, fear amháin, solas amháin. Cad é mar a chríochnaigh mé suas anseo?

Tuairim is dhá bhlian ó shin bhí mé ag tonntóireacht ar an GFAD ‘ghneásán fud an Domhan’, agus táinig mé ar alt fán ‘Fear Iarann’ Mick Murphy. An fear céanna a bhuaigh an rás rothaíochta is mó sa tír i 1958 ina chéad iarracht, a bhí ag treanáil ina theach baile le meacháin deanta as cloch ó bhí sé 12, a bhí sa siorcas, a d’ól fuill capall don mhaitheas, a ghoid rothar feirmeora tar éis dó a rothar féin a scriosadh nuair a thit sé de i  rith an Rás 1958. Téann an liosta ar aghaidh! Léigh mé fán uair a thit sé da rothar agus bhris sé a dhealrachán, léim arias ar a rothar agus choinnigh ag dul ar feabh ceithre lá! Agus fán uair a chonaic sé taibhse madaidh agus é ag rotháil ar an bhóthar ina aonar oíche amháin! Rud amháin a bhí cinnte nuair a tháinig mé ar an teolas seo ach go mbeadh orm dul agus bualadh leis an fear seo bealach amháin nó bealach eile!

Mar sin agus mé ag suí sa teach ar Dhomhnach cásca, shocraigh mé bualadh síos ina threo. Bhí a fhios agam go raibh cónaí air áit éigean gár do Chathair Saibhín i gCo. Chiarraí. Lá deas. Rothar isteach sa ghluaistean, dírigh an gluaisteán I dteo Ciarraí, agus tosaigh ag tiomáint. Bhí mile ceist i mo chloigeann ach ní raibh ach sprioc amháin agam, agus ba é bualadh leis an fear é féin roimh deireadh an lae. Stop mé an car 30 km ó Chathair Saibhín, agus léim mé suas ar an rothar le teacht ar Mick Murphy. Bhain mé Cathair Saibhín amach agus chauigh mé isteach in siopa beag sa sráid bhaile le treoir a iarrach go teach Mick. Cinnte go leor, fuair mé na treoracha, agus cheannaigh mé bloc cáise dó ag an am céanna óir chuala mé go mbaineann sé sult as cáis a ithe go laeithiúil. 5 míle de rotháil níos moille tá mé ag an teach. Cuma tréighe air ach uair amháin a dhreap mé thart ar an sconsa agus isteach sa ghairdín i measc an adhmad, miotal agus sean píosaí tréighthe chuala mé raidió ar siúl taobh istigh. Bhí mé san áit cheart.

Bhuail mé cúpla cnag ar an píosa miotal a bhí mar dhoras ar an teach. Múchadh an raidió ón taobh istigh, agus bhí mé i mo sheasamh ansin i mo chuid giar rothaíochta ag fanacht. Cad é a bhí mé ag dul a rá leis an seanfhear seo nuair a tháinig sé chuig an doras? An raibh Mick ag díriú guna orm fríd poll éigean i mballa an tí?! Fanacht….fanacht…..’Bfhéidir go ndeirfidh sé liom imeacht tí deabhail!’…..ansin……d’oscail an doras…..

‘Well Mick’

‘I see you brought the sum with you. Come on in. Bring your bike, I want to have a look at it’.

Le cur síos a dhéanamh ar an chuairt uilig tá níos mó na postáil amháin de dhíth, mar sin fágaidh mé sibh leis an pictiúir seo a ghlac mé agus mé ag fagáil an tí. Níos mó le theacht!

Mick ‘The Iron Man’ Murphy

An old country house, no furniture, no heating. Bits of everything everywhere. Books, buckets, cloths, metal, sheep feed. One seat, one man, one light. How did I end up here?

About 2 years ago I was surfing on the WWW when I stumbled upon an article about Mick ‘The Iron Man’ Murphy. The same man who won the biggest cycling race in Ireland in 1958 in his first attempt, who was training at home with stone weights since he was 12, who was a circus performer, who drank horses and cows blood for the goodness, who stole a farmers bike to stay in contention in the Rás when he destroyed his freewheel in a crash. The list goes on! I read about the time he had a crash and rode for 4 days with a broken collarbone, and how he saw a ghost dog as he cycled a country road one night. One thing was sure after I read this article. One way or another, I was going to meet this man.

So I was sitting in the house on Easter Sunday and I decided to head in his direction. I knew he lived somewhere near Cahirsiveen in Kerry. Nice day. Bike into the car, point car towards Kerry, and start driving. I had a million questions in my head to ask him but my only goal was that day was to meet the man before the end on the day. I stopped the car 30km from Cahirsiveen, jumped onto the bike and set off to find Mick Murphy. I reached the town and went into the town shop to ask directions to his house. Sure enough I got them from an ancient shop keeper who knew of him. I bought a block of cheese for Mick in the shop as well as I read that he enjoys his daily serving of good cheese. 5 miles later on the bike and I’m at the house. It looks deserted but when I climb over the fence and into the garden amongst the wood, metal and scrap, I can hear a radio inside the house. I was in the right spot alright!

