Fitness and Passion - Now Comes The Fashion
So this article is a bit different to my normal Ladies Fashion and Styling tips as I was asked to do an article on men’s fitness and fashion (men read the magazine too you know) .
Being honest I didn’t even know where to begin so the Ondine photographer, Anna, and I got together and headed along to watch West Cork and Skibbereen’s O’Donovan Rossa Gaelic Football Senior team training session, (The things I do for this magazine in the name of research to bring you these pieces!).
Although late July it was a rather cold evening and of course it being a summer’s day the rain was pouring down on us. I realise men and women go out and train every morning or evening come hail, rain or snow, but what struck me while Anna and I, shivering and huddled together under a sheltering tree, watching these men work their socks off, was their passion for their chosen sport and their commitment to their team and team-mates.
These lads took knocks at training (never mind during a game) that would have put a Premier League soccer player in hospital, but instead they bounced back up and carried on. It was painful just to watch guys just hit off each other and seemingly feel nothing, but I guess if you’re in the middle of a hard training session and your pushing your body to its limit, your body doesn’t feel it until later, if at all – and all this from men who don’t receive any payment for what they do, yet they still show up three times a week to train, with a match Saturday or Sunday, and will miss nights out, sometimes missing friends weddings and christenings, weekends away and even holidays, and dare I say the wrath of wives, girlfriends and boyfriends when championship looms – all for the love of the game.
Passion at its finest, I think. Passion and, as one coach said to me afterward, the camaraderie -that’s what makes it all worthwhile.
I had met them previously on a social night out - again research, of course - the most stylish bunch of men I’ve come across in a long time. On point style, shoes, skinnies, hair all on trend. I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked that a group of GAA players had really upped the style stakes in my books, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I remember growing up in Limerick that wasn’t the case. My dad played Rugby and GAA. He took very good care of his body, but what he dressed his body in? Heck. Let’s just say it was the 70s and early 80’s and being fashionable as an Irishman who played sport did not exactly go hand in hand.
Thankfully that’s all started to change.
Watching the Rossa lads in my company that night it was so refreshing that these days’ sportsmen not only care about fitness, their health and the game, but also took care of their appearances – though thankfully we have left the days of BOD’s highlighted hair long behind us.
Looking good and being stylish has now become a massive part of being a sports star and that notion has filtered to all clubs and codes across the country.
Whether you play for your county or your club being the best you can be is what’s expected but showing up and working your body to the limit comes first, style will always be second and that’s the way to take care of it all.
Finally our Irishmen are doing it all and looking great doing it.
It’s about too time lads.
Head Over Killer Heels
Melissa xoxo
