GAA County Games Development Coordinator 

GAA County Games Development Coordinator 

Based in Cork  

 

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is Ireland’s leading sporting and cultural organisation with membership approaching one million people and in excess of 500,000 playing participants at all levels. Inspired by its amateur status and supported by the voluntary efforts of all its members, the GAA devotes its entire resources to the development of Gaelic Games and Culture nationally and in local communities.  

 

Applications are now welcome for the role of GAA Games Development Coordinator, based in County Cork. 

 

Role Summary 

The role holder will be responsible for the delivery of GAA games development policy and related programmes as contained in the county coaching and games development plan in local clubs and schools (Primary and Post Primary) within a geographic area of a county. The role will also focus on establishing self-sufficient and sustainable clubs by building capacity and capability within the volunteer structure to deliver a games development programme 

A key target associated with the role will be the growth and retention of coach and player participation. 

 

The role holder is required to work 39 hours per week, which will include weekends and evenings when required, and the hours may vary depending on seasonal changes.  

 

Principle Accountabilities include but are not limited to: 

 

Operations 

  • Oversee the timely implementation of Association policies, strategies and programmes relating to coaching and games development within a region of a county; 

  • Manage key relations with clubs and schools to support growth and engagement across all Gaelic Games working closely with Camogie, LGFA, Handball and Rounders within a region of the county. 

 

People Management   

  • Coordinate and supervise other county personnel e.g., Participation Officers as required to include responsibility for supporting the formulation of weekly/monthly work programmes with the County Head of Games; 

  • Liaise with and support a team of Coach Developers in the County to deliver coach and referee development; 

  • Coordinate the recruitment, training and deployment of Cúl Camp and Club-School Link coaches within a region of the county. 

 

Leadership 

  • Assist the County Head of Games, County Coaching and Games Committee and key County Officers with the development and implementation of the County Games Development Strategy in the county and associated multi-annual plan; 

  • Ensure the effective use of GAA coaching and games development IT Systems; 

  • Ensure programmes are delivered in line with national games development policy;  

  • Coordinate the delivery of programmes in areas of potential growth and develop strategies to increase engagement in Gaelic Games and specific codes. 

 

Club Support 

  • Coordinate the delivery of a club support programme in clubs to achieve the GAA’s goal of creating self-sufficiency and sustainability by building capacity and capability (Club Compass) 

  • Liaise, support and provide on-going training and development opportunities to Club Coaching Officers;  

  • With the Club Coaching and Children’s Officer ensure all coaches and volunteers meet the required coaching, vetting and safeguarding requirements;  

  • Assist clubs with the development of player pathways and lead the coordination of participation and retention programmes in the region to help transition as many players and as possible through child, youth and adult stages of the pathway to include coordination and delivery of: 

  • Club Nursery Programme 

  • Intra and inter-Club Go Games  

  • Camps  

  • Intra and Inter-Club Super Games  

  • Diversity and Inclusion Programmes  

  • Intra and Inter-Club Recreational Games for youths and adults  

  • Assist clubs with the development of coach and referee pathways and coordinate and lead the provision of volunteer, coach and referee education in the region; 

  • Coordinate and lead the provision of learning opportunities to club volunteers, club coaches, referees and teachers required to assist the delivery of games development programmes.   

 

Schools Support 

  • Coordinate the delivery of the GAA 5 STAR Programme in primary schools introducing and engaging children in all Gaelic Games;  

  • Coordinate and oversee the delivery of participation and retention programmes in primary and post-primary schools to include: 

  • Intra and inter-school Go Games  

  • Intra and Inter-school Super Games  

  • Diversity and Inclusion Programmes  

  • Assist with the delivery of Transition Year and GAA Future Leaders Programme; 

  • Coordinate and provide on going training and support to a network of Club School Link Coaches. 

 

Talent Academy/Player Development Support 

  • Support the County Head of Games in identification of players and coaches to participate in the county talent academy programme; 

  • Coordinate and organise as required regional/divisional games activities to support the programme; 

  • Guide and support clubs and schools on the delivery of player development supports ensuring coherence with talent academy programme;. 

 

 

Stakeholder Management 

  • Work closely with the relevant Coaching and Games Development Committees at County level 

  • Work effectively with all key stakeholders (National GAA, Province, County, Clubs, Schools, Third Level, etc) to grow participation and increase retention rates including LGFA, Camogie, GAA Handball and Rounders. 

