GAA Annual Congress:Read the full text of the the 2011 Annual Congress after last night's meeting at the Mullingar Park Hotel where outgoing GAA president Christy Cooney raised some thought-provoking issues, not least the payments to managers as a "cancer on our organisation".
COMHDHÁIL CLG 2011
ÓRÁID AN UACHTARÁIN
Is cúis mhór áthais dom a bheith ar ais ós bhur gcomhair ag ár gComhdháil Bhliantúil agus táim lán t-sásta bheith ag labhairt libh tar eis bliain eile a bhí thar a bheith gnóthach ach ag an am gcéanna an-sásúil.
It hardly seems like 12 months since I stood before you addressing Congress and I would like to extend a céad mile fáilte to everyone here today, especially our overseas delegates who have travelled so far to be with us for the all important annual gathering that is Congress.
I would also like to offer up my heartfelt gratitude to Coiste Chontae na hIarmhí and the people of the county for the magnificent welcome that has been extended to us while at the same time acknowledging the excellent organisational skills that have been brought to bear on the plans for this event.
It has been another eventful year in the life of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and one that has not been without its challenges but at the same time steady progress.
Today, I hope to touch on a number of issues that I as Uachtarán see as being of utmost importance to the Association as we chart a path ahead not just over the course of the next 12 months, but into the middle of the decade and beyond.
Role of Congress and Provincial and County Conventions
Congress is a special event in the packed and hectic calendar of the Association. It is since the formation of the Association the decision making body that all other bodies are answerable to and it is the forum that provides direction, governance and crucially a mandate to those who are charged with leading from the front in between the annual gathering that we all find ourselves at this weekend.
While acknowledging the crucial role of Congress and the structures that both support and flow from it, I am of the opinion that we should continue to scrutinise and examine the effectiveness and merit of the system that runs the Association and I include Congress in this reference.
We are entitled to ask if the gathering of 350 delegates here for what is in essence a one day forum makes the best use of the Association’s resources and time and whether or not it is realistic to expect a path for the next 12 months to be charted here before we all return home tomorrow.
Just because something has always been with us in a particular guise does not mean that it is still functioning to the same level of efficiency. If there is a better way or a chance of establishing a better model for managing the Association and organising the event it is at least incumbent on us to examine the other options available to us.
By extension I would also question in certain circumstances whether we as an Association are still served to the level we should expect and deserve to be by Provincial and County Conventions
The first step I believe we need to implement is the compulsory organisation of an annual club forum in every county where all club officers attend and engage with the county executive allowing for direct interaction and discussion on the issues that matter most to both the clubs and the Association at large.
These people collectively are the drivers of the GAA. They are at the coalface and it is high time they were guaranteed access to the decision making processes that run our county boards.
As you are all aware we conducted the Strategic Vision and Action Plan three years ago and we are on target to meet the goals set out in this wide-ranging and ambitious document.
The discussion I believe is worth having in no way undermines any of the progress made or the ground still to be covered.
However, that in no way takes from its importance – even if we eventually decide or settle on the fact that things are as they are now, would be difficult to better.
In this context I am establishing a group to examine the workings and functionality of Congress and our Provincial and County Conventions and we will endeavour to act on their findings in due course.
Provincial and County Boundaries
From time to time we read a treatise in some newspaper or other questioning the future of our Provincial Councils and their general function within the Association.
To my mind, our Provinces play a vital role for the Association and I would not subscribe to the various theories (mostly from outside the Association it must be said) that they have little relevance in the modern GAA or that they should be abolished. On the contrary, our Provinces continue to administer and organize a large number of games; they are a crucial link in our Coaching and Games Development programme;
they provide finance and direction for infrastructural development on a regional basis and in general terms continue to play a key role in the promotion and delivery of all aspects of our games throughout the country.
That being said, I believe it is time that we give some consideration to the balance that currently exists within the Provincial Structure. The inclusion of Galway and Antrim in the Leinster Hurling Championship has given a new dimension to that competition, as well as providing a more regular and appropriate championship games programme to the hurlers of these counties.
In the context of the positive change brought about by their inclusion in Leinster, we should ask ourselves whether there are further changes that we should be considering to our provincial championships and to our provincial structures generally. Do we need a more even spread of counties in each province? Should we dispense with the ancient geographical borders of the four provinces and seek instead to realign our provinces along more practical lines, in a manner that better suits the Association’s needs in the 21st century?
Similarly is it realistic for Dublin – and a quarter of the population – to be catered for by one single County Board? Is it allowing the GAA to get the most out of Dublin, or would an administrative re-examination allow for higher penetration levels when it comes to activity?
I pose this question at a time when Dublin are engaged in the process of devising a five year strategy which will outline where the county currently finds itself while charting a path outlining where it wants to go.
These are difficult questions, but ones that deserve at the very least some serious consideration and debate. For this reason, I intend to establish a group to prepare a report and tease out some of the issues at hand; perhaps the conclusion will be that such realignment is too big a step for the Association at this point in time.
However, we should not be afraid to at least question the status quo and give proper consideration to possible alternatives that could help the GAA to prosper even further in the years ahead.
