Celebrity Bainisteoir is a prime-time reality programme created by Fiona Looney and first broadcast in 2008 by RTÉ.
It involved a number of celebrities competing against each other as a Gaelic football team coach. The title derived from the Irish word for manager: bainisteoir .
The series ran successfully for five years. It was axed in 2013 and replaced with Ireland's Fittest Family.
Description In the series, eight non-sporting Irish 'celebrities' (see references) The Irish Times (Saturday, 5 April 2008) Back to a familiar future Celebrity Bainisteoir reviewed by Conor O'Neill (31 March 2008) take the place of Gaelic Athletic Association bainisteoirí and compete against one another as the managers of intermediate-level Gaelic football teams. Each contestant managed a club from his or her home county. According to an RTÉ executive: Celebrity Bainisteoir is a refreshingly Irish take on reality television. Clashing the local passions of grass-roots GAA with the very different worlds of our eight celebrity team leaders, it looks like there'll be drama both on and off the pitch.' As described by one of the producers of the programme: "Celebrity Bainisteoir is about showcasing and celebrating the passion, skill and commitment of grassroots GAA, but we're having a bit fun with it by throwing celebrities into the mix. At its heart it's a uniquely Irish family entertainment programme. For the clubs it's a rare chance to showcase club football to a national audience in an entertainment programme, while for the celebrities it's a chance to learn a brand new skill."
2008 series
Contestants ContestantCountyClubNotes Baz Ashmawy Wicklow Ballymanus TV Presenter Glenda Gilson Dublin Crumlin TV Presenter and Model Jon Kenny Limerick Galtee Gaels Comedian, Actor and Musician Gerald Kean Cork Mayfield Solicitor and Bon Vivant Nell McCafferty Derry St. Mary's, Faughanvale Journalist, Playwright, Civil Rights Campaigner and Feminist Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin Mayo Kiltimagh Ex-Rose of Tralee and TV Presenter Mary O'Rourke/Marty Whelan Westmeath Maryland Former TD and Government Minister Ivan Yates Wexford Taghmon-Camross Bookmaker and Radio Presenter
The eight bainisteoirí and the teams they managed in the 2008 series are: Baz Ashmawy, television presenter from shows such as How Low Can You Go? and (after Celebrity Bainisteoir) Fáilte Towers, managed Ballymanus from Wicklow. The Irish Times reported him managing his team while wearing 'nicely polished footwear' Glenda Gilson, a model and TV presenter called 'one of Ireland's most photographed faces', managed the Crumlin club from Dublin Jon Kenny, actor, comedian, and musician, managed Galtee Gaels of Limerick. As part of his strategy, Kenny brought in a group of traditional Irish musicians to teach the team a song Rattle the boards Gerald Kean, solicitor and 'bon vivant', managed Cork club side Mayfield Nell McCafferty, journalist, playwright, civil rights campaigner and feminist, managed St Mary's Faughanvale from Derry. At one point she said she asked herself 'what it would be like to work exclusively with men,' and said it was 'so far, extremely difficult' Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, former Rose of Tralee and regular member of The Panel on RTÉ Two, managed the Kiltimagh club of Mayo Mary O'Rourke, Fianna Fáil TD for Longford–Westmeath, managed Maryland of Westmeath. She was replaced during the competition by television host Marty Whelan Maryland G (winners of Celebrity Bainisteoir) are heading for the dogs! - 16 July 2008 Ivan Yates, bookmaker and former Fine Gael politician, managed the Taghmon-Camross from Wexford
The contestants were each assigned an experienced mentor to assist them in training and managing their respective teams, but were responsible for team training and tactics. Glenda Gilson recounted her experiences as being extremely difficult, making her cry on the first day. She said 'I wasn't able for it at all and felt I was like a schoolgirl on a street corner trying to be cool in front of boys' and called the experience the most difficult of her life.
