The counties are at the ready. The ‘sang-witches’ are packed. It’s that time of the year again.
Those distraught GAA fans who aren’t lucky enough to make the match will be settling in this Sunday by the television…
No, we’re not talking about the all-glorious day out in Croke Park that is the All-Ireland Final… we’re talking about the brand new, much-anticipated season of ‘Celebrity Bainisteoir’.
The RTÉ hit reality TV show is back with a bang, and a few cool differences, and Her.ie spoke with Irish model and Celebrity Bainisteoir Pippa O’Connor for this season’s inside story.
Pippa joins a host of celebrities ready to take on an intermediate Gaelic Football team and coach them towards the much-coveted Celebrity Bainisteoir 2012 success.
The celebrities were give teams north and south, east and west of the country and, in a twist that hasn’t been seen before, they will be set against each other in rival pairs.
Reality television talent show stars Mary Byrne from ‘X-Factor’ and Richie Hayes from ‘The Voice’ will take on each other’s teams in the quarter-finals, it’s the battle of UK reality television as Calum Best and celebrity traveller Paddy Doherty face each other on the pitch and the battle of the babes will ensue as WAG Jessica Lawlor goes head to head with Tipperary model Roz Purcell.
Last, but definitely not least, it’s a Mr and Mrs Celebrity Death Match as husband and wife Brian Ormond and Pippa O’Connor go to war over the leather ball.
Rivals playing nice: The cast of this year’s Celebrity Bainisteoir – The Rivals
“There is definitely more rivalry involved this year,” Pippa said.
“They’ve changed it this year, it’s Celebrity Bainisteoir-The Rivals and it is definitely more of a challenge. The twist is whoever is the losing bainisteoir has to become the other beainisteoir’s assistant as they head to the semi-finals.
“It’s a good idea because whoever loses has to become the other one’s assistant, it’s great craic. And, instead of losing someone at the start, you still get to see the person on the show.”
Pippa has spent the last few months coaching Donegal natives, Naomh Bríd GAA club.
“Oh, I’m a new native of Donegal now!”, Pippa laughed.
“I met the team first in June. I was really nervous to be honest. There were so many people there it was very overwhelming but it was great, I met all the lads and they were fabulous, all very nice and polite. We were all so excited from the start.”
It had to be asked. Whatever about a girl not being the stereotypical bainisteoir, we’re guessing the Naomh Bríd boys certainly never had a model coaching them before…
“It was actually fine,” Pippa said, “they were excited, but once the novelty wore off of having a girl as a manager, they seemed happy enough to have me so that was good. A relief!
“I had never had any experience of the GAA before so I got in touch with a man called Martin McHugh from Donegal. He’s a well-known ex-player and he’s a commentator and trainer too.
“He gave me a bit of a hand on what way to go about training with the guys. I knew nothing and I felt like an eejit going in telling them what to do.”
Pippa tried her hand at a slightly different kind of occupation on reality television before when she hit our screens on TV3’s ‘Celebrity Salon’. The Kildare native thought it was a challenge compared to her ‘Come Dine With Me’ experience at the time, but now says ‘Celebrity Bainisteoir’ is definitely the most difficult of them all.
“Celebrity Bainisteoir is most definitely the most challenging! It’s different to the others I’ve done but I really am enjoying it,” she said.
“It’s challenging but it’s really, really good fun. At the moment I’ve already kind of surprised myself by how much I am learning. The very first day of bootcamp we had mentors there telling us what to do, explaining to us how to be an authoritative person and I thought it was very difficult.
“I felt like an eejit blowing the whistle and giving orders but now I am proud of myself, I am taking up a role completely out of my comfort zone.”
Mr versus Mrs… here we go!!!
Pippa faces husband Brian Ormond and his Westmeath team, St Mary’s GAA Club, Rochfordbridge, in her first match, a quarter-final in the competition. Brian has had a relationship with GAA before, but Pippa thinks the match will be fair game.
“He played a small bit when he was younger but I think it could be anyone’s. It’s hard to tell the competition because I’ve only seen myself and Brian’s team, it really could be anyone’s game at the moment.
“Myself and Brian aren’t sharing any tips though, I’m definitely keeping my secrets to myself! I’m good friends with Roz so I’m in touch with her asking her how she’s getting on, but I haven’t seen her team yet either.
“It’s such a big deal for the teams. They want to do well so that makes me want to do well for them too.”
In another twist, this season will also put the battle for home advantage on the shoulders of the celebrities. It will be entirely up to the celebrities to win the home honour for their club through a series of unique celebrity rival challenges.
“It is going to be very, very fun,” Pippa smiles.
“What else is a good word to use? Exciting… Definitely the celebrity rival challenges for home advantage will be hilarious to watch. It was nail-bitingly close when myself and Brian did the challenge to see who would win advantage!
“An exciting show to watch, most definitely. And we’ll both be tuned in on Sunday night, I can’t wait.”
Neither can we Pippa!
Tune in to the new series of RTE’s ‘Celebrity Bainisteoir’, starting this Sunday on RTE One at 6:30pm. Check out the preview here!
