Donegal fans encouraged to wear McGuinness' Balbo Beard to help break the silence

The Movember Ahead of the Game programme – a joint initiative between Movember, the GAA, and the GPA – has named the Balbo Beard as the quintessential facial hair of Donegal GAA.   

The Movember Ahead of the Game campaign is encouraging Donegal fans to don the Balbo Beard for the upcoming match versus Mayo in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon to raise awareness. 

Precise and quietly commanding - traits that perfectly capture both the Balbo Beard and the Donegal GAA identity. This carefully sculpted facial hair style, once famously worn by Donegal football manager, Jim McGuinness, echoes the county’s unwavering focus and determined approach to the game. 

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The Movember Ahead of the Game programme is a groundbreaking, evidence-based mental fitness and resilience initiative which has reached almost 10,000 GAA and GPA members. It equips young athletes with tools to build mental strength, encourage open dialogue, and support one another through the unique pressures of competitive sport.  

Delivered through workshops to clubs, counties, and schools, the programme is helping to build a generation of players who know how to check in with themselves, look out for their teammates, and seek support when needed, without stigma or shame.  

The campaign encourages fans and players throughout Donegal and beyond to wear their Balbo Beard with pride, whether grown for the first time or proudly sported for years. It’s more than facial hair; it’s a symbol of solidarity, strength, and conversation.

The GAA and GPA alongside Movember, the leading men’s health charity, launched the second phase of the Movember Ahead of the Game 2025 programme in April, directly addressing the critical issue of mental fitness and resilience within Irish society.

Advocates John Maher (Galway), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork), Dan Morrissey (Limerick) and Anton Tohill (Derry) were all on hand to support the launch of the mental health programme, in Croke Park. Saoirse and Anton also act as two of the Facilitators on the nationwide programme.

Research shows that six out of 15 men have never spoken about their mental health. Movember, the GAA and GPA are calling on clubs across the country to ‘break the silence’ and don’t let almost* half their teams be silenced.

Now in its second year, Movember Ahead of the Game has already made a lasting impact on communities across Ireland.

"This next phase aims to go even further, giving more clubs, more communities and more young people the tools to look after their mental wellbeing, just like they would their physical fitness.

The programme’s interactive, evidence-based approach ensures that mental fitness isn’t just an afterthought - it’s a key pillar of player development," the GAA said.

"Mental health is part of the game. Whether you're kicking points, coaching from the sideline or cheering from the stands, we all have a role to play in breaking the silence."

President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Jarlath Burns said: “The GAA is committed to the mental health and wellbeing of our players, and we are proud to continue our partnership with Movember and the GPA in the Movember Ahead of the Game programme. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, and by encouraging open conversations and providing support, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our players.”