One Club Model
Considerable progress has been made in recent months in the examination of the best possible way of working towards a One Club Model, which would cover the promotion of all of our games under one organisation.
As the famous Irish proverb says: ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’ and there is no doubting that it is possible to achieve an even greater level of unity and strength if all our constituent bodies are working off the same page and playing under the same banner.
We are engaged in this process with our friends in camogie and ladies football because we believe now is the right time to give this issue serious consideration, for the benefit of all parties involved.
I think I can say without exception that this very issue has been put to me during every single club visit I have made as part of the Ag Éisteacht Programme since Congress 2009.
I find it hard to explain at times why games are organised on the separate basis that they are other than to point to the historical reasons and how each organisation came into being and how they subsequently rolled out their games and activities.
The simple truth is that many of our club units currently organise their games for all ages and both genders on a One Club Model basis already. However the situation exists where potentially a female member could find herself paying as many as three separate affiliations to the GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football.
Secondly, many observers both externally and indeed internally do not draw a distinction and correctly view all of these games covered under the GAA umbrella as being part of the wider Gaelic Games family.
Crucially, the process has been based on taking our time and attempting to get whatever flows from the exercise right. It is not about encroaching on people’s or organisations’ autonomy or independence simply for the sake of it.
It is based on trying to find a better way to organise, streamline and promote our games and attempting to ensure that they are not in direct competition with each other, by extension putting all of our codes on the strongest footing possible and promoting the potential for very real and tangible benefits that would go hand in hand with extending the organisational remit of the GAA at central level to encompass all the activities of the Association.
A committee, consisting of representatives of the GAA, Ladies Football and Camogie is currently discussing all aspects of integration at club level. This committee, chaired by Seán Walsh, expects to be in a position in the near future to make recommendations to the three Associations on how to proceed and will outline best practice models for clubs to follow.
We are also working on the following definition:
An integrated club is one that promotes the games, ideals and aspirations of the GAA, the Ladies Football Association and Camogie Association. Its administration is governed by a single constitution, which provides for the election of an Executive Committee to manage the business and affairs of the club as well as providing for a single membership structure. All activity, including fundraising and games development are carried out to support the development of the club and the promotion of all games.
Ag Éisteacht
One of the pilot schemes I decided to embark on at the outset of my tenure was to get out and engage with as many clubs as was humanly possible.
In the normal course of travel and engagements, the GAA President comes into contact with numerous clubs but the opportunity does not always arise to actually sit down with the key members of a club and engage directly with them regarding the issues causing them the most challenges and those vexing them most about where the GAA as a whole is going.
Providing the vehicle to entice these sentiments has been most revealing while at the same time enjoyable and for that alone the Ag Éisteacht programme has been a most worthwhile project allowing myself and Páraic to hear first hand what our members think of everything we do as an Association. And they are not slow in telling us!
I am not saying that the policy as espoused by either the Uachtarán or Ard-Stiúrthóir to either Coiste Bainistí or
Ard-Chomhairle will ultimately be decided on the floor of any one of the club houses we visit.
However, making a direct connection with the clubs in a semi-formal format, illiciting from our members with no middle man or conduit the issues, views and opinions of valued volunteers has given us a perspective that is impossible to ignore in the formulation of policy and strategy for the Association, and especially in areas where clubs are directly effected.
Club Support Structures
There seems to be a growing belief that some sort of disconnect exists between our clubs and Croke Park and those engaged in the administration of the Association.
However this is something I am keen to debunk for the myth that it is.
Understandably we talk about the club being the bedrock of the Association. This is no cheap, glib sound byte but rather a belief and conviction that without our clubs there would be no GAA as we know it.
With this in mind I am of the opinion that we have never done more to reach out to our clubs, seeking feedback from them while at the same time pioneering initiatives designed at assisting clubs in running their day to day activities to the highest standards possible.
In addition to the Ag Éisteacht Programme (which I have already spoken about) we have engaged in a raft of other initiatives over the last 24 months aimed at strengthening the role and position of our clubs.
From a practical perspective the Club Officer Training Progamme is in place to assist those serving on our Club committees while a Club Advice Manual has been posted on the Clubzone section of the GAA website.
The Club Planning Programme has helped a large number of clubs to devise strategies to help streamline club activities and maximise potential.
On the IT side of things clubs have been issued with gaa.ie email addresses putting them on the same communications platform as the rest of the Association and recently PROs have also been assigned addresses as part of ongoing efforts to improve communication channels.
We have especially targeted Club PROs to assist in the distribution of our redesigned Monthly Club Newsletter, the content of which is entirely club based and something we are urging clubs to pass on to their members.
Our Clubs also have access to the Google Calendar and Website facilities to further assist in their planning and PR activities.
On the games front GAA Coach Education remains paramount and is supported by our Fundo Pack.
In addition our support structures help clubs in the areas of Garda Vetting and Insurance and the Social Initiative which aims to involve clubs in catering for the more senior members of society with a particular emphasis to the increased involvement of men in a variety of different activities.