 

 

Other 

  • It is a natural function of the role that the role holder is required to work and attend evening and weekend meetings/activities in line with business needs and undertake any other such projects or duties as deemed appropriate by their manager; 

  • The role holder may be responsible for fulfilling a lead programme function within the county games development operation. 

 

Essential Criteria 

 

  • At least 3-5 years’ experience of working in the GAA or similar sporting organisation (Voluntary or Professional Capacity);  

  • Minimum Award 1 GAA Coaching Qualification;  

  • Appropriate third level qualification (Level 7 NFQ);  

  • Clear and detailed knowledge and experience of the GAA’s coaching schemes and initiatives;  

  • Excellent administrative and IT skills with a strong working knowledge of IT related packages and systems;  

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and a strong ability to work in high-pressure situations;  

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills (verbal and written);  

  • Demonstrably excellent leadership skills and influencing ability;  

  • Excellent ability to manage people/resources and build and sustain good team relationships and manage conflict;  

  • Strong leadership and decision-making skills;  

  • Excellent negotiation skills;  

  • Strong organisational skills and demonstrable ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities; hands-on approach to getting things done;  

  • Ability to clearly present goals and direction. 

 

Desirable Criteria 

 

  • Experience in managing/supervising staff; 

  • GAA Tutor/Coach Developer qualification; 

  • Third level sports science qualification; 

  • Strong coach education experience.  

 

 

 

 

Other Requirements 

 

  • Own car with a full clean driving license; 

  • Have completed the GAA Child Protection in Sport Awareness/Safeguarding 1 programme; 

  • Ability to work and attend evening and weekend meetings/activities in addition to normal day to day activities. 

  • Please note this role is subject to Garda Vetting.  

 

 

How to Apply 

 

Candidates interested in the above role should apply with an up to date cover letter and Curriculum Vitae to jobapplications@gaa.ie using reference #Cork100325 on or before 3pm, Monday 10th March 2025 

 

The GAA is an equal opportunities employer. 

 

CORK GAA PRESENTS THE INAUGURAL CORK SUPER CUP AT SUPERVALU PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH


CORK GAA PRESENTS THE INAUGURAL  

CORK SUPER CUP AT SUPERVALU PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH

  • ● Celtic FC visit Leeside to play Cork City FC on Tuesday, July 8th  
  • ● Tickets go on general sale this Friday from 0900

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is to host the inaugural Cork Super Cup on July 8th, 2025 when current Scottish Premiership Champions Celtic FC travel to take on Cork City FC.

The Cork Super Cup is a joint initiative between Cork GAA and sports marketing agency Druid Sport to bring another record-breaking mid-summer event to the stadium.

The match will only be the third ever soccer match to be staged at the historic grounds, and the first competitive men’s game. The winners will lift a specially commissioned Cork Super Cup trophy, designed by former Cork GAA legend Ger McCarthy.

The fixture is expected to bring a significant boost to the local economy and hospitality trade, with an anticipated sell out crowd.


The organisers of the Cork Super Cup 2025 will be engaging with local businesses to create a unique atmosphere for visitors to the city. It’s estimated that the economic return from the fixture could be in the region of €6 million.

Speaking at the launch, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The Cork Super Cup will be a wonderful showcase of sport for the city, and of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a host of major events. I would like to commend Cork GAA for their ongoing vision for the stadium, and wish both teams and all the supporters well this summer.”

Kevin O’Donovan, CEO of Cork GAA said: “This is another opportunity to share our stadium with the world, and help show Cork as an excellent destination for sports tourism. We are fortunate that one of the world’s most successful soccer teams has agreed to return to Cork, and we have been engaging with Cork City FC to ensure that both sets of fans really enjoy the experience. Every event such as this generates funding streams that we can reinvest in the stadium, and in our own games, so everyone wins.”

Celtic FC have played Cork City in friendlies on Leeside before, including a famous 2-0 victory for the home side during a visit in 1992. A team of Celtic and Manchester United legends had taken on a team of Ireland legends at the stadium in 2018, in memory of the late Liam Miller.

Celtic FC manager Brendan Rodgers said: “We are delighted to be travelling to Cork to play in this fantastic match in the summertime. We will be visiting a great stadium in a fine city and we are sure the game will be a wonderful occasion. Celtic’s Irish connections are very important to the Club and we are sure there will be huge interest in the match. From my own perspective it will be great to be going home to Ireland but also from a footballing side we are really looking forward to the match against Cork City, which will be an important part of our preparations for next season.”

