"When you make it to Croke Park on an All-Ireland Final Day, it's definitely something special."
GAA stars reflect on what fuels elite performance
Solgar ambassadors Paul Conroy and Katie Quirke revisit the memories and moments that have shaped their All-Ireland journeys.
For Galway’s Paul Conroy and Cork’s Katie Quirke, playing in Croke Park on the All-Ireland stage with their teammates is so much more than just a Gaelic football match. It represents all the early mornings, recovery sessions, planning, injury and passion that went into making it to that level.
Behind every big game is a process built on daily habits, a supportive team environment and a mindset geared toward progress.
As brand ambassadors for Solgar — the official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA — Paul and Katie reflect on the work that happens away from the pitch: the physical, mental, and nutritional preparation that fuels performance.
For Paul Conroy, one of Galway’s most seasoned footballers, consistency is everything.
He’s lived the highs of major championships and felt the grind of everyday training. Over time, he’s developed a routine that keeps his mind and body aligned, something he’s come to value just as much as the game itself.
"My daily routine would be to start off with a good night’s sleep the night before. I do my best to get a healthy breakfast in along with my supplements. And then I’d plan my day from there," he said.
“I’d do as much as I can early in the week to plan out my week and to try and be as organised as possible, and once I have my boxes ticked, I find that my day and week go a lot smoother.”
As a teacher off the pitch, Paul knows that structure and preparation not only reduce stress but can also help to enhance performance both on and off the field.
Katie also understands the importance of routine and structure.
After suffering a knee injury in early 2024 that sidelined her for much of the league season, she had to prioritise her health and fitness to return to the pitch.
Getting her recovery right played a critical role in her comeback as she explained: “Recovery is hugely important and food and supplements that I would take play a huge part in that too.”
That dedication paid off. By April 2024, Katie was back in a Cork jersey, helping drive their campaign forward in the LGFA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Both players speak with a level of self-awareness that only experience brings. For Paul, who captained Galway’s All-Ireland Minor winning side in 2007, the biggest lesson he's learned over the years has been about perspective.
“The advice I would give to my younger self would be to try and enjoy the process a bit more,” Paul explained.
“I think sometimes we can get overly worked up about things. It’s really important to enjoy the process when you’re young, especially if you want to grow up and play at a high level.
Sometimes when you’re at that high level, you might not enjoy it as much as you can, maybe because of nerves or overthinking situations."
Katie shares this sentiment, especially given what she’s pushed through in the past year.
“You don’t know what’s going to be coming around the corner so I think just to take every day as it comes, to take every match as it comes and just enjoy it all,” Katie shared.
While both have had standout moments in their sporting careers—Paul captaining the Galway Minors to All-Ireland victory in 2007 and Katie winning her long-awaited All-Ireland Minor final with a close-knit Cork group—they cherish the full journey they've undergone to become the athletes that they are today.
“Even when you're 17 or 18, you still have to put in all the long hours and late nights of training in the rain, and when you make it to Croke Park on an All-Ireland Final Day, it's definitely something special," Paul said.
That outlook reflects the values driving Solgar's mission to help athletes thrive on and off the pitch. As part of the partnership, Solgar has also become a title sponsor of the GAA Museum, a cultural landmark that preserves the stories, struggles and achievements that shape Gaelic Games.
With over 120,000 visitors annually, the museum serves as a place where young fans can discover the stories of stars like Katie and Paul and dream of following in their footsteps.
While Solgar's golden capsules may now be a part of Paul and Katie's morning routine, the partnership itself is much bigger than the product.
It focuses on supporting the overall well-being and performance of the inter-county players.
For Paul, a part of that journey to fuel elite performance includes focusing on the basics.
"Control what you can control," Paul said.
"I think a lot of the time we maybe manifest about things that aren't in your control and I'd be a big believer in just taking small steps at a time, whether that be at a training on a Tuesday evening or a match on the weekend."
That's a mantra any athlete and fan can hold onto.
In celebration of the Solgar and GAA/GPA partnership, you now have the chance to win
THE ULTIMATE CROKE PARK EXPERIENCE
The winner will be treated to a private tour of the stadium, including the Skyline tour, meet a GAA legend, and enjoy lunch in one of the suites overlooking the stadium.
Ends 23:59 on 10 August 2025.
*T&Cs apply
Solgar Golden Moments Prize Draw – FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Promoter
The Promoter is Solgar Ireland Nestlé Health Science, 3009 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin, Dublin 24, in partnership with Independent News & Media (INM), 27–32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, D01 X2E1.
2. Eligibility
The promotion is open to residents of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland aged 18 years or over, excluding employees and immediate family members of the Promoter, INM, the GAA, GPA, or any third-party agencies directly connected with the promotion.
3. Entry
To enter, participants must correctly answer the prize draw question provided and submit the online entry form with their first name, last name and email address via the official Irish Independent landing page. Only one entry per person is permitted. No purchase necessary.
4. Promotional Period
The promotion opens at 00:01 on July 4th 2025 and closes at 23:59 on August 10th 2025. Entries received outside this time will not be valid and will not be included in the prize draw.
5. Prize Details
One winner will receive the following prize: A family pass for four to include:
• Private tour of the stadium
• Skyline tour
• Meet a GAA legend
• Lunch in the stadium overlooking the pitch
• Signed GAA jersey
The prize is non-transferable, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if required.