Finally, last year we took the decision to bring our annual GAA Championship Launches to our clubs to showcase the excellent facilities they have developed and also to underline the tangible links between them and the players they cultivate to go on and represent our county teams. Kerins O’Rahillys in Tralee Co Kerry and Ballyboden St Enda’s in Dublin hosted us, and next month two more clubs Cuchullain’s in Dunloy, Co. Antrim and St. Finbarr’s in Cork will assist us with the 2011 launch events.
From some of the commentary that accompanies GAA activities you could be forgiven for thinking those who work on behalf of the GAA are unfamiliar with our Club scene.
In reality this could not be further from the truth.
It’s worth remembering that the majority of those who work and serve in Croke Park are members of their own local clubs, many of whom take on active roles in their spare time.
We will continue to liaise and communicate directly with our clubs in search of ways to remind them of their importance and the fact that we are all part of one wider organisation.
We all start with our clubs. We will also finish with them and it would be foolish in the extreme to neglect them or do anything to undermine their all-important standing within Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.
Child Welfare / Best Practice
Delegates will be aware that we have worked diligently in recent years to ensure that our own child welfare and protection services and structures are now on par with what is offered by many statutory or voluntary agencies in Ireland.
We make no apology for fast tracking this vital area of safety, particularly for our underage membership and we will continue to ensure that the GAA remains in the lead position as we deliver a specialised training programme for our coaches and carry out the vetting of all personnel working with children in the GAA and implement our Code of Behaviour at all levels in the Association.
We cannot however, become complacent. This area of work is far too vital for the children and other underage players in the Association.
It is significant that as we promote child safety and welfare in the Association that Congress has adopted a motion ensuring that all clubs and County Boards shall in future have a Children’s Officer in place to promote this vital area of work.
Under the direction of our National Children's Officer and Child Welfare Committees these new Children’s Officers will receive our support at all levels so as to ensure that quality child welfare and safety measures can now be transferred on to our playing fields in the promotion of our Games.
The new drive to promote our Respect Initiative is indicative of how we can transfer good practice into our Games.
Less there be any ambiguity surrounding the Respect Initiative in the GAA let us re-affirm our commitment to showing Respect at all levels of the Association, at all age groups and in all competitions.
By our actions on the field we will be judged, regardless of age, regardless of competition and whether you are a player, spectator, coach or official.
Weaker Hurling Counties
A number of years ago, a decision was taken to introduce hurling competitions for the weaker hurling Counties, namely the Ring (2nd Tier) and Rackard (3rd Tier) Cups. The Meagher competition, a 4th tier, was later added. The competitions were designed to give a proper championship games programme to the weaker hurling Counties. The Ring competition effectively replaced the old Senior B hurling championship; the Rackard Cup gave summer hurling to many counties whose previous exposure to inter county competition – broadly speaking - was limited to their participation in the Leagues. The competitions have helped to raise the profile of the games and by staging the finals in Croke Park, many hurlers are given an opportunity to play in the Stadium that they otherwise could never expect.
However, I feel it is now time to question the number of games that are being provided for some of these Counties in the current fixture programme and to question whether the status quo is assisting the promotion of the ancient game or in reality hindering its development.
It is hard to get away from the fact that many of the Counties participating in the Meagher competition in particular have hardly any club activity to speak of. Yet their county panels are participating in the National Leagues, the Meagher Cup itself and in the case of the Ulster teams, in a Provincial Championship to boot. It means a very small number of players – those on the inter county panel only - are receiving regular hurling, while club activity continues to stagnate. Is it really in the best interests of promoting hurling to continue in this vein, or would the time, energy and resources being invested in county teams at this level not be better spent in increasing participation levels through the organization of blitzes and other club activity that could eventually lead to a wider playing base from which these County teams would be selected?
Let me make it clear. I am not advocating the cessation of inter-county activity or the disbanding of the inter county team in such counties. Rather, I am suggesting that until such time as a reasonable level of club hurling activity is evident and until such time as there is evidence of proper and meaningful progress on the numbers playing the game in these counties, their inter county participation should be restricted to the summer championship competition only – i.e. the Meagher Cup.
For Counties where there is a low level of club activity – and there are instances of as few as 2 or 3 adult club games being played in a county in an entire year! – our priority should be an increase in participation numbers at youth and adult level, rather than the entry of a county team in the National league or Ulster Championship. It is a matter that demands a serious and measured debate and one that deserves to go far beyond the knee-jerk emotional reaction that suggests abolishing such competitions would somehow signal the death knell of hurling in these counties.
On the contrary, properly managed and resourced, such a move could in fact provide a new level of playing activity for hurling that might just ensure the blossoming of the game and a solid future and playing base upon which to develop it further in counties where the game is barely surviving.
Overseas
May I first take the opportunity of saying a sincere thank you to our overseas units for their outstanding achievements over the past number of years in particular the growth in participation and the competition structure to cater for same.
It would be an understatement to say that your role is more crucial then ever. The reassurance you give families here at home because of the role you play in supporting our young people, not just through our games but also in assisting them in their many needs and challenges as in most cases being their first time away from home, is invaluable.
We have established a sub-committee under my chairmanship in recent months to oversee an examination of our overseas structures and to scrutinise the support mechanisms available to them from both Croke Park and our Provincial Councils with a view to strengthening the growing number of units around the world.
