Gymnastics Donegal Coaching Team

Coach & Birthdays manager

Brianagh

Name: Brianagh

Also known as: Bri, Dory

Role at Citadel: Coach & Birthday party manager

Qualifications: GymStart Level 1, Men’s artistic (MAG) Level 1 (in training), GymSTART Level 2 (in training), “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, manual handling, safeguarding 1, basic first aid, MAG club judge.

Hobbies: Gymnastics, music, water sports, reading.

Favourite food: Chocolate

Favourite colour: Yellow and green

Favourite gymnastics skill: Anything backwards. Back handsprings, back tucks. I also love roundoffs because you can go so high up.

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The family aspect

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Seeing the kids master something and seeing the “buzz” in the gym.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story:

Anything else you’d like to add:

Coach & Inclusivity Manager

Caoimhe

Name: Caoimhe

Also known as: Elmo

Role at Citadel: Coach, Inclusivity officer

Qualifications: WAG 1, safeguarding 1, manual handling, basic first aid.

Hobbies:  Gymnastics, meeting up with friends, drawing, making cards

Favourite food:  Curry

Favourite colour: Purple

Favourite gymnastics skill: Front tumbling

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Working with all my friends

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: How happy a gymnast is when they
get a new skill.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: I fell down during a risk assessment and one of the coaches said she’d record me as a risk!

Anything else you’d like to add: I fall a lot

Coach, Preschool Manager & Team Lead

Charli

Name: Charli

Also known as:  Roo

Role at Citadel:  Women’s artistic competitive and recreational coach, Preschool Manager

Qualifications: Gymstart Level 1 & 2, safeguarding 1, manual handling, “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, first aid, WAG club judge.

Hobbies: Being creative and getting outside.

Favourite food:  pasta & chocolate!

Favourite colour:  Grey

Favourite gymnastics skill:  Back Walkover

Favourite thing about working at Citadel:  Being part of a family.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Getting to see all the happy kids.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: When one of my gymnasts accidentally created “the wheelbarrow” move on the vault!

Anything else you’d like to add:

Coach and Young leader manager

David

Name: David

Also known as: Shortty

Role: coach and young leaders manager

Hobbies: anything outdoors and involving water

Favourite food: Pizza

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite Skill: Front flip

Favourite thing about citadel: The family environment and the kids

Favourite part about coaching: seeing the kids have fun and rejoicing in their achievements

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: 

Anything else you’d like to add: 

Coach

Eilis

Name: Eilis

Also known as: 

Role at Citadel:  Coach

Qualifications: GymSTART foundation course

Hobbies: Gymnastics, swimming, surfing

Favourite food: Pasta

Favourite colour: purple

Favourite gymnastics skill: front handspring front tuck

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: the people who work there are all really friendly.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Working with the kids.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: Faceplanting off the bars. No more description needed.

Anything else you’d like to add: *Shakes head*

Coach

Ellie

Name: Ellie

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: Coach.

Qualifications: WAG level 1, WAG level 2 (in training), safeguarding 1, manual handling, fire warden training, basic first aid.

Hobbies: Painting, gymnastics and swimming.

Favourite food: Pizza!!!

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite gymnastics skill: Handstands

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Everyone is one big happy, crazy and caring family.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Learning more about the sport and helping gymnasts achieve their goals and watch them grow as a person.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: One time I spent a whole day coaching with my t-shirt inside out, all of the other coaches knew but wanted to see how long it’d take for me to notice.

Anything else you’d like to add: I love not having to wear shoes to work. I tend to steal people’s food.

Coach

Emmalei

Name: Emmalei

Also known as:  Emm

Role at Citadel:  Coach (and resident choreographer)

Qualifications: First aid, manual handling, safeguarding 1, Gymnastics Ireland FUNdamentals, “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, MAG club judge (in training).

Hobbies:  Gymnastics, reading

Favourite food:  Mango and cheesecake

Favourite colour: Blue and green

Favourite gymnastics skill: Flyaways

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: All of it 😊

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Seeing all the small progressions that turn into a full gymnastics skill.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: Headbutting the wires at the uneven bar and falling over.

