Mental health in the GAA: Why players are struggling

If you’re training hard, ticking every box in the gym and on the pitch, but still feeling flat, stressed, or close to burnout - it might not be physical.

In this episode, I sit down with Aoibheann NicGhiolla Bhuí, who researched mental health in GAA players, to break down what’s really going on behind the scenes - and why so many players are struggling to keep up.

We talk about:

• Why GAA demands are becoming unsustainable for modern players

• The concept of psychological flexibility and how it affects performance

• Why over 50% of GAA players drop out between 16–24

• The hidden pressure of balancing college, work, and GAA

• Why male inter-county players are 3x more likely to repeat a college year than their peers

• The role of team culture, self-talk, and social media in performance

We also dive into what players and coaches are getting wrong when it comes to mental preparation - and what actually helps.

Whether you’re trying to improve performance, stay consistent, or just enjoy the game again, this episode will give you a different perspective on what might be holding you back.

📕 You can read Aoibheann's book here

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