With this in mind I am meeting all of these units this weekend to listen to what they believe is required going forward. The hope is that we will be in a position to present a strategic vision for the next five years to Coiste Bainistí and Ard-Chomhairle in an attempt to continue to build on the massive strides that have already been made and it’s worth stressing that never before has this work been more important.
GAMES (incorporating Referees, Fixture Planning, Discipline and Comp software)
Referees and Match Officials
We all acknowledge that without those people who volunteer as referees and other match officials the thousands of games which take place every year throughout the country and beyond would not be played. Today I would like to thank all of our match officials for their commitment to our Association – theirs is a very difficult role, usually one for which little thanks is offered, but nevertheless one to which very many are drawn annually. Recruitment of new referees throughout the country and, indeed, in our overseas units, continues apace and as set out in the “GAA Referee Development Plan”.
Credit is due to all involved behind the scenes with this work.
As part of the recent revisions made to the training of our inter-county referees this year they have also enjoyed access to an Intranet Web-Site which is used for continuous training. This has proven to be an excellent innovation as their individual games are analysed in a constructive manner.
This level of training and preparation is indicative of the huge strides that have been made in addressing refereeing standards in recent years.
At times during the year it has been suggested that referees should be from a different province to teams competing in a game or that a referee from a particular county should not referee in the same division of the Allianz League as their county competes and so on. The question of provincial bias does not exist with our referees and the Central Referee Appointments Committee will continue to appoint match officials on their merits and as they feel appropriate.
As part of the Respect Initiative being championed by our Games Development Department the referees at national level are now carrying the “Give Respect, Get Respect” logo on the sleeve of their jerseys. I have asked them to ensure that they show due respect for the players and managers and I also expect that administrators, managers and players will live up to their responsibility and show the level of respect deserved by our men-in-the-middle.
Míle buíochas to all of our referees, both recent recruits and long serving stalwarts, for all they have done for us.
Fixture Planning
In 2009, and arising from the recommendations of the Strategic Vision and Action Plan, we set about the task of establishing a network of fixture planners in the Association at County, Provincial and National level. Their brief was straightforward – to ensure that all units at all levels were providing a coordinated programme of meaningful, well scheduled games for their players, appropriate to their needs and abilities.
Our initial goal in this respect was to see county fixtures planners appointed in all 32 counties and across the Provinces.
This was successfully achieved in 2010 and the fruits of their labours are beginning to be felt as Provinces and Counties now have Fixture Planners who work in conjunction with their Competition Control Committee on the production of ongoing Fixtures Plans and Schedules.
Our National Committee, under the Chairmanship of John Greene, established a set of minimum standards in terms of the number of games players should receive annually. At adult level, and in counties where one code was considerably stronger than the other, this amounted to a minimum of 16 games per year in the strong code, and 8 in the weaker. In dual counties, we asked for players to receive 12 games in each code. I am happy to reveal that in 2010, virtually all counties were delivering on the minimum standards outlined by the National Committee at adult level for the main sport in their county. Most of our dual counties were also reaching the targets set for their adult club players.
However, there is still much to be achieved in this context. In Counties where hurling is the weaker sport, there are frequently not enough clubs to deliver on the number of games we would like for those involved. Initiatives such as the Provincial Hurling leagues are helping to address the shortfall – particularly in Ulster. Yet, while there is no doubt that in the majority of cases the situation has improved enormously in recent years and that club hurlers in the weaker counties are getting more games, there are still certain black spots in evidence which we would hope our Provincial and County planners will be able to address in the coming years. I would certainly hope to see some further progress in this regard before I leave office.
The other area that concerns me is the number of games being provided for our underage players. While I fully understand the difficulties that can be evident in scheduling games at this level – exams, clashes with school competitions, county team or development squad initiatives, family holidays, the Gaeltacht and so on – the fact remains that as few as one quarter of our counties are providing the minimum 12 games per grade as requested by the National Fixtures Planning Committee.
While most Counties are developing their competition structures in order to meet these requirements and very few are providing less than 10 games in any grade, there remain some however that have a long way to come and I would urge them to engage properly with their clubs and in the fixture planting process generally, in order to achieve the targets set.
Perhaps consideration could be given to county-wide blitzes as one way of addressing the fixture shortfall in such counties? Whatever the answer, where proactive initiatives are not undertaken, it has proven the universal experience that our young boys and girls will drift to other sports if they are not being provided with sufficient games and playing time in our own games.
Finally with regard to Fixture Planning, it is worth mentioning that we are engaged in a long term strategy in this respect. I don’t expect all of our Fixture issues to be addressed overnight, but I would insist that we begin to address the obvious anomalies where they are evident, and I am hugely convinced of the individual and collective ability that exists to effect the incremental change necessary to deliver on the Association’s needs in this regard in the years to come.