Tournament The games featured in Celebrity Bainisteoir programme were officially sanctioned by the GAA and consisted of four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final. The competitive athletic aspect of the programme was taken seriously by club supporters. Mayfield GAA V Kiltimagh GAA Match Review For a semi-final encounter with the Mayo team, for example, supporters from Cork urged their fellow Corkonians to attend by rallying 'People of Cork, your city and your county need your support again...If you care about Cork, You'll be there.' Iarnród Éireann General News
The final tournament was a 'thrilling encounter' Maryland win Celebrity Bainisteoir (Athlone.ie Local News 2008) played at Parnell Park in Donnycarney, Dublin on Friday 16 May in front of over four thousand spectators. Of this final competition, one source praised "the much-anticipated meeting marked the conclusion of a tournament that captured the public imagination by combining the raw passion of the GAA grassroots with the glamorous world of celebrity." The captain for Maryland on the day was David Martin. The Maryland GAA team from Westmeath, under the direction of their replacement bainisteoir Marty Whelan, triumphed over the Mayfield GAA from Cork by 8 points the team that were led by Gerald Kean. Maryland then went on to win the Westmeath Intermediate Championship in 2008.
Christmas Challenge Broadcast on 28 December 2008, this special edition sees Marty Whelan's winning Maryland team from the first series take on Patrick Kielty's London champions Tír Chonaill Gaels.
Tír Chonaill Gaels won this game 1–06 to Maryland's 0-07.
2009 series
Contestants ContestantCountyClubNotes Ray D'Arcy Kildare Rathangan Radio Presenter John Waters Roscommon St. Michael's, Cootehall Journalist Katherine Lynch Leitrim St. Patrick's, Dromahair Comedian and actress Emma O'Driscoll Limerick St. Patrick's Children's TV presenter on The Den George Hook Dublin Cuala Rugby analyst Andrea Roche Tipperary Rockwell Rovers Model John McGuire Kerry Sneem TV presenter Derek Davis Down Glasdrumman TV presenter
Series 3
ContestantCountyClubNotes Mairead Farrell Dublin Ballymun Kickhams Radio & TV Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh Meath Nobber TV Presenter Nuala Carey Offaly Shannonbridge/Clonmacnoise Weather woman on RTÉ Andrew Maxwell Fermanagh Irvinestown Comedian Derek Burke Kerry Castleisland Desmonds Singer with Crystal Swing Gavin Duffy Louth Roche Emmets TV Personality/Businessman Breffny Morgan Galway Kilconly Apprentice Contestant Franc (Peter Kelly) Cork Fermoy Wedding Designer
Series 4 There was a fourth series in 2011. The eight celebrities were Dana, PJ Gallagher, Gillian Quinn, Tommy Fleming, Amanda Brunker, Paul Gogarty, Brenda Donohue and Tony Cascarino."RTÉ's Celebrity Bainisteoirs announced" . RTÉ Ten. 15 July 2011. Majella O'Donnell managed Lissan after Dana left to contest the 2011 Irish presidential election."Lissan GAC". Mid Ulster Mail. 27 September 2011. Cascarino ultimately beat Gogarty, with extra-time being needed in the final for the first time in Celebrity Bainisteoir''."Cascarino wins Celebrity Bainisteoir". RTÉ Ten. 7 November 2011.Butler, Laura. "Soccer star Tony wins Celeb Bainisteoir title" . Evening Herald. 7 November 2011.
Series 5
Contestants ContestantCountyClubNotes Rozanna Purcell Longford Newtown Cashel GAA Club Model and former Miss Ireland. A native of Clonmel she will manage Cashel GAA club from Co Longford. Pippa Ormond Donegal Naomh Brid GAA Club Model and wife of fellow contestant Brian Ormond Jessica Lawlor Cork Ballinora GAA Club Wife of Aston Villa soccer player and former Irish international Stephen Ireland Calum Best Mayo Moy Davitts GAA Club, Foxford Son of George Best Paddy Doherty Dublin Scoil Uí Chonaill GAA Club Clontarf Brian Ormond Westmeath St Mary's GAA Club, Rochfordbridge TV presenter and singer. Husband of fellow contestant Pippa Ormond Richie Hayes Waterford Tramore GAA Club Singer and finalist on The Voice of Ireland. Bainisteoir of Tramore GAA. Mary Byrne Carlow St. Patrick's GAA Club, Tullow Singer who rose to fame on The X Factor UK. Bainisteoir of Tullow GAA.
Matches
Quarter-finals Moy Davitts Calum Best ----v---- Paddy Doherty St Patrick's Tullow, Mary Byrne (singer) ----v---- Richie Hayes Brian Ormond ----v---- Pippa Ormond Jessica Lawlor ----v---- Roz Purcell
Semi-finals Calum Best V Mary Byrne Roz Purcell V Pippa Ormond
Final
Roz Purcell V Calum Best Venue: Parnell Park, Dublin Date: Friday 26 October 2012 Winner''': Calum Best
References
External links Official site