Coach

Enda

Name: Enda

Also known as: Coach.

Qualifications: GymStart level 1.

Hobbies: Training and professional wrestling.

Favourite food: Steak.

Favourite colour: Blue.

Favourite gymnastics skill: Handstand walking.

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The uplifting atmosphere.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Aiding the youth in building their own belief in themselves.

Most embarrassing/ funny coaching story: When I started learning to coach, and was on the bars, I overspotted a student out of concern for their safety, and basically lifted them off the bar altogether, which was a good laugh for everyone, and me, eventually.

Anything else to add: The wresting and adults gymnastic classes are great craic if you want to try something different.

Head Coach and General Manager

Fiona

Name: Fiona

Also known as: Felix, like Fix-it-Felix

Role at Citadel: Head Coach / Managing Director

Qualifications: GymStart Level 1, GymStart Level 2, WAG Level 2, WAG Level 3 Coach, WAG Level 4, TeamGym Level 3 coach, Strength and Conditioning Coach, WAG judge, Coach developer (in training), “fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, manual handling, occupational first aid, safeguarding 1 & 2, (and Mechanical Engineer!!!).

Hobbies:  Dancing, reading, music

Favourite food:  A good steak

Favourite colour: Hmm, I wonder… BLUE!!!

Favourite gymnastics skill: Stalder

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Happy, smiley faces (even in the coaches too). Also having coaches who completely understand my crazy jibberish when I’m trying to explain something and it makes no sense to a normal human. We have super hero coaches here.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: More happy, smiley faces and seeing people being proud of their hard work.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: Too many…. way too many… oh the trips and falls…
Usually when Amber and I try to spot something together it ends in fits of giggles to no end (ask our adult TeamGym group, we got nothing done for laughing so hard)

Anything else you’d like to add: I adore having a place where everyone is so different but feels so much part of the same team. We each have so many unique qualities and I love that it all fits so well together.

Coach

Gary

Name: Gary

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: Level 1 General coach

Hobbies:

Favourite food:

Favourite colour: 

Favourite gymnastics skill:

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: 

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: 

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: 

Anything else you’d like to add: 

Coach

James

Name: James

Also known as:  Wreckarooney

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: Bachelors in Sports Science, GymStart 1, first aid.

Hobbies:  Walking and reading

Favourite food:  Chinese food

Favourite colour: Yellow or blue

Favourite gymnastics skill: Full twist and double straight

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Socialising with the team. I love coming in here.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Seeing the gymnasts improve

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: I can’t think of one yet.

Coach

Jennifer

Name: Jennifer

Also known as:  Jenny, Jessibelle

Role at Citadel:  Coach

Qualifications: Women’s artistic (WAG) Level 1 (in training), First aid, safeguarding level 1, Gymnastics Ireland FUNdamentals foundation course, “Fun moves” certificate, Fire warden training, Manual handling, MAG club judge.

Hobbies:  Gymnastics, running, singing

Favourite food:  I love pizza, crisps and mangoes

Favourite colour: White

Favourite gymnastics skill: Back walkover

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The staff and the kids

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Helping the younger kids and giving them advice that I would have got when I was their age.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story:

Anything else you’d like to add: I think the Young Leader Program is a very good idea.

Coach and GymABLE manager

Karina

Name: Karina Simião

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: The happiest gymnastics coach

Qualifications: Primary School teacher in Brazil, Bachelor degree in Physical Education (specialising in Gymnastics), Post Grad in Special needs education, WAG level 2, MAG level 2, Rhythmic level 2, Acro level 2, “Fun moves” course, WAG club judge, WAG level 3 (in training).

Hobbies:  Gymnastics, trampoline, crazy about Mickey Mouse, Reading about gymnastics.

Favourite food:  Brazilian barbecue

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite gymnastics skill: back tuck

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: It’s a family. Everybody is always open to help. Especially with English. Also It is safe for the gymnasts to learn.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: I can teach people how to fly!

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: English is always tricking me. I always have something embarrassing or misunderstanding to say.

Anything else you’d like to add: Being a Gymnastics’s coach is like teaching the children the best part of my childhood. I love to teach and I’ll always try my best for it.