The net beneficiaries of proper fixture planning will be our clubs and our club players at all levels. The intercounty fixture calendar is full to bursting point. We see motions in today’s Clár seeking the introduction of a back door in the U21 Championships and a secondary Minor competition. I know such proposals are well intentioned; however we need at all times to consider how the introduction of new or expanded competitions will impact on the very units that sustain the Association and from which we draw our strength. We simply cannot afford the imposition of further restrictions on the time available to play club games – any new or expanded inter county competitions will do precisely that; this is not a scenario I could or would endorse and I hope Congress appreciates fully the depth of feeling the ordinary club member or player has on this issue.
Disciplinary System
The thoroughness with which the current Central Hearings and Appeals Committees have dealt with disciplinary hearings has been one of the most pleasing aspects of my first two years as President. In terms of the C.H.C, much credit is due to Liam Keane and his team for this; their methodical approach and meticulous attention to detail has ensured that it is now a very rare occurrence for an instance of playing related discipline to find its way to the Central Appeals Committee. This is to be welcomed.
As in any area of life, mistakes will be made by referees in terms of cards handed out or in the processing of disciplinary matters. Players and Counties have a right to challenge such decisions and nobody objects to their doing so.
However, it remains a cause of much frustration when penalties are challenged on the flimsiest of pretences. There continues to be a marked reluctance in some quarters, to accept prescribed penalties for incidents where players have been quite clearly shown to have breached the rules. Our Counties need to show leadership in such circumstances; our players likewise.
It does little for our reputation as a sporting Association when players and counties fail to accept penalties for obvious infractions or try to have suspensions overturned on technicalities in cases where there has been a clear and obvious breach of our disciplinary rules.
We need to create a culture that demands leadership and accountability from managers, players and officials in terms of discipline. There is some evidence of the genesis of such a culture in this year's Allianz Leagues – players such as Eoghan O'Gara (Dublin) and Barry John Keane (Kerry) in football or Waterford’s Clinton Hennessy and Shane O'Sullivan have shown the leadership required in accepting penalties for lapses in discipline that were generally out of character for four admirable sportsmen. I commend them for this and hope there are further positive examples to report on in 12 months time.
Gaelic Player’s Association
At last year’s Congress, delegates were asked to vote on a motion to give recognition to the G.P.A as the official representative body for inter county players within our Association. The motion was passed with very little opposition and this allowed us to continue our work with the players’ body towards ensuring a set of appropriate welfare services are put in place for inter county players. A formal Recognition Protocol and funding model to cover the next 5 years of our relationship was approved by Ard-Chomhairle in February 2011.
These events were significant for the GAA and represented the culmination of many years of hard work by my predecessor and others within the Association. In establishing an appropriate representative voice for inter county players, the GAA’s ambition at all times, was to ensure relevant and worthwhile services and programmes would be made available to its players while at the same time ensuring the GAA - and by extension the GPA - remained true to the voluntary ethos that has sustained us as an organization since our birth.
The last 12 months has been the first in which the GPA have rolled out welfare programmes for inter county players funded by the GAA centrally. We are beginning to see the positive contribution this will make to the Association and the practical assistance they can offer to our players on a day to day basis. The GPA in 2010 rolled out impressive Career, Health, and Education programmes that have been eagerly embraced by our players;
part of the funding was also used to train inter county referees in the use of defibrillators. Most recently Cardiac Screening has been made available to inter county panels while the GPA’s employment programmes in particular have proven a great assistance to players who have precious few places to turn for help and advice in these difficult economic times.
The Recognition Protocol agreed with the GPA is a positive one.
It re-iterates the GPA’s commitment to the voluntary ethos of the GAA, gives definition to its role as a representative and welfare body, and ensures the GPA is fully committed to best practice in terms of governance, and in its financial processes and systems. It gives the GAA oversight of the GPA’s accounts and in establishing a joint commercial body, it provides for the GAA and GPA to work together to generate income that will further fund welfare initiatives. Most importantly, the commercial body if successful, should in due course help offset the growing costs of the Player Injury Scheme for our clubs. In this way a clear correlation has been created between the commercial success of our intercounty players body and the financial well being of the clubs who nurture and develop those same individuals from an early age.
The protocol also outlines mechanisms for dealing with Disputes that may arise between players and County Committees. This is an important development and while it was unfortunate that a resolution was not found for Fermanagh in March, I believe the GAA and GPA played an important role and helped to facilitate a communication process between disaffected players and the County Committee, that served to give each party a better understanding of the difficulties faced by the other. However, we were fully aware from day one that the inclusion of Disputes Resolution mechanisms in the broader agreement would not solve all confrontations. At the end of the day players are volunteers and cannot be compelled to play for anyone; County Committees have to run their affairs as they see fit and the appointment and retention of management teams is their right and function, and theirs alone. Disputes can only be resolved with the cooperation and goodwill of all parties and where an acceptable middle ground can be found. It is an inexact science and one that comes without guarantees. That being said,
I am proud to point to a couple of other occasions this year when early intervention due to the disputes procedures we have put in place have ensured particular matters were addressed promptly at local level and thus never escalated any further.
In the context of the Recognition Protocol, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the members of management, Ard-Chomhairle, Congress and by extension the broader membership of the GAA whose trust and patience allowed us the time and space necessary to develop a partnership with and for our county players that will in time prove most beneficial for the entirety of the Association.
