Club update re Ireland Lights Up postponed & important hurling helmet safety information
Please find below important club updates relating to the postponement of the Ireland Lights Up walking initiative until February, and a pre season safety reminder about hurling helmets and required safety standards.
Ireland Lights Up postponed to February
The GAA today received a communication from Sport Ireland who, in consultation with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media, have requested the postponement of the Ireland Lights Up walking initiative until the start of February (dependent on the Government guidelines at that time). We were informed that this late change of position was prompted by the continued escalation of the pandemic here in Ireland.
The grant scheme offered by Sport Ireland and Healthy Ireland to support clubs in the delivery of Ireland Lights Up 2021 (up to a maximum of €1,000 per club, T&Cs apply) remains in place and will be activated once the green light for the commencement of the initiative is given. All GAA clubs that register to participate in Ireland Lights Up will automatically be issued details of the grant process in the coming weeks. As of today 451 GAA clubs had registered. You can continue to register here: https://getirelandwalking.ie/irelandlightsup/
Healthy Club ‘Every Step Counts’ Challenge will proceed
The GAA Healthy Club ‘Every Step Counts’ Challenge in partnership with Irish Life’s MyLife App will proceed as planned and will start on Wednesday, January 13th and will run for 7 weeks. In each province there are 3x O’Neills vouchers up for grabs – €2,500, €1,500 & €1,000. Any club that tracks more than 4,000km during the challenge will be entered into the prize draw in their province.
Register your club here: https://mylife.irishlife.ie/every-step-counts-2021 and get your members signed up to join your club’s team. Please allow 48 hours from registration for your team to appear on the App. If you have any questions or are experiencing any problems with the MyLife app, please email support@mylife.irishlife.ie
In advance of the 2021 GAA season, players are reminded about the need to check that their equipment is in good condition and meets the required safety standards.
The GAA would like to remind all players at all levels in all Hurling Games and Hurling Practice Sessions it is mandatory for, and the responsibility of, each individual player to wear a helmet with a facial guard that meets the standards set out in IS:355 or other replacement standard as determined by the National Safety Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
All players are advised that in the event of a head injury occurring, if the helmet being worn does not meet the standard or is modified or altered from the original manufactured state, they are not covered under the terms of the GAA Injury Benefit Fund.
The following helmet manufacturers currently provide products which meet the standards set out in IS:355 or other replacement standard as determined by the National Safety Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
- Atak Sports
- Azzuri
- Cooper.ie
- Marc Sports
- Mycro
- O’Neills
Players and parents should note that not all products provided by some of these manufacturers meet the standards of IS:355.
Once the helmet or faceguard is modified in anyway, the player is playing at an increased risk of injury and not covered under the terms of the GAA Injury Benefit Fund.