I went up and hit a few knocks on the length of corrugated iron that was acting as a door on the house. The radio went off inside, and I was standing in my cycling gear outside. What was I going to say to this man when he came to the door? Was Mick pointing a shotgun at me through some hole in the wall?! Waiting……waiting…..’He might tell me to get lost’….then……the door opened……

‘Well Mick’

‘I see you brought the sum with you. Come on in. Bring your bike, I want to have a look at it’.

To do the visit justice I would need more than one post, so ill leave you with this picture I took when I was leaving. More to come! 

Cosc Ar Bhrúanna-Suas/ Press-Up Ban

Níl a fhios agam faoi na lúthchleasaithe in spórtanna eile, ach in cinnte go bhfuil fadhb ag barraíoht imreoirí CLG le iompar an choirp. Go hiondiúil bíonn na guallaí ag teacht chun tosaigh agus an droim uacharach maolaithe (cosiúil le mo dhuine thuas). Anois, ba chóir a lua go gur dóiche go bhfuil tionchar ag nósanna suí, siúil, agus slí beatha an imreora ar an iompar choirp atá acu. Mar sin féin, tá mé féin den tuairim gur na brúanna agus suíanna suas is cúis le céatadán mhór de na fadhbanna a fheicim sa gym. Cuireann an riocht seo isteach ar na guallaí, an droim, agus níos mó, gan a bheith ag trácht ar an droch chruth a chuireann sé ar dhuine, ar bharr brú a chur ar na scámhóga mar go bhfuil an brollach ag titim isteach ar féin. Cailltear solúbthacht, agus ardaítear an seans go ngorteofar an imreoir.


Is ar an bhun seo a bhfuil mé ag cur COSC ar na sean cleachtaí iontaofa a úsáidtear i rith nó ag deireadh cuid mhór den treanáil a dhéantar ar an pháirc.  Smaointeamh maith é roinnt obair láidreacht a dheanamh ar an pháirc, ach nuair a dhéantar na cleachtaí céanna arís is arís eile, bíonn tionchat mí-úsaáideach aige ar na himreoirí. Ó thaobh na suíonna suas, tá cosc iomlán orthu sin. Sin scéal eile fá choinne postáil eile. Ní droch chleacht é an brú suas, ach is cleacht fritorthiúl é nuair a dhéantar é arís is arís eile gan aon aird a thabhairt ar meatáin an droim.


Ar bharr na pointí thuas luaite, is iomaí uair a chonaic mé oiliúnaí ag tabhairt ar foireann faoi aois iomlán 20, 30, 40 nó níos mó brú suas a dhéanamh. Thig leat a bheith cinnte nach mbeidh mórán de fhoireann sinsear in ann 30 brú suas a dhéanamh le tecníc cheart, gan a bheith ag trácht ar foireann faoi aois. Munar féidir rud a dhéanamah mar is ceart, ní fiú a bheith ag cleachtadh droch nósanna.


In ionad na brú suas, thiocfadh leis an oiliúnaí cleachtaí cosiúil le brú gualainn a dhénamh, aon chleacht rámhaíochta, cleachtaí leis an liathróid leighis nó mála cumhachta, nó fiú tarraingt chugaidh a dhéanamh. Beidh roinnt treallamh de dhíth fá choinne seo, ach bfhearr cúpla pingin a chaitheamh ar threallamh inniú na cúpla punt a chaitheamh ar an physio amarach!

I cant say this for certain about athletes from other sports, but too many GAA players have got serious posture issues. Typically, the shoulders are forward, and the back is hunched somewhat, like yerman above. Now, Im sure that things like sitting posture, and lifestyle etc all effect out posture. At the same time, I believe that the sit ups and press ups that players are often instructed to do are a big part of the problems that I see in people who come into the gym to me. This posture affects the shoulders, back, and more, as well as making people look smaller and weaker. On top of this, you could argue that it can affect a players breathing as the chest is caving in on itself somewhat. Flexibility is lost, and the likelihood of injury is increased. 

Its on this basis that I am BANNING the old reliable exercises of sit ups and press ups, that are often used at the end or during on-field sessions. Its a good idea to incorporate strength work into the pitch training, but when the same exercises are performed again and again, it has a counterproductive effect on the players. In terms of the sit ups, they are completely banned, but thats another story for another post. The press up is not a bad exercise, in fact its a good exercise, but it is counterproductive when it is performed constantly without regard for the muscles of the back. 

On top of the above points, I often seen coaches asking whole underage teams to perform 20, 30, 40 or more pressups. You can be sure that many players of a senior team will not be able to perform this many press ups with good technique, never mind an underage player. If an exercise cannot be performed with good form, there is no point in practicing bad habits. 