There were those who opposed the very notion of talking to the GPA from day one. They were entitled to this stance and by and large argued their opposition in a coherent, constructive manner; a manner at times that forced us to reflect on our approach, to examine our collective conscience and to be doubly sure in our hearts that the path we had taken was indeed the correct one and was being taken in the best interests of the Association.
I have never doubted that it was.
At a time when there is greater competition than ever before from rival sports for the attentions of young athletes with the potential to become elite performers, it is vitally important that the GAA sends out the right message to its current and future players; that they are valued and respected by the GAA and that we as an organization have a world class set of welfare programmes in place to support them throughout their inter-county careers. Such supports make it considerably easier for our players to continue to play with their counties, and to continue to voluntarily commit to our national sports at the top level.
Most of all this partnership ensures that any notion of Pay for Play is completely off the agenda, substituted by a commitment by all to Welfare and Respect. There is recognition now on all sides that any attempt to introduce a professional game would prove to be the ruination of our Association, the ruination of a proud voluntary ethos upon which our great movement is founded.
Governance
The many challenges facing our Association are driven in some respects by the current economic situation our country finds itself in. This in turn leads to the need for us all to be realistic in our financial management, constantly reviewing the risks that may inhibit the growth of our Association leading to appropriate action being taken as necessary in line with good governance practices.
The Stadium Executive Committee has served the Association outstandingly well for the past 10 years and I duly acknowledge their role. In particular I wish to pay tribute to the late Paddy Wright RIP, David Mackey, Hugh Cawley and the other members for their leadership and guidance to the Association.
It is apparent that an effective Governance and Management Structure for Croke Park is an essential element of the overall structure of the GAA. It is critical to the continuing financial strength of the Association.
Therefore, the challenge is to put in place a Governance and Management structure for Croke Park which respects the role and authority of the Ard-Chomhairle and Coiste Bainistí and at the same time establishes a sustainable format which facilitates first class business management. This operating structure must be overseen by a Board comprised of experienced and qualified members.
I believe that a redesignation of PCT as a fully Subsidiary Company is the most effective, accountable and secure way to achieve the objectives set out above. PCT is a private limited company, its directors having the necessary skills and experience to oversee what is a substantial business. It is also essential that the PCT board is fully accountable to Coiste Bainistí. This will be best achieved by the Uachtarán and the Ard-Stiúrthóir being ex-officio members of the PCT board.
This has been fully approved by Coiste Bainistí and Ard-Chomhairle today. The appropriate staffing structure will be put in place to support this change in structure.
Other challenges that we face can be overcome by ourselves through our own decision making and solid leadership. In the past two months the Ard-Stiúrthóir and I
met county chairmen to discuss issues of concern that we believe needed to be addressed in ensuring full adherence to Association policies. It would be fair to say we have challenges at club and county level in particular with regards to PAYMENT TO MANAGERS.
This is a cancer running through our organisation which is nurtured and supported by poor or complete abdication of leadership and sometimes carefully orchestrated through supporters clubs or so-called friends of the GAA, people very often with an interest in the realisation of short term goals only and no interest or understanding of our rules and regulations.
What is the point of our so called VOLUNTARY ETHOSand our AMATEUR STATUS?
Why are we in denial? Why do we proclaim our values and then fail to deliver? Is it not time to stand up and be counted? The time has come to answer these questions.
The Ard-Stiúrthóir recently presented a discussion paper to Coiste Bainistí addressing the background, history and challenges to this issue and some possible areas that may be helpful in finding a solution.
I welcome this paper as it will give us a roadmap to moving the situation forward if the goodwill and leadership exists within the organisation to deliver a solution.
To date this has been found wanting, not by all, but by a significant number of counties.
Whatever we put in place, it will not be worth the paper it is written on if we don’t deliver? I believe it is necessary now for all of us to take stock in an effort to find out can we be the organisation we desire to be.
There are number of keys values that epitomise Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Personally, I am strong on these core values and attempt to remain loyal to them at all times.
Collectively as an organisation I believe we have to work hard to uphold and crucially protect these same values if we are to continue to represent the beliefs that underpin the GAA.
With this in mind I propose to call together the Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers and Central Council delegates to a discussion forum within the next two months to gather their views on this topic.
I will also use the opportunity for the Ard-Stiúrthóir to make a presentation on his paper
and hopefully agree on a set of possible outcomes for further consideration by Coiste Bainistí to be presented to Ard Chomhairle for consideration and ratification.
I don’t mind admitting that this is a serious challenge but is also one that must be tackled. A lack of adherence to our rules must be addressed and I believe the only solution is the withdrawal of financial support to our counties that break our rules.
Ticketing
The Association is very conscious of the current economic situation affecting our membership and in line with the policy of the last number of years we will have in place for our championships ticketing packages that will enable our membership and their families to attend our games, at the same time being mindful of the need to continue to support and fund the financial management of our Association and its development.
A new admission pricing structure will be announced shortly.
Casement
Confirmation that Casement Park is to be redeveloped in the coming years was a massive boost to the Association as a whole but in particular to Antrim and Ulster.
