Celebrity Bainisteoir

infobox television
show_name = Celebrity Bainisteoir


caption =
format = Reality competition
runtime = 60 minutes
creator = Animo Television/Kite Entertainment
starring =
country = IRL
network = RTÉ One
first_aired = March 23 2008cite news|url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3541&Itemid=103 |title=Managing just fine |first=Daniel |last=Carey |publisher="The Mayo News" |date=2008-02-26 |accessdate=2008-09-03]
last_aired = May 18 2008
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 8
related =
website =
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

"Celebrity Bainisteoir" is a 2008 eight-part prime-time reality programme produced for Radio Telefís Éireann, the Public broadcasting service in Ireland. [http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/entertainment/mheyqlgbauau/] "Irish Examiner" (05/02/2008) Celebrities eye GAA glory in new TV show] [http://www.rte.ie/tv/celebritybainisteoir/] Celebrity Bainisteoir, RTÉ One, Sunday 6.30pm] It was produced by Animo Television/Kite Entertainment and broadcast on RTÉ One on Sundays at 6.30pm. The programme's title comes from "bainisteoir" ("bwin-ish-TYOH-ruh" [http://www.erinsweb.com/gaelic96.html] Learning Irish Lesson 96] ), an Irish language word for manager that is used for the coaches of Gaelic games. [http://www.munster-express.ie/category/sports/gaa-hurling/page/2/] The Munster Express Ltd. : GAA Hurling (2008)] [ [http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=513] Waterford Team Orthodontist Resigns (PeoplesRepublicOfCork.com)] [ [http://www.mayfieldgaa.com/news/celebrity_news_clippings.htm] Mayfield GAA Hurling & Football Club]

During and after its run, the 'hugely popular RTÉ Television tournament' [http://www.athlone.ie/News/LocalNews/CelebrityBainisteoir.aspx] Maryland win Celebrity Bainisteoir (Athlone.ie Local News 2008)] was widely mentioned in the media including such newspapers such as "An Phoblacht" [ [http://www.anphoblacht.com/letters/2008-05-15] "An Phoblacht" Letters 2008-05-15] , "The Belfast Telegraph". [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northwest-edition/weekly/sport/mccafferty-team-boss-13503531.html] "Belfast Telegraph" (Tuesday, 18 December 2007) McCafferty team boss "by Michael Boyle and Will Ellison ] , the "Evening Echo" [http://www.mayfieldgaa.com/news/celebrity_news_clippings.htm] Mayfield GAA: Celebrity Bainisteoir Press Clippings] , the "Irish Examiner", the "Irish Independent" [http://www.independent.ie/topics/Aoibhinn+Ni+Shuilleabhain] "Irish Independent" News & Gossip: Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain] , the "Irish News" [ [http://www.irishnews.com/anteolas.asp?catid=5794&subcatid=5798&sid=587833] "The Irish News" (16/05/08) "Tá’n lucht leanúna ag dúil go mór le cluiche ceannais" Celebrity Bainisteoir (in Irish and English)] , and "The Irish Times". [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2008/0405/1207319036648.html] "The Irish Times" (Saturday, April 5, 2008) Back to a familiar future] [ [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2007/0809/1186424956541.html] "Irish Times" (Thu 08 Aug 2007) RTÉ's autumn schedule to include 25 new series, documentaries] [ [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0804/1217628485086.html?digest=1] "Irish Times" (Monday, August 4, 2008) RTÉ chief warns staff of 'a most challenging' 2009] During its run, a pop culture website asked its readers 'If you weren’t watching Celebrity Bainisteoir last night, then where were you?' [ [http://www.jazzbiscuit.com/2008/03/31/celebrity-bainisteoir/] If you weren’t watching Celebrity Bainisteoir last night...(jazzbiscuit.com)]

In the wake of the successful first series, the "Evening Herald" of Dublin reported in September 2008 that RTÉ was seeking out a new set of celebrities for a second series of "Celebrity Bainisteoir" set to air in summer 2009, and that a "Celebrity Bainisteoir" special will air during the Christmas season in 2008.cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/rte-gets-the-ball-rolling-for-new-series-of-celebrity-bainisteoir-1468552.html |title=RTE gets the ball rolling for new series of "Celebrity Bainisteoir" |first=Claire |last=Murphy |publisher="Evening Herald" |date=2008-09-03 |accessdate=2008-09-20]

Description

In the series, eight non-sporting Irish 'celebrities' (see comments [http://www.loudervoice.com/reviews/476365195] Celebrity Bainisteoir reviewed by Conor O'Neill (31 Mar 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 of Ireland. Counties of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were represented. 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.

Contestants

The eight "bainisteoirí" and the teams they managed are:
*Baz Ashmawy, television presenter from shows such as "How Low Can You Go?" and (after "Celebrity Bainisteoir") "Fáilte Towers", managed the Ballymanus GAA of County 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 GAA Club of County Dublin.
*Jon Kenny, actor, comedian, and musician, managed the Galtee Gaels GAA Club of County Limerick. As part of his strategy, Kenny brought in a group of traditional Irish musicians to teach the team a song. [ [http://www.rattletheboards.com/news.html] Rattle the boards]
*Gerald Kean, solicitor and 'bon vivant', managed the Mayfield GAA Club of County Cork
*Nell McCafferty, outspoken lesbiancitation |title=Just call me Nell |date=November 22, 2004 |periodical=The Guardian |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1356491,00.html |first=Angelique |last=Chrisafis |accessdate=2007-11-30 ] journalist and playwright, managed the St Mary's Faughanvale GAA Club in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 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 GAA Club of County Mayo.
*Mary O'Rourke, Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath , managed the Maryland GAA Club of County Westmeath. She was replaced during the competition by television host Marty Whelan [http://www.citylocal.ie/cities/Limerick/news/article/8003/] Maryland G (winners of Celebrity Bainisteoir) are heading for the dogs! - 16-07-2008] who brought in Celtic FC manager Gordon Strachan to give a motivational speech to the players.
*Ivan Yates, bookmaker and former Fine Gael politician, managed the Taghmon-Camross GAA Club of County Wexford.The contestants were each assigned and 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 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. [ [http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=357] 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.' [ [http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=351] Iarnród Éireann General News]

The final tournament was a 'thrilling encounter' played at Parnell Park in Donnycarney, Dublin on Friday 16th May in front over 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 Maryland GAA team from Westmeath, under the direction of their replacement "bainisteoir" Marti Whelan, triumphed over the Mayfield GAA from Cork lead by Gerald Kean.

References

External links

* [http://www.rte.ie/tv/celebritybainisteoir/ Official site]