Cork City manager, Tim Clancy said: “We are lucky to have such an incredible fanbase at City, and know they will turn out in force to show Celtic what the Rebel Army is capable of. We have enjoyed incredible support since the start of the League of Ireland Premier Division season, and the opportunity to place a fantastic team in Celtic at an iconic setting is one that both the team and the fans can look forward to.”

Season ticket holders with SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Celtic FC and Cork City FC will be able to purchase tickets from Wednesday, March 5th by following instructions that will be sent by email.

Tickets will go on general sale, including a limited number of family tickets, via www.corksupercup.com/tickets and Ticketmaster from 0900 on Friday morning, March 7th.  

Follow Cork Super Cup on Instagram @corksupercup and on Facebook /CorkSuperCupOfficial  

 

 

 

 



 

Hurlers beat Kilkenny in league

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Cork 1-22 Kilkenny 2-16

By Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Diarmuid Healy’s dream first start led Cork to an emotional Division 1A victory over Kilkenny in front of 22,193 fans at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The U20 All-Ireland winner reeled off 1-5 as the Rebels recovered from defeat in Tipperary to leapfrog Kilkenny into third place.

Before throw-in, the entire Cork panel and backroom team lined up across the 45 for a minute’s applause in tribute to former Cork and Sarsfields hurler Ray Ryan, who died suddenly on Tuesday. His brother, Rebel boss Pat, stood among them wearing a black armband in Ray’s honour.

Cork made four changes to welcome in captain Robert Downey, Patrick Horgan, Healy, and Declan Dalton after serving his suspension. Their line-up featured 11 of last year’s All-Ireland final team.

Downey was excellent at centre-back, his metronomic clubmate Horgan ended with 0-10, while Healy took to this level like a duck to water.

 

Derek Lyng named the same Kilkenny team as he did for their postponed encounter with Limerick last weekend, although TJ Reid was added onto the bench for his first involvement of 2025.

Both sides were wasteful in the opening quarter.

Ryan had highlighted Cork’s need to be clinical with their goal chances, but Eoin Murphy saved from Brian Hayes and Dalton, while Healy and Horgan were hooked by Mikey Carey and Huw Lawlor when eyeing the net. Healy could’ve gone for broke from another opening, but opted to tap over.

Kilkenny offered up a few quickfire wides and Cork took advantage to jump four clear when Horgan broke Tim O’Mahony’s long free into Healy’s path. He had no hesitation this time to rifle into the far corner.

Kilkenny responded within two minutes. Billy Ryan intercepted Niall O’Leary’s fluffed handpass and his bouncing shot tricked Patrick Collins in goal.

They leapfrogged 2-5 to 1-7 ahead in the 29th minute. Substitute Damien Cahalane did well to block Harry Shine but Eoin Cody met the loose sliotar with a one-handed pull into Stephen Donnelly’s path and the captain did the rest.

They finished stronger with a pair of Cian Kenny points to lead 2-9 to 1-10 at half-time.

The second half, like the first, was slow to warm up.

Shane Barrett was the third Cork player to be hooked while bearing down on goal, with Tommy Walsh getting the hurl in.

That was called back for a free and the hosts moved back ahead, 1-17 to 2-13, through O’Mahony, Healy, and a couple of Horgan frees.

Jordan Molloy and Kenny brought their tallies to 0-3, with Kenny pulling up injured before splitting the posts and being replaced by TJ Reid.

 

Hayes got a hurley to Darragh Fitzgibbon’s dropping shot, but the sliotar rolled along rather than across the line. At the other end, Reid broke through, but Cahalane blocked his batted effort at goal.

In the end, four points in a row from Healy (two), Horgan, and Tommy O’Connell ensured Cork’s victory.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-10 (6fs, 1 65), Diarmuid Healy 1-5, Tim O’Mahony, Shane Barrett 0-2 each, Ciarán Joyce, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tommy O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Cody 0-7 (4fs, 1 65), B Ryan 1-1, S Donnelly 1-0, J Molloy, C Kenny 0-3 each; M Carey, P Deegan 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Ger Millerick, Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey; Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey, Micheál Mullins; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; Brian Hayes, Robbie O’Flynn, Patrick Horgan.

Subs: Damien Cahalane for Millerick (27, inj), Cormac O’Brien for Joyce (41-44, temp), Luke Meade for O’Flynn (46), Jack O’Connor for Dalton (49), O’Brien for Joyce (58-f-t, temp), Tommy O’Connell for Mullins (61), Jack Cahalane for Hayes (68).

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey, Paddy Deegan; Killian Doyle, Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan; Stephen Donnelly, Eoin Cody, Harry Shine.