It is fitting and proper that the Association should have a top class facility in what is Ireland’s second city and the planned redevelopment will provide Gaelic Games in the north with a fitting home.
Great credit is due to everyone behind the scenes who have helped to make this happen and confirmation of external funding is another example of the skill set we possess as an Association in drawing down funding such as this when it is made available – something that has been mirrored by our club units.
Two years ago the Association launched the Belfast Rising programme paying particular attention to promotion and development of our games in the vital urban centre that is the greater Belfast area.
News of this development is further evidence of the progress being made with this plan and is sure to boost ongoing efforts to increase participation levels and standards across the board.
Special acknowledgement is due to Comhairle Uladh for their diligence and commitment to this project and also to the government of Northern Ireland for their support of this proposed development.
Barriers and post match presentation
Early last year we set about trying to educate all levels of the Association about the ongoing dangers of the practice of pitch invasion through an extensive education programme which was launched at last year’s Congress in Newcastle Co. Down. The committee involved worked hard to formulate a strategy that would outline in the bluntest terms possible the reasoning behind our approach to this issue.
Simply put there was no other course of action we could take because sitting on our hands and doing nothing was not an option open to us.
I am glad to say that the detailed programme we organised had the desired effect and the message was taken on board, thanks in part to the assistance of a number of our high profile players.
The decision to install the barriers at the Hill 16 end of the stadium was crucial to challenging this problem. The thinking was that if the Hill end could be sorted, the issue as a whole could be too and so it transpired.
Firstly I would like to thank our patrons for their assistance and co-operation in helping us to get this part of our match day arrangement right.
The photographs of unhindered, celebrating All-Ireland winning footballers and hurlers after both finals highlighted the benefits of the new arrangement and of even greater importance, there was no risk to anyone in the post match celebrations – which at all times has been the motivation driving this campaign.
The feedback from the players and others involved with both the winning and losing teams has been positive and we aim to continue with this match day arrangement – rolling it out to other venues in due course.
The expected co-operation of supporters could also assist us in planning the presentation of our trophies and cups. If we know that supporters are going to remain in their positions at the final whistle we have far more scope to organise presentation arrangements that befit the occasion and enhance the experience of all involved.
There is plenty to be done on this front but after the initial successes of last year we aim to make further progress.
Presidential Successor
Last night the Uachtarán-tofa was confirmed when Liam O’Neill was elected unopposed to the role. I congratulate him wholeheartedly on his appointment and wish him and his family every success in the role.
Liam has already shown his strength of character in the multitude of roles that he has filled at various different levels of the Association and this vast bank of experience will stand him in great stead when he assumes the role in 12 months time.
A lot has been made about the absence of an election for the role of Uachtarán. Ideally, our positions would always be contested but for a variety of reasons this did not happen on this occasion.
I wouldn’t expect it to happen again in the short term either so it is not a real cause for concern for us an Association.
However this should in no way take from Liam’s elevation to the role. I wish him well and look forward to working with him over the coming months.
It goes without saying that the new role he will occupy will be a great source of pride for his wife Áine and family Ciarán, Caoimhe and Cliodhna, club Trumera, for Laois and also for Leinster.
Go néirí go geall leat a Liam.
Michaela Harte and Ronan Kerr
In the middle of another busy year of involvement with the Association there were two incidents that prompted many of us to stop and attempt to make sense of the lives we lead.
Both involved the passing of young people, not yet in their prime, cherished by their respective communities who left this world in very different if equally tragic circumstances.
Micheala Harte was a special young woman who belongs to a unique family who have made an outstanding contribution to the Association and her husband John McAreavy is no less regarded in Down GAA circles.
Michaela’s smile and personality had illuminated many GAA events and she had touched so many GAA members far beyond her own circle in Tyrone and Ballygawley.
It is hard to think of a more heart rendering way to lose a wife or daughter, so soon after what is supposed to be one of the highlights of any person’s life.
I must add that the dignity shown by the Harte and McAreavey families and the co-operation of the GAA in both Ballygawley and Tyrone as a whole, was a shining example to us all and I know the support received by the families from every corner of Ireland was a massive source of solace in the most trying of circumstances.
Last week I attended the funeral of Beragh Red Knights footballer PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr who was brutally killed as he set out from his home in Omagh to commence a day’s work.
If any one incident this year shone a light on the new Ireland that has emerged over the course of the last decade, the reaction to his loss was it and the presence of so many people at Ronan’s funeral from the wide spectrum of backgrounds that contribute to life on this island sent out a clear message.
The strength and leadership shown by Mrs Nuala Kerr in such tragic circumstances set a clear tone for us as to how to move forward as a nation and a people.
Ronan’s connections with Beragh Red Knights have been well flagged at this stage. That people from his background and ours in general would have active roles in the creation of a new police force and the ongoing emergence of a new society in the north speaks volumes about how far we have travelled as a people in a short space of time and these strides should not be undervalued.
The loss of precious young life in very different although equally trying circumstances helps us put perspective and context on the other activities that we are involved in and life in general.
The memories of Ronan and Michaela should not be forgotten.
Deepest sympathies to all families who suffered bereavements over the course of the last year.
Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha.