Coach & Admin dept.

Laura

Name: Laura

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: 

Qualifications: Level 1 GymSTART, Level 2 GymSTART (in training), manual handling, safeguarding 1, Love-to-move instructor (age-friendly Alzheimer’s class), basic first aid.

Hobbies: Cooking & baking

Favourite food: Pizza

Favourite colour: Purple

Favourite gymnastics skill:

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The people!

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Working with all the lovely children and coaches.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: None yet, thank goodness

Anything else you’d like to add:

Coach, Admin Manager & Team Lead

Louise

Name: Louise

Also known as:  LouLou

Role at Citadel: Administration Manager, Director and Coach

Qualifications: WAG 1 and GymStart 2, WAG 2, MAG Level 1 (in training), “Fun moves” course, fire warden training, manual handling, WAG and MAG club judge (in training)

Hobbies:  Cross stitch, sewing and anything arty

Favourite food:  Baked beans on toast, and poffertjes (those Danish pancakes that I like).

Favourite colour: Green

Favourite gymnastics skill: tsukahara

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: I love the people and the energy.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: When a kid gets a new skill that they’ve been working really hard for.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: After spending all week tellling people to mind the wires at the bars, I tripped over them and skinned my shin.

Anything else you’d like to add: I really enjoy my job and I’m glad I’m a part of it. I love the team we have.

Coach

Luis

Name: Luis

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: GymStart level 1, GymSTART Level 2 (in training), Manual handling, Safeguarding 1.

Hobbies:

Favourite food:

Favourite colour: 

Favourite gymnastics skill:

Favourite thing about working at Citadel:

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics:

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: 

Anything else you’d like to add:

Coach & Team Lead

Molly

Name: Molly

Also known as:  Twinkle

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: Gymstart Level 1, Gymstart Level 2, Club Judge (WAG), Fire warden training, manual handling, WAG level 2 (in training), safeguarding 1.

Hobbies:  Going out and  road tripping with my friends

Favourite food:  Fajitas or a good Chinese

Favourite colour: White

Favourite gymnastics skill: Press handstands 😍

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Never feeling like I’m actually working because of the amazing atmosphere and people!

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Watching the gymnasts grow and progress over time, and hearing all their weekly gossip too.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: When we got a flat tyre coming home from a competition in Dublin. Fiona and Louise were trying to fix the tyre while me and Amber “helped” with our excellent music choices (Louise begged to differ), charming stories, hilarious observations and even holding the flashlight. Not to mention it had started snowing during the whole ordeal!

Anything else you’d like to add:  Don’t be surprised if you see me crying..

Coach and Schools Manager

Natasha

Name: Natasha Kelly

Name: Natasha

Also known as:  Tasha or Tash

Role at Citadel: Schools Manager and Coach

Qualifications: GymStart 1. GymStart 2, WAG club judge, “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, manual handling, first aid.

Hobbies:  TeamGym, mountain biking

Favourite food:  Vegetables

Favourite colour: Blue or purple

Favourite gymnastics skill: Round-off tuck

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The people.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Watching the children get new skills.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: One of the teenage gymnasts knocking over me and Fiona at the same time when we were spotting him on the trampette.

Anything else you’d like to add: I love that we have classes for adults so everyone can participate in gymnastics.

Coach & Social media manager

Niamh

Name: Niamh

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: School and recreational coach

Qualifications: Fire warden training, Gymnastics Ireland FUNdamental foundation course, safeguarding 1, GymSTART level 1, GymSTART level 2 (in training), Love-to-move instructor (age-friendly alzheimers class), manual handling.

Hobbies: Going for nice walks in scenic places. Listening to music and spending time with friends.

Favourite food: Love a good chinese.

Favourite colour: Grey and sage

Favourite gymnastics skill: Cartwheel

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: Everyone is so friendly and helpful and it’s such a great environment to work in.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: I love watching the kids have loads of fun and making new friends and learning new skills.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: None as of yet….. but I’m sure there’ll be many to come.

Anything else you’d like to add: I love a good chit-chat.

Coach

Nicola

Name: Nicola

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: General Level 1, safeguarding 1, manual handling.

