Men's health at forefront in Longford with class exercises and chat

Free weekly early morning exercise classes in Longford are giving local men an opportunity to stay physically active, solialise and get together to discuss issues or challenges in their lives in a relaxed environment.

And Longford GAA legend Mickey Quinn is the driving force behind the local 'When No One is Watching’ (WNOW) branch.
The initiative started as a weekly morning run between Kerry All Ireland winner and former Sydney Swan Tadhg Kennelly and his friend David Eccles in Sydney, Australia and it has become an international movement.

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Mickey, who made a big impact as an Aussie Rules record-breaker 15 years ago, before moving home and enjoying an excellent 13 year career as a Longford Gaelic football star, established the local branch in August 2024.

The 35 year-old, who still plays for his local club Killoe, meets with the group meet at Longford's Athletic centre at 6.30am every Friday.

He said it offers local men a great opportunity to exercise and even more importantly a social outlet to meet friends before the busy daily demands of life take hold.

"It was created after Covid and Tadhg Kennelly lost his job and he was at a loose end and a little bit rudderless and eventually they organised to meet on the beach and they did a bit of a workout and went for a coffee afterwards and said, 'I feel great after that'. "And it kind of grew from there.

It's just grown legs because of what it is and I think people love the idea of it.

“It's simple and it's bringing men together who don't have an outlet and giving them those opportunities to get-together."

"The endorphins and everything that come on the back of exercise, any form of exercise just to get the heart rate up is very beneficial.”

Mickey said it is about knowing your limits and it's not a big competition about who is the 'biggest or strongest'.

"I think the big mantra of the organisation is dropping your body armour.

"You know men put up this front, it's alright not to be okay and share that bit of vulnerability because at the end of the day the rate of suicide and the ratio is 72% men so it's alarming and if it means having those conversations and creating that environment might help someone along the way then it's definitely worth it”.

Mickey said a lot of men who are working and are husbands, dads and have a multitide of commitments can struggle to find the time in the evenings for themselves.

He said most of their group feel if they get if get up earlier they have more 'autonomy' and it is worth it to have that designated time for themselves.

Mickey, who previously taught at St Mel's College, took a career break several years ago and he is now a 'Learning and Development Lead' with Kirby Engineering.

He said that has been a very positive experience but he is hoping to return to teaching in the near future.

Mickey said between 16 and 26 men attend the classes and there are 60 in the Longford chapter and 100 on their WhatsApp group and there is a cohort of guys who consistently attend every week or second week.

"There is a text message sent out every Thursday evening to see who can go and some lads say 'Oh I can't make it this week' and that's 100%, it's not your football GAA manager ringing you asking, 'Why weren't you at training'.

"But there is a bit of a community there and there's that side of things and lads say, 'I better let him know if I'll be there this week', which is lovely."

Mickey promotes the classes on social media and all are welcome.

Mickey said they can tailor things exercise-wise to suit the men.

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“We have two guys who had hip operations in the last year, we have lads who have had knee operations and it's nothing taxing."

Mickey said there is a strong camaraderie and the group go for a coffee and a chat after the session.

“It's 30-35 minutes of exercise, a warm-up, a bit of fun with tennis balls and different bits and pieces to have that play element.

"It's also creating a safe environment for men to either exercise and get-together and have conversations and chats and kind of be open about that side of things.”