Sustainability 10k Forum
In 2008, ESB Electric Ireland and the GAA launched a new initiative aimed at making Croke Park carbon neutral.
The Cúl Green initiative set ambitious targets to help the stadium reduce its carbon footprint and by 2010 Croke Park was the first stadium in the world to have been awarded BS 8901 certification for sustainable event management.
Building on these credentials, I believe we can now play a key role in helping to stimulate Ireland’s economic recovery.
Critical to that recovery is the creation of sustainable employment and I believe there are huge opportunities in the environmental sector.
Through our unrivalled community network, the GAA will support an initiative aimed at creating 10,000 sustainable jobs in Ireland by 2013 in the waste, water and energy sectors.
To this end, I formally sought the support of the newly elected government and brought together a forum of leading companies and organisations including SEAI, ESB, Ulster Bank, Repak, Thorntons Recycling, CRH, SISK, Dalkia, Diageo and Mercury Engineering.
This forum has acted as a catalyst for the merging of ideas and has articulated a strategic direction for this critical initiative.
We now intend to engage the support of GAA members throughout our association to help drive this at a local level to ensure that the work has a positive effect in all local communities.
The aim is to support job creation in a way that brings direct economic, social and environmental benefits.
The concept is that community clusters come together and collectively upgrade the energy performance, waste footprint and water usage of their homes, businesses and community buildings.
The GAA will act as a conduit for communicating and supporting this very worthwhile initiative at a local and national level.
Deireadh
From time to time the wide ranging activities of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael generate debate focussed on examining who we are and what we stand for as an Association.
It’s a question worth considering.
We have never been a single code or single strand organisation and the GAA has never been restricted to the promotion of sport and sport alone.
The attraction, allure and appeal of the Association rests in the diverse range of options and activities that we offer to people and the intrinsic link to our language and culture make the GAA what it is.
We would not be embarking on our one club model project if we did not hold all of our constituent parts in the high esteem that we do.
To remove our commitment and obligation to our non-sporting remit would render us as just another sporting organisation and such a status was not envisaged or planned for by our founding fathers.
To distance ourselves or cut the less celebrated strands of the Association adrift would be akin to focussing only on our strong senior clubs who compete for and win championships on a regular basis. We would never do that.
Last weekend I was lucky enough to be present at Scór for what was an excellent exhibition of so much talent.
Bhí an tádh liom a bheith i láthair i gCill Áirne le h-aghaidh Scór Sinsear - comórtas den scóth.
Táim lán cinnte go raibh na daoine a glac páirt thar a bheith sásta a bheith i láthair, go hairithe iad siúd a bhuaidh teidil Uile Éireann.
The outstanding fare on view across song, dance, music and language underlined everything that is good about Scór and I want to re-assure Congress that we are as committed to the work of Scór as ever.
GAA Rounders falls into the same category and is a section of the Association that is underpinned by dedicated volunteers for whom Rounders is the primary point of contact with the GAA as a whole.
I would cite GAA Handball as another stand out area of the Association undergoing massive growth.
For the first time in the history of the Association we have Handball Clubs in each of the 32 counties and 200 active clubs across the island – the highest number ever recorded.
Membership has reached record levels and 60 new one court walls were opened in the last nine months in schools around the country.
I accept that the huge focus brought to bear on our inter-county football and hurling scenes means that the activity in
areas such as Scór and GAA Handball does not always get the attention it deserves.
However, that doesn’t make this activity any less cherished or valued and it in no way weakens our resolve to ensure that as many people as possible come into contact with our Association and all of its activities wherever their interest lies.
It goes without saying that games and competitions lie at the heart of everything we do and everything we stand for.
In that light I am enthused by the prospect of the Allianz Football League finals scheduled for next weekend after what has been an excellent competition. The hurling finals should be no less intriguing.
I would like to acknowledge all of our sponsors and welcome on board our latest sponsors Eircom who we look forward to working with.
I would also like to acknowledge the media for the coverage they afford our games and on the back of the recently renewed broadcasting contracts I am looking forward to following every puck and kick of the 2011 Championship season.
These are challenging times for everyone in this country but it’s clear that our Association is on a very strong footing, continually moving forward with new ideas and concepts combined with the wonderful work being carried out at every level of the Association.
Buíochas
I would like to thank the Ard-Stiúrthóir Páraic Ó Dufaigh and all the staff in Croke Park for their support and hard work on behalf of the Association – a commitment that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
A special word of thanks also to Joan Cooney for her support and guidance.
I also acknowledge the dedication of our numerous committees and thank them for the enormous amount of work they undertake on behalf of the Association.
This work allied to the countless hours spent by volunteers in every area of the country helps make us what we are and I look forward to serving as your Uachtarán for another 12 months with energy, pride and determination.
I believe our Association is on a solid footing, and we must not be complacent.
We must strive at all times to move the Association forward to be the best, leadership and inspiration comes from within oneself, this has always been the driving force in creating and maintaining the Association as it is today and will be in the future.
We must believe and be positive about our Association, we have every right to be that way.
Táimd sár-mhaith
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we are the best at what we do.
Ar aghaidh len ár gcluichí.