Subs: Luke Hogan for Shine (8-11, temp), Hogan for Donnelly (h-t), Pádraic Moylan for Lawlor (49, inj), Fionán Mackessy for Doyle (54), Luke Connellan for Shine (55), TJ Reid for Kenny (61, inj).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).

Footballers are defeated by Roscommon

Allianz Football League Division Two

Roscommon 2-21 Cork 0-13

By Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Roscommon returned to the scene of their 2023 championship elimination and emerged with a thumping 14-point victory over Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

They had second-half goals from an Enda Smith penalty and Ben O’Carroll punishing a defensive calamity to put the Rossies top of Division Two, overnight at least, with their fourth win in five games.

Cork hit the crossbar twice in the second half as their promotion hopes appear all but over. They were equally punished for their wide count, which reached 13 to Roscommon’s three for a finish.

Both sides made one change before the throw-in with Cork’s Ian Maguire replacing Seán Walsh and Ben O’Carroll into the Roscommon attack for Ciaráin Murtagh, who appeared as a half-time sub.

Cork capitalised on a series of fouls to build an early 0-5 to 0-3 lead, but then didn’t score for 15 minutes as Roscommon reeled off six in a row.

The hosts created a pair of goal chances within two minutes. Seán McDonnell blazed wide, although play was called back for a Mark Cronin free, before Paul Walsh cut through only for Conor Carroll to save.

A Roscommon infraction of the 3v3 rule allowed Cronin to convert a two-point free and Cathail O’Mahony opened their account from play in the 17th minute.

Cork had their own transgressions, twice coughing up 50-metre advancements for not handing the ball back for a free and another for blocking a solo-and-go. Diarmuid Murtagh took two of those back outside the 40-metre arc for successful two-pointers.

The Rossies also played on for a goal chance from a Shane Cunnane advanced mark. Maguire’s diving block denied Robbie Dolan before play was whistled back for Cunnane to kick over.

Cronin responded with the first two-pointer from play before the break to go in four behind; 0-12 to 0-8.

Conor Hand launched a two-pointer as Roscommon moved seven ahead within two minutes of the resumption.

Chris Óg Jones and Paul Walsh points gave Cork hope but it was extinguished by Smith’s 49th-minute penalty. That came about when O’Carroll regained possession from sloppy Cork handling and fed Ciarán Lennon who tumbled over Neil Lordan.

That made it 1-16 to 0-11 and Hand extended that lead to 10 with his second two-pointer.

Cork countered with Seán Powter breaking through the middle but his dipping shot struck the crossbar and bounced over.

Colm O’Callaghan was pushed forward as Cork gave chase. He had a palmed goal chance saved by Carroll before kicking an advanced mark.

Roscommon added salt to the wound when Rory Maguire passed back towards goalkeeper Patrick Doyle, who isn’t permitted to receive the ball inside his own half under the new rules, and O’Carroll profited to tap into the net.

Brian O’Driscoll hit the crossbar from a flowing move at the other end before Roscommon ended with a long-range Niall Daly point, which was deemed a one-pointer due to a touch from Patrick Doyle as it flew over the bar.

Scorers for Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh 0-7 (2 2ptf, 2f), Ben O’Carroll 1-3, Conor Hand 0-6 (2 2pt, 1 45), Enda Smith 1-0 (p); Shane Cunnane (m), Robbie Dolan, Ciaráin Murtagh (f), Ultan Harney, Niall Daly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Mark Cronin 0-8 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf, 4f), Colm O’Callaghan (m), Paul Walsh, Chris Óg Jones, Cathail O’Mahony, Seán Powter 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, Niall Higgins, John McManus; Robbie Dolan, David Murray, Shane Cunnane; Keith Doyle, Ultan Harney; Ciarán Lennon, Conor Hand, Enda Smith; Diarmuid Murtagh, Cian McKeon, Ben O’Carroll.

Subs: Ciaráin Murtagh for McKeon (HT), Ronan Daly for McManus (45), Eddie Nolan for Harney (51), Dylan Ruane for Lennon (61), Niall Daly for Dolan (65).

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Neil Lordan, Tommy Walsh, Daniel O’Mahony; Seán Brady, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Brian O’Driscoll, Seán McDonnell; Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones, Cathail O’Mahony.

Subs: Seán Powter for T Walsh (43), Ruairí Deane for O’Mahony (45), Seán Walsh for McDonnell (57), Conor Cahalane for P Walsh (59), Hugh O’Connor for Jones (65).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).