Instead of press ups, the trainer could throw in some shoulder presses, med ball exercises, rowing exercises, power bag exercises, or even a Tug of War. Some equipment will be required for these exercises but better to spend a few cents on equipment today than a few pound on the physio tomorrow!

Paudie Butler

Rith Paudie Butler, an comhordaitheoir náisiúnta iománana, ceadlann iontach ar an Luain. Chur mé ceist nó dhó ar tar éis an seisiún.

The national hurling coordinator Paudie Butler ran an excellent workshop in the club on Monday. I asked him a couple of questions after the session.

Físeán Cleachtaí Ceartláir/ Core Exercises Video

Treanáil Ceartlár/ Core Training

Ar na mallaibh d'iarr cúpla duine orm faoi treanáil ceartlár mar a thugtar air, agus cén saghas cleacht ar chóir dóibh a dhéanamh. Le blianta beaga anuas tá d'éirigh daoine an-tógtha leis an treanáil ceartláir, agus i neart cásanna, cuireadh baraíocht béim ar chleachtaí gan chiall. Le cleachtaí ceartlár ceart a phiocfadh, caithfear feidhim na meatán ceartláir a thuigbheáil píosa. Go simplí, is iad atá iontu na na meatán atá lonaithe thart ar an bhlog, and droim, na coim, agus atá ceangailte leis an cnámh droma. (Ta na meatán sa droim uachtarach istigh ansin fósta, ach don alt beag seo díreoidh muid isteach ar na meatán íochtarach). Is é feidhm na meatán seo na an cnámh droma a dhéanamh seasmhach agus ligint do na géaga bogadh go héifeachtach, agus fórsaí a aistriú tríd an chorp go héifeachtach.

Leis an tuiscint sin agus de réir na boic móra, ba chóir go mbeadh an fócas ar thabhairt dúshlán do na meatáin ceartlár an chop a choilleail seasmhach agus na géaga ag bogadh. Sé an chiall atá le sin na go dtéann tú isteach in staidiúir maith daingean, ansin tabharann tú dúshlán do staidiúir sin. Go minic bíonn dul amú ar dhaoine nuair a cheapann siad gur cóir cleachtaí cosúil le suí-suasanna agus brúisceanna a dhéanamh do cheartlár. Ní amháin nach gcuideoidh neart acu seo le cuid ar bith de na feidhmeanna a luaigh muid níós luaithe a fheabhsú, ach cuirfidh siad leis an seans go mbeidh fadhbanna agat le do dhroim, treannáil, agus an choim. Le seisiúin maith ceartlár gan mórán treallamh a dhéanamh, bain trial as na cleactaí thíos (físeáin ghearr ar an bhealach). Cuimhnigh i gcónaí ar seo: má tá droch staidiúir agat i rith na cleachtaí, níl sé a dhéanmah mar is ceart agat!

Éan/ Madadh x 20

Plainc Taoibhe x 30 soicind an taobh

Siosúr Cos x 15 an taobh

Droichead Gualainn le cosa agus guallaí ar bheinse x 30

Liathróid Leighs in éadan an ball ar chos amháin x 30 an taobh

Marbhthógáil Rómánach ar chos amháin x 12 an taobh

Plainc tosaigh x 45 soicind

DEAN AN RUD UILIG 2-5 UAIR

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Lately a few people have been asking me about core training as its know, and what sort of exercises they should be doing. A few years ago, people seemed to get a bit carried away with the concept of core training, and in a lot of ways, too much emphasis was placed on senseless exercsies. To select the right core exercises, a bit of understanding of the function of the core muscles will help. Put simply, they comprise of the muscles around your torso, back, hips, and those that attach to your spine. (The muscles of the upper back are in ther as well, but we'll focus on the lower aspect for this post). The function of these muscles are postural, therefore they keep the spine/ torso stable while the limbs more, and aid in the effective transer of forces.

With that understanding, the focus of your core training should be in offering a challenge to the core muscles to maintain good posture while the limbs move. This means that you get into a good solid posture, then challenge the posture. Often people are mislead in thinking that exercises such as sit ups, and crunches are great for the core. In fact, an abundance of these will not only negate from the functions of the core we mentioned above, but could also leave you more open to problems with the back, hammys, hips etc. For a good bodyweight core workout try the exercises below (short video on the way). Remember, if you have bad posture during the exercise.. more than likely, your doing it wrong.

Bird Dog x 20

Side Plank x 30 seconds a side

Leg Scissors x 15 a side

Shoulder Bridge with feet and shoulders on benches x 30

One leg Medicine ball side throw x 30 each side

Single Leg Romanian Deadlift

Front Plank x 45 seconds

DO THE WHOLE CIRCUIT 2-5 TIMES