GAA Media Statement – Covid 19 update

The GAA notes and welcomes the plans published by the government last Friday and some of the dates included relating to the possible return of sporting activity, including Gaelic games.

The Association will attempt to seek clarity around some of the issues that have arisen in internal discussions since last Friday including the challenge of social distancing in contact sport.

GAA facilities are to remain closed as part of efforts to prevent gatherings which breach the restrictions.

We are instructing our clubs and counties to continue to adhere to the restrictions and to refrain from organising on-field activity. These measures are expected to remain in place until July 20.

We will continue to monitor the dates and timelines as revealed by the Government and our arrangements will remain under constant review.

Our units are reminded that the Player Injury scheme is suspended and will remain so until an official return to action protocol is confirmed.

The GAA still firmly hopes to be able to play county and club competitions this year, subject of course to public health guidance. We can confirm however that no inter-county games are expected to take place before October.

Counties are asked, in the interest of players, to suspend all inter-county training until further notice. There will be a phased resumption of training at both club and county level to allow players to prepare appropriately for playing games.

While not categorically ruling out the possible staging of games behind closed doors later in the year, there appears to be a lack of appetite for this type of fixture-scheduling at the current time across the wider Association.

The GAA can also confirm the appointment of a dedicated Covid-19 Advisory Group which will advise the Association on matters relating to return to play protocols and other similar issues. The members of this group are as follows:

Shay Bannon (Chairman) – existing Chairman of Health and Safety group

Dick Clerkin (existing Chairman of Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee)

Dr Pat O’Neill (Dublin)

Dr Kevin Moran (Donegal)

Dr Jim O’Donovan (Limerick)

Dr Seán Moffatt (Chair of Gaelic Medical Association and Mayo team doctor)

Paul Flynn (CEO Gaelic Players Association)

Stephen Mc Geehan (Head of Operations, Ulster GAA)

Tony Mc Guinness (Events and Safety Manager, Croke Park)

Sinéad McNulty (CEO An Cumann Camógaíochta)

Helen O’Rourke (CEO Ladies Gaelic Football Association)

John Horan (Uachtarán CLG)

Tom Ryan (Ard Stiúrthóir CLG)

Feargal Mc Gill (Director of Player, Club and Games Administration)

The outcome of this group’s work will be a graduated approach, informed and guided by the recently published Government Roadmap and by Government policy from Stormont.

Our units have played an important role in the community effort against the pandemic and we thank all of our members for their role in this to date.

We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.

Wednesday Webinar – Brian Cuthbert

“Player Development – Putting all the parts together”
This Wednesday sees Brian Cuthbert discussing player development, identifying the key ingredients that are required for any player pathway.
Brian brings a huge level of knowledge to this area with his practical experience as a School Teacher/ Principal, along with his coaching roles with Bishopstown and Cork. He has recently completed his PHD in Talent Development through UCC and was also a key member of the recent National Talent Academy Framework Report and the Cork GAA Football Development Plan.
Brian is ideally placed to bring this wealth of experience and knowledge to coaches in this free webinar on Wednesday at 8pm.
To register, simply contact colm.crowley.gda.cork@gaa.ie before Wednesday at 3pm.

Club Strategic Planning Webinar

Recently a Webinar on Club Strategic Planning was held.

Attached a link here to access the recorded webinar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUCuqriDvA4

Also added below attachments each of the presentations that were discussed last night.

Finally all material related to Club Planning can be accessed through our Learning Portal here – https://learning.gaa.ie/clubplanning

Strategic Planning Webinar1

CPP – Club Planning (Case Study Conahy Shamrocks)_

Edenderry Club Planning Webinar Apr_2020_

 

GDA Paudie O’ Brien speaks about his work so far in 2020

This week Cork GAA took some time to chat with GDA Paudie O Brien about his work so far in 2020 

Paudie O Brien GDA : Cork City Northside  

The year 2020 is not working out as anyone really planned for but since January can you give us an overview of the work you have been involved in. 

Development Squads: Prior to the current crisis I have been working with Cork City Hurling squads at u14 and u15 and with the u14 Football squad. At u14 we have 2 squads in both codes with over 150 players having attended trial games and training sessions. This is of huge benefit to these young lads and their clubs as it helps to improve the playing standards throughout the city and surrounding areas. My role with the u15 Hurlers is an Administrative and advisory one. These lads are training under the guidance of Clive O’ Donovan and his team with Paudie Murray overseeing the whole county. 

