Nuachtlitir Chlubanna Bealtaine 2009

 

 

Nickey Brennan handed over the President’s medal to our new Uachtarán Criostóir Ó Cuana in Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on April 17. We thank Nickey for all the hard work completed during his three-year term and we wish Criostóir well in his new role. The Youghal clubman revealed in his acceptance speech at Congress in Cork that the role of the club will be one of the priorities of his three-year tenure.

 

A new rule book will be produced incorporating all of the changes made at Congress and it will be made available on www.gaa.ie.

 

 

We look forward to hearing about and featuring  different events that are taking place all across the GAA community on this very special day in the GAA calendar. A suggestion document compiled by the 125 Committee has been circulated to all county boards and is available on the “Celebrating 125 years of the GAA” section of www.gaa.ie. Already we know that reunions of former teams are taking place, 125 celebratory services are being held, exhibitions of club histories have been organised and fun games are planned.

 

 

The first in a series of listening exercises that will see Uachtarán CLG Criostóir Ó Cuana and Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Duffy visit 40 clubs per year between them, took place this week in Swords in Dublin when Fingallians had the honour of hosting the first such meeting.

 

The aim of ‘Ag Éisteacht’ is to listen to clubs to collect thoughts and opinions on where the Association is going and the challenges facing it.

 

All of this information will be gathered and returned to the club involved within a specified time and other clubs will also be able to access this information. It is intended to visit clubs all over the country, and abroad, from differing backgrounds over the course of the next three years.

 

 

Our Uachtarán, a Youghal clubman, has unveiled plans for a ‘Falla na gClub’, a club wall at Croke Park, which will be adorned by the crest of every club in the Association. It is proposed that the funding for this project will come from the sale of a specially designed limited edition 125 Platinum Range of Polo Shirts which can be ordered through the GAA website at www.gaa.ie. It is hoped that all clubs will support this fundraising drive and help to ensure this ambitious project is completed.

 

 

A recent reception at Intel saw in excess of 25 GAA clubs receive more than €70,000 in funds raised by their members through a volunteer scheme organised by Intel.

 

The Leixlip based company made a donation to each member of their work force who donated their time voluntarily.

 

Clubs from Kildare, Dublin and Meath featured strongly on the awards list thanks to the hard work of their dedicated Intel-employed volunteers. Indeed Galway club Corofin was another on the shortlist showing geography is no barrier in the scheme.

 

The GAA contingent formed the biggest group of clubs involved in the awards scheme.

 

 

Galway club Headford became the latest club to unveil an impressive new development when their new facilities were officially opened last week on a day when the footballers of Galway and Cavan took centre stage as the main event of the celebrations.

 

After five years of fundraising, the development included the demolition of the club’s old changing rooms and the construction of four large dressing rooms complete with showering, gym facilities and reception areas.

 

This year the club celebrates 121 years in existence and the facility upgrade, unveiled last week on a day when the club’s footballers were also in action hosting Kilkerrin/Clonberne in a League game, provides a fitting tribute on reaching that milestone.

 

 

The GAA Social Initiative project has been set up to encourage greater participation by older men in clubs. Four pilot areas – Ciarraí, Maigh Eó, Fear Manach and Loch Garman are now planning to stage local events following the National Launch in Croke Park last February and it is hoped that four events will be organised in each pilot area before October.

 

Clubs are reminded to try to be inclusive in their planning for Lá na gClub on May 10 to allow all sections of their membership to fully participate.

 

Uachtarán Criostóir Ó Cuana has replaced Iar Uachtarán Nioclás Ó Braonáin as Cathaoirleach of the Social Initiative Committee.

 

 

The GAA, in conjunction with Ladies Football and Camogie, recently launched an Inclusion and Integration strategy. The document outlines a series of practical steps that all three organisations can take in order to ensure that people of all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, ages and abilities continue to feel welcome to participate in our games and in our culture. Tony Watene, a native of New Zealand, has been appointed to the position of GAA Inclusion Officer. He will have responsibility for ensuring that the strategy is implemented throughout the organisations.

 

The main actions outlined in the strategy include the development of games for people with disabilities, promoting better links with new and established communities and the development of a ‘welcome pack’ for our units, which will include a DVD introducing Gaelic Games. Clubs will also be encouraged to hold ‘have-a-go-days’ where people from new communities are encouraged to attend the club for an introduction to Gaelic Games.  To download this document, visit www.gaa.ie

 

 

The new GAA Email System went live on Saturday, April 4 2009 and users are currently moving email addresses from the old to the new system. Uptake of the new email addresses has been a great success across all units of the Association. The added functionality, storage space, document sharing and calendar functionality has been warmly received by all units, particularly at club level.

 

There has been over 90% uptake in clubs in Carlow, Cavan, Limerick, Wexford, Offaly and Tyrone.

 

To facilitate the changeover, an email helpdesk has been set up to deal with queries. Details are as follows:

•           An email helpdesk service is available on mail.support@gaamail.ie

•           A telephone helpdesk is available on:  (+353) (0) 766154932 and (01)6384821

 

Users can access both their old and new email accounts through the following URL: http://newmail.gaa.ie/. Information, an FAQ website and user manual is also available at: https://sites.google.com/a/gaa.ie/gaa-support/

 

The new email system is an important communications tool for the Association moving forward. It will incorporate added functionality, greater storage, document sharing and a range of other services replacing an outdated, old email system. Sign up now!

 

 

The championships season is once again upon us and members and supporters are reminded that tickets for games can be purchased through the following outlets.

 

- The official GAA website at www.gaa.ie

- The GAA ticket office at 01 8658657

- County Boards

- Ticketmaster

 

This summer the GAA Museum will continue its popular Legends Tour Series offering all GAA fans an opportunity to experience Croke Park through the eyes and memories of GAA legends on special behind-the-scenes tours. The series continues with Tipperary hurling legend Michael ‘Babs’ Keating on Friday May 8at 7pm. Prices are as follows; Adults €12, Concession €10, Family €30, Children €7. Places are limited and must be booked by contacting Selina O’Regan on 01 8192361.

The museum will stage county colour ‘Art Attacks’, museum artifact handling workshops, fastest hurler competitions and exclusively for hurling matches, John Torpey will be on hand to give special demonstrations on the art of hurley making. Please note that reduced match day admission rates apply and that visitors must have a match day ticket to enter the museum.

Finally, the GAA Museum is offering GAA Clubs an exclusive 25% discount on all bookings made between July and December 2009. Celebrate your club success with a trip to the hallowed turf, a must for all GAA fans. Experience the thrills of an All Ireland Final in one of the largest stadiums in Europe, see the lucky dressing rooms and sit in the President of Ireland’s favourite chair! By prior arrangement, clubs can hold their prize giving where the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups are presented to the All Ireland winners each September. To avail of this offer call 01 8192374 and quote ‘Clubs 125 Offer’.

Many clubs around the country have identified the requirement to appoint a Club Coaching Officer to support the development of coaching and games at club level. This position is a key support to increasing participation, reducing dropout and improving standards in some of our most successful units.

The key duties of the Club Coaching Officer are to:

The Club Coaching Officer should be familiar with the GAA Games Development Programme, GAA Coach Education Programme and the GAA Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport and Joint Code of Behaviour. The Club Coaching Officer may also act as the Club School Liaison Officer (see http://www.gaa.ie/page/club_school_links.html). We would ask each club to send the name and

e-mail address of their Club Coaching Officer and their Club School Liaison Officer to: gamesdevelopment@gaa.ie