The prize is redeemable between September 2025 and August 2026 and is subject to availability and at the discretion of the prize providers.
The Promoter is not responsible for the acts or default of third-party suppliers but will endeavour to resolve any issues that may arise.
The Promoter and its associated agencies and companies will not be liable for any loss (including, without limitation, indirect, special or consequential loss or loss of profits), expense or damage which is suffered or sustained (whether or not arising from any person’s negligence) in connection with this promotion or accepting or using the prizes, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law (including personal injury, death and fraud) in which case that liability is limited to the minimum allowable by law.
6. Winner Selection
The winner will be selected at random via an independently verified process from all correct and valid entries received during the promotional period. The prize draw will take place on or around August 11th. The winner will be contacted by email within five (5) working days of the draw via the email address provided in their original entry.
The Promoter will make reasonable efforts to contact the winner, however, if the winner has not responded to notification within fourteen (14) days and after three attempts, or if a selected winner is ineligible, or otherwise in breach of these Terms and Conditions, or unable to take up the prize for any reason, the prize entitlement will be withdrawn, and the prize will pass to a reserve winner drawn at the same time as the original winner. If the reserve winner cannot be contacted within 14 days and after three attempts, or cannot take up the prize, the prize entitlement will be withdrawn. The process will be repeated until a valid winner can be found from the reserves. However, if after the three reserves have been tried and the prize has still not been awarded, the Promoter reserves the right to cancel the prize completely and withdraw it from the promotion, however, every effort will be actioned to allow the prize to be awarded.
7. Age Verification
Entrants may be required to provide valid proof of age before a prize is awarded. Entries from individuals under the age of 18 will be disqualified.
8. Publicity
By taking part in the promotion the prize winner agrees that the Promoter may contact them to ask for their consent as to whether they want to participate in reasonable marketing activities and publicity relating to the promotion. Such publicity may include, without limitation, the entrants’ name and/or if consent given, image or statements made by entrants concerning the promotion and/or prize obtained as part of the promotion. The winner is not obliged to agree to any such request.
9. Data Protection
The Promoter will only use the personal details supplied for the administration of the promotion and the auditing of the entries where necessary and for no other purpose, unless we have your consent/you have opted-in to receive future marketing communications. The surnames and counties of residence of verified winners will be made available as set out in the relevant clause above and winners can object to this by emailing solgarinfo@solgar.com. Otherwise, your personal details will at all times be kept confidential and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 as applicable. See https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/privacypolicy for the Promoter’s Privacy Policy. You can request access to your personal data, have any inaccuracies rectified or request deletion of personal data by sending an email to solgarinfo@solgar.com By participating in the promotion, you acknowledge to the use of your personal data as described here. You can withdraw your consent at any time. For the purpose of this promotion, requests to delete personal data can only be actioned after the promotion has concluded and the winner(s) accepted their prize. Any data obtained via this promotion will be deleted three (3) months after the promotion end date with the exception of the winner(s) and reserve(s) whose data will be deleted after fulfilment of the prize(s).
10. Winners' List
Subject to the Promoter’s Privacy Policy, which can be found at https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/privacypolicy the winner’s surname and county of residence will be available by sending an email request to solgarinfo@solgar.com with ‘WINNERS’ LIST: SOLGAR GAA IRELAND PRIZE DRAW’ in the subject line, for a period of three (3) months following the closing date of the promotion. When contacting this email address, requests will be actioned in line with the Promoter’s Privacy Policy and the Promoter reserves the right to refuse any or all such requests. If any winner objects to their information being published, then they can contact the Promoter by emailing solgarinfo@solgar.com with the subject line ‘SOLGAR GAA IRELAND PRIVACY REQUEST’. The Promoter may nevertheless disclose the information to the Advertising Standards Authority if required to do so. Personal information provided will be used solely for the purposes of administering the promotion and contacting the winner, unless the entrant has opted in to receive future marketing communications. Data will be processed in accordance with GDPR and Solgar’s Privacy Policy:
11. Marketing Consent
Marketing communications will only be sent to entrants who actively choose to opt in. Opting in is not a condition of entry and all entrants will be treated equally. You may unsubscribe from marketing at any time using the link provided in any email.
11. Right to Cancel or Amend
The Promoter reserves the right to cancel, suspend or amend the promotion or these terms and conditions, if necessary, due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. If, for any reason, any aspect of this promotion is not capable of running as planned, including by reason of infection by system virus, network failure, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other cause beyond the control of the Promoter which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this promotion, the Promoter may in its sole discretion cancel, modify or suspend the promotion or invalidate any affected entries. If an act, omission, event, or circumstance occurs which is beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter and which prevents the Promoter from complying with these Terms and Conditions the Promoter will not be liable for any failure to perform or delay in performing its obligation but will always endeavour to minimise the effect to participants in order to avoid undue disappointment.
12. Social Media Disclaimer
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform.
13. Promoter’s Decision
The Promoter’s decision in all matters relating to the promotion is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Governing Law
These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of Ireland and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
If any of these clauses should be determined to be illegal, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable then it shall be severed and deleted from these Terms and Conditions and the remaining clauses shall survive and remain in full force and effect.
Promoter/’we’: Solgar Ireland, 3009 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin, Dublin 24 in partnership with Independent News & Media (INM), 27–32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, D01 X2E1.
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