Anyone involved in athletics knows the impact that Kate O’Connor’s two medals in the recent World and European Indoor Championships has had on young people across Ireland and many may be thinking, ‘how do we get into that?’.

Athletics clubs usually receive a boost in interest and membership after major championships, and this year is no exception. There have been many reports of the ‘Kate O’Connor effect’, where multi-events are now on young people’s radar nationwide.

Spraoi Games is the perfect introduction for the younger age groups to athletics, it takes a multi-event team-based approach, allowing children of every ability to participate and do the sport they see their heroes compete in on TV.

There have been recent events in Dublin and Waterford. European Champion David Gillick has attended two Spraoi Games with his children and is coaching at the club he has been a member of since he was a child, Dundrum South Dublin.

The Spraoi Games may not have been around in his day, but Gillick still has fond memories of doing field events at DSD despite eventually specialising in a track event.

“My earliest memory, locally we had the sports hall, we would go down and we do a little bit of running then we do a little bit of relays,” Gillick reflected.

“Liz McDonagh who retired from coaching with DSD after 49 years… used to always get the big mats out and the springboard and we used to love it… I have vivid memories.”

With the early memories of athletics seemingly important to the European Indoor Champion, Gillick feels the Spraoi Games have been a positive competitive introduction to athletics for two of his three children.

“It’s very much a team element. There’s a variety of events from a short sprint, to a throw, to a jump, to a relay and that was it, four events.”

The Spraoi Games format not only reduces the pressure on individual children with the fun team format but is designed to take under 2 hours, which is ideal for busy parents, says Gillick.

“The kids were active, they’re all moving around to their various events so they weren’t hanging around there was no messing.

“You have burning energy kind of running around the track, as opposed to off the track. I think from a parent’s perspective it was condensed so you’re not losing the whole day at an athletics event for which your kid might only run for a couple of seconds it was very much kind of full gas for that period of time and a variety of activities.”

There have been recent events outside Dublin too, with St. Marys AC, Ballygunner hosting the most recent event at SETU arena. It was well attended by clubs in the local area including; Ferrybank AC, Waterford AC, Tramore AC, West Waterford AC and Finisk Valley AC.

Gillick is keen to see more regular competition for the under-12 age groups, especially as an alternative to cross country. The Spraoi Games can be held indoors, which may be appealing in the winter months, something the DSD coach feels could help keep children in the sport.

“Like to get more involved in actually running them (Spraoi Games) on a more regular basis with the clubs local to our area.

“I remember doing cross country and it’s wet and it’s cold and you’re looking at your parents going ‘why have you done this to me’.

“With young kids if we want them to have a journey in sport it’s thinking about indoors during the winter and that’s where Spraoi was excellent.”

Gillick’s own children have been inspired by O’Connor’s field event exploits and it’s something DSD try to include in their sessions.

“What Kate did recently they’re all up talking about it, they know who Kate O’Connor is, they’re trying to replicate what she does.

“In the world of athletics at grassroots if we can try and do that, it just exposes the event and the imagination and that’s what you want.”

If you want to get involved in the Spraoi Games you can contact your local Regional Development Officer here. You can also find out more information about the event format here.