Ciara Griffin went into Ultimate Hell Week knowing she had a fear of water. She came out with a greater insight to its extent.
"You definitely learn a few things, or things are highlighted," the former Ireland rugby captain tells Balls about her experience on the RTÉ series which premiered this week. The show puts 20 celebrity recruits through a condensed version of Special Forces selection, testing their physical and mental strength.
"I would have a fear of water, I'd be very scared of water. I didn't realise the level of fear that I have," says Griffin, who rolled off a RIB into the water near Spike Island in the first episode.
"You find a way to overcome these things. You find a weakness, and then you find a way to overcome it.
"As mad as it sounds, I always wanted to do Ultimate Hell Week. I was just never able to do it with my own training and schedule. Then when I got the call to do The Professionals series, it was a no-brainer for me. I like pushing myself and testing myself. There was no better way to do it."
It's 10 months since the Kerry woman announced her shock retirement from international rugby aged just 27. The 41-cap backrow felt it was time to focus on her life outside rugby.
Griffin hasn't gone "cold turkey" on team sport. She's playing club football with Castleisland Desmonds. Last season, she was a supporter as the team reached the All-Ireland intermediate semi-final, losing out to Castlebar Mitchels. This season, she's playing centre forward. On Sunday, in a 2-15 to 1-4 victory over 2021 Kerry senior finalists Rathmore, Griffin scored 1-3.
"Regardless of whether they were winning or not, I was always going to go back and play football," she says.
"You'll always go back to your club. That was always in my mind. I didn't know what my role would be in terms of whether I would be playing. The group have been so welcoming, and very patient as well.
"It's nice to see a bit of progress. There are days when I won't kick snow off a rope! When things click, it's great, but then the girls will tell that there are times I'd be in front of the post, and my left leg will kick it to the left corner!
"It's about being patient with yourself. You won't get it straight away, and I'm learning to be a bit more patient with myself. We'll get there.
"You have a game on a Sunday, you're training twice a week, you still have that routine, but at a nicer pace."
Griffin was again in the supporter role this season as Kerry reached their first All-Ireland ladies football final in a decade. "It was amazing," she says about a Kerry side which featured Castleisland clubmates Lorraine Scanlon, Eilis Lynch, Cáit Lynch, and Paris McCarthy.
22 January 2022; Kathryn Sullivan of Castlebar Mitchels in action against Kate O'Connor of Castleisland Desmonds during the 2021 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship Semi-Final match between Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo and Castleisland Desmonds, Kerry at Páirc Josie Munnelly in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
"What they achieved this year was phenomenal. What really struck me at the final was there were so many young girls going to it, that they were there watching their heroes line out for Kerry."
Unlike Dublin's Hannah Tyrrell, and Kerry's Louise Galvin - both former Irish rugby internationals who now play inter-county football - Griffin says she will not be taking that step. "Oh no! I wouldn't cut it at that level at all!" she says. "I'm happy playing my club football. You have to commend them, their commitment is insane."
In early August, the IRFU confirmed that it would be offering professional contracts to Irish women's 15s players for the first time. Griffin says that even if she knew that type of progress was on the horizon, she would not have stayed on.
"To be honest, I wouldn't," she says.
"That's down to my own personal circumstances. I played rugby because I loved it. It was my vocation, but teaching is my profession. I was always wanted to be a primary school teacher. Being able to play rugby alongside it, I was really lucky.
"For me, I wouldn't have played on for contracts. I think it's fantastic that they are providing contracts. That's what you need, that investment in the game.
"You need to level the playing field with other nations. It's great to see that investment coming, eventually. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come, and we will see that progression in the women's game here, and we see that commitment to investment, but also development."
20 November 2021; Ciara Griffin of Ireland is lifted by team-mates after the Autumn Test Series match between Ireland and Japan at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Though Griffin has not gone cold turkey on team sports, she has completely quit rugby, and no longer plays for Munster or UL Bohemians.
"The rugby boots are hung up," she says.
"I've gone from being immersed in it daily, weekly, to not having it at all. It was the way I always thought I'd do it. I'm very much an all-in type of person.
"That was a massive chapter of my life. It took over my life for so over 10 years, from when I first started out with provincial all the way up. It's nice now to focus on other interests, put my time and focus into other areas that I want to push on.
"Definitely down the line, I'd be interested [in coaching]. When you're so fresh out of it, you want that time away."
Griffin not only went through Hell Week to test her limits, but also to raise money for a good cause. All 20 recruits on the show are representing a charity of their choice.
"Kerry Hospice is a fantastic organisation," says Griffin.
"They provide such invaluable support for patients, and families in hard times. Unfortunately, there are very few families around who haven't been affected by cancer.
"It's a charity that's close to my own heart. We know people who've used the services, and Kerry Hospice has given people a lot of peace in their final time, at a time when they've needed it.
"If Hell Week can provide any bit of funding, it'll be worth every minute of it."
See Also: Minor Victory Might Spark Something Major In North Kerry