Hobbies: meeting up with the gals, going for walks on the beach, playing piano

Favourite food: the BBQ Chicken and Chorizo pasta from Belle’s Kitchen

Favourite colour: Green

Favourite gymnastics skill: I do love a good switch leap

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: anytime you walk into the gym everyone will always go out of their way to say hello. Even if it means shouting ‘HI NICOLA!!’ at the top of their voices from the opposite side of the gym

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Getting to know the kids and making them laugh

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: I was about to mop the floor at work and picked up what I thought was cleaner and asked Cara what to do with it. It was actually a carton of milk – Cara was confused.

Anything else you’d like to add:  Me and Rachel are not twins. I too find it hard to believe there is a 7 year age gap between us

Coach and resident Handyman

Reelan

Name: Reelan

Also known as:  Rhino

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: Gymstart 1, GymSTART 2 (in training), manual handling, safeguarding 1.

Hobbies:  Making stuff, metal craft, electronics, wood joinery and Display gymnastics in Finesse gc.

Favourite food:  A good vegetable stew.

Favourite colour: Dark grey

Favourite gymnastics skill: Full twist

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The coaches are good fun to have a coffee with.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Helping the gymnasts achieve their best

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: I zip tied a birthday cake for Brianagh and made it so tight she couldn’t open it and eventually had to get scissors to get into the cake

Anything else you’d like to add:

Coach

Shauna

Name: Shauna

Also known as:

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: First aid, manual handling, WAG 1, safeguarding 1. MAG club judge.

Hobbies:  Karate, Gaelic and gymnastics

Favourite food:  Pasta carbonara

Favourite colour: Mint green

Favourite gymnastics skill: Arial cartwheels or front tucks

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: How we are all a family.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: When you are working on a skill with a child and they finally get it and you see their face light up.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: When the children were putting on their shoes and I fell over one of the children. In front of all the parents.

Anything else you’d like to add: Go Team Citadel!

Recreational Manager, Child protection Officer and Coach

Steven

Name: Steven

Also known as:  Steeeeeeeeve

Role at Citadel: Recreational Manager/Coach/Children’s Safety Officer/Muscle

Qualifications: Gymstart Level 1 & 2, Team gym LEvel 1 (in training) and WAG Club Judge, “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, manual handling, First aid responder, safeguarding 1 & 3.

Hobbies:  Pro Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu and having a beard.

Favourite food:  Cereal

Favourite colour: Black

Favourite gymnastics skill: I like spotting anything with a flip

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The people I work with and funny kid stories.

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Helping kids get over their fear from certain skills.

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: Most embarrassing is when I get knocked over by a flying gymnast. That’s rare and I don’t like it. Most funny was when a little girl told me she was half wolf, half dog, half cat, half human and half marmite.

Anything else you’d like to add: If any boys want to do gymnastics but don’t because someone made fun of them and told them “gymnastics is for girls”, don’t listen to them. Gymnastics is awesome and it’s for everyone. Do what makes you happy. Plus gymnastics makes you feel like a superhero. I never seen Spiderman kick a football but I seen him flip and roll.

Coach

Thompson

Name: Thompson

Also known as: Thompin or Tall Thompson

Role at Citadel: Coach

Qualifications: Basic First Aid, Safeguarding 1, Gymnastics Ireland FUNdamentals foundation course, MAG Level 1 (in training), “Fun moves” certificate, fire warden training, MAG club judge.

Hobbies: Baking, languages, avoiding higher level maths..

Favourite food: Cant beat a Saturday night Chinese, mums chicken curry or a classic percy pig!

Favourite colour: Black, light blue

Favourite gymnastics skill: Straddle undershoot, round off back handspring, I love watching kip cast handstands

Favourite thing about working at Citadel: The happy atmosphere of the gym!

Favourite part of coaching gymnastics: Seeing gymnasts first reactions when getting a new skill is too good! And the stories gymnasts bring to the gym each week!

Most embarrassing / funny coaching story: In summer last year I helped move the resi pit and my arms decided to give out and the side I was holding fell on top of me 🙁

Anything else you’d like to add: alice says hi