Post Primary: As part of the GAA Future Leader programme I ran TY Coaching courses in SMGS Blarney and CBC. This involved over 125 students all receiving Coaching in Fundamental Movement, GO Games Referee, Hurling and Football. These students put the knowledge they learnt to use by coaching young children from their local primary school and organising a Blitz for these schools in both hurling and football 

Primary Schools: Local club school coaches are doing great work in their local schools in the Northside region. Since January I have been working with these coaches on a weekly basis to up skill them on new ideas, methods and increase the use of games-based coaching which will help them in their role.  

Club Development: In my role as a GDA I have put a lot of work into improving the structures and coaching standards within the clubs in my region. I have done this by organising Coaching Workshops within these clubs and by making sure that my clubs are reaching the Club Benchmarking standards set by Cork GAA.  

Online Activity: Since March 13th, a lot of my work has been through Social Media. I am responsible for the weekly Rebel Og Coaching Skills test videos which to date have received over 15,000 views.  

I along with fellow GDA James McCarthy and Carbery GPO Paudie Crowley ran an Easter Camp for children aged 9-12 years of age. This provide 40 mins of activities in Hurling and Football for 4 days over Easter. We had over 11000 views of this camp.  

I also gave a Webinar on the Difficulties of working with teenage players. 

I am currently working with Sciath Na Scol Chorcai putting together an online skills test for primary students throughout Cork  

Death of former Clare & Munster Chairman Noel Walsh

Noel Walsh (1935-2020)

It is with regret that we have learned of the death of former Munster Council and Clare County Board Chairman Noel Walsh.

Noel hailed from Miltown-Malbay. As a player, Noel won two Clare Senior Football Championship medals with the St. Josephs Miltown-Malbay Club and served as Club Secretary and Chairman. Noel represented Clare at Minor and Junior Football level.

He was the Clare County Board delegate to Munster Council for 8 years and was also Chairman of Clare Bórd na bPáirc. Noel was a Senior Football Selector for 20 years including when Clare won the Munster Championship in 1992 and served 3 terms as Manager of the Clare Senior Football team.

Noel became Vice-Chairman of the Munster Council in 1992. In 1995, he succeeded Tom Boland as Munster Chairman and completed his term of office in March 1998.

He served as Chairman of the Coaching and Games Development Committee and also Chairman of the Provincial Football Development Committee. He was a member of the Management Committee and Central Council for 3 years, and was Chairman of the Amateur Status Committee.

Noel was appointed Chairman of the National Football Development Committee by then President Joe McDonagh, and was also a member of the Disciplinary Rules Workgroup, the Railway Cup Workgroup and Féile Peil na nÓg Workgroup.

Reacting to this sad news, Munster Council Chairman Liam Lenihan said –

“Noel made a major contribution to the GAA. During his term as Munster Council Chairman, it was his great honour to present the Munster Hurling Cup to Clare Captain Anthony Daly in 1995 after a 62 year gap, just three years after serving as a Clare Selector when they won the Munster Senior Football title. He was a very genuine supporter and one of the people who made the GAA what it is, a Community based Worldwide Organisation that gives people a sense of pride in their own place. His example is being followed today by those helping vulnerable people in their own Communities. On behalf of the Munster Council, we extend our deepest sympathies to Noel’s family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Clare County Board Chairman Joe Cooney said –

“It is with deep sadness that Clare GAA have heard of the passing of Noel Walsh. To say that Noel gave service to his Club, County, Province and Country would be putting it mildly. He was a leading light in the county of Clare for over five decades. His beloved St Josephs Miltown Malbay were always in his thoughts and this also was vividly correct for his love of his County. Playing and then managing Clare for a number of seasons ended with the most glorious of days in 1992 when his boardroom battles for a Munster open draw ended with Clare taking Munster honours. He served his County at Provincial and National level with much success. Noel’s innovative thoughts allied to a strong determination that the sport and equality for all was always to the fore led him to be one of the most respected administrators in the Association. Finally, on my behalf as Clare GAA Chairperson and behalf of the GAA people of Clare, may I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Ursula, son Carl, daughters Lisa and Noelle, grandchildren, close relatives, friends and GAA colleagues everywhere.”

Cork County Board pass on our condolences to his family and to Clare GAA on his sad loss