Cork city and county residents are being encouraged to join a new movement using the positive influence of Gaelic Games to challenge domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through male allyship and community action.
The Game Changer programme, delivered by the GAA in partnership with Ruhama and White Ribbon Ireland, launched its public awareness campaign this week with promotional videos and adverts targeting men aged 18-35 across digital and social media platforms throughout July.
The initiative aims to use GAA values of respect, leadership and community to challenge social norms and behaviours that contribute to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, ranging from catcalling and harassment to more serious forms of abuse and violence.
Colin Regan, GAA community and health manager, is available for interview regarding the programme’s community impact, whilst Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama, and Sean Cooke from White Ribbon Ireland represent the partner organisations driving this collaborative effort.
Cork and St. Vincent’s camogie player Amy O’Connor serves as one of several Gaelic Games ambassadors for the Game Changer movement, demonstrating that there are supporters in every community across Ireland.
A new website at www.gamechanger.ie provides information for Cork residents wanting to get involved in the movement, whilst promotional content features male and female players from clubs across Ireland showing how Game Changers take many forms.
This autumn, the programme will launch four Healthy Relationships e-learning modules on the GAA’s Tobar platform, covering boundaries, consent, bystander intervention, intimate image abuse and the harmful impacts of pornography. These age-appropriate modules target players, volunteers and officers to provide tools and knowledge needed to become effective Game Changers.
The campaign was officially activated at Croke Park on Sunday during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and government ministers calling on everyone to join the movement.
The three-year collaborative project, launched in November 2024, is supported and funded by Cuan, building on the GAA’s established contribution to community development and social cohesion across Ireland.
Anyone affected by domestic, sexual or gender-based violence can contact: Women’s Aid 24-hour National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900), Male Advice Line (1800 816 588), Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (1800 778888), or Ruhama (1800 02 02 02).