Tomorrow the Casement Park Project will launch the final period of consultation that will see stakeholders provide feedback on a Scale Model of the proposed Stadium that will be on display for two weeks starting at 2pm on Wednesday 22^nd March in the Westwood Centre West Belfast.

The model will be on display at the following times and dates:

The Stadium team have undertaken widespread community and stakeholder consultation with the outcomes feeding back into the Design Team on a constant basis.  These consultations have been a key consideration in bringing the design forward and there ha been various significant changes made to the stadium design to facilitate local community comments.

Project Board Chairman, Tom Daly commented, “We are now in the final phase of the design consultation process which has been ongoing since April 2012. Once complete we hope to submit a planning application which will be a significant and positive milestone for this major project which will contribute hugely to both the re-generation of the Belfast area and wider socio-economic returns and provide a world class modern design 38,000 all-seater stadium to meet the strategic needs of Ulster GAA for the next half century.”

For further information Contact: Ryan Feeney: 07920 528790

Sunday 26th May

Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final
Donegal v Tyrone, Throw In 4.00pm at Pairc Mac Cumhaill, Ballybofey

Ulster Minor Football Championship Quarter Final
Donegal v Tyrone, Throw In 2.15pm at Pairc Mac Cumhaill, Ballybofey

Nothing Beats Being There!

Ticketing Information:
This is an All-Ticket Game, valid tickets will be required for entry to the ground.

Terrace
U16s: £5/€5 *
Student & Senior Citizen: £9/€10
Adult: £12/€15

Stand
U16s: £5/€5 *
Senior Citizen: £12/€15
Adult: £20/€25

Tickets are available through Clubs and County Boards.
* Family tickets are available to purchase through County Boards.

Patrons can also buy tickets at one of the following Supervalu & Centra Stores:

Travel Info:

• Turnstiles will open at 1.00pm.
• Patrons are advised to lock their cars and not leave valuables in sight.
• Patrons should respect the residents in the area in respect of parking and litter.
• Patrons are asked to co-operate with stewards at all times and to adhere to the ground regulations, which will be printed in the match programme.

Video Preview:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ulster GAA in partnership with the Regional Colleges throughout the Province is proposing to offer two fully accredited qualifications (Open College Network), commencing in October 2013.

These courses are worth 40 credits on the Qualifications Certification Framework (QCF) and are the equivalent of an AS Level or Leaving Cert qualification.

Target audience:    GAA volunteers in clubs and schools

1. Diploma in Performance Coaching in Gaelic Games (Delivered in partnership with the Regional Colleges)

Guided learning Hours 400 (40 hours classroom based/360 distance learning).

Units:

• Preparing the ground for a successful season in Gaelic Sports
• The use of Planning and Periodisation in Gaelic Sports
• Using Technology and Physical Preparation in Gaelic Sports
• Coaching Strategies for Improving Performance in Gaelic Sports

Tutors: Roger Keenan/Kevin McGuigan/Gary Mallon

2. Diploma in Team Management in Gaelic Games(Delivered by Ulster GAA)

Total guided learning Hours 400 (40 hours classroom based/360 distance learning

Units:
Role of the Manager in a Sports Context
Managing Change & Conflict in a Sports Context
Planning and Decision Making in a Sports Context
Building Team Success

Tutors: Dr Eugene Young/Roger Keenan

Criteria for selection:

Essential:
GAA NGB Foundation Award
Current involvement (intention to become involved) with a GAA team in some type of coaching capacity

Preferred:
Other GAA Qualifications
Some type of exposure to county player either as a player/coach
Coaching Experience club/county
Sports Specific Knowledge – Sports Science/Nutrition/Performance Analysis/Periodisation
Sports Specific Workshops attended (GAA or Other)
Evidence of commitment to sport or any aspect of voluntary work

For further information/application form contact Roger Keenan Coach Education Manager at roger.keenan.ulster@gaa.ie

Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round:
Cavan 1-15 Armagh 1-11

Cavan produced a superb all-round performance to defeat Armagh by four points at Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday and advance to the Ulster Championship quarter-finals.

Martin Dunne delivered a sensational performance from full-forward for the Breffni men, hitting a remarkable eight points from play out of his total tally of nine.

The Cavan Gaels man was the stand-out performer in what was, overall, an excellent performance from a young Cavan team. Armagh struggled throughout against their opponents, who looked by some distance the hungrier, fitter and abler side.

But it is Dunne who will take most of the plaudits in the week ahead. Almost every ball that was sent into him he won, and his tally could have been even higher, as he hit a number of wides in the game. He weaved and dipped around the posts all day, and kicked effortlessly from all angles, off either foot.

Cian Mackey’s first half goal opened up a three-point lead for Cavan on 22 minutes, and they carried the momentum that score gave them all through the rest of the game.

With Dunne in immense form, Cavan edged seven ahead at one point in the second half but Armagh showed grit to fight their way back into the game, getting within one following Ethan Rafferty’s 58th minute goal.

But Cavan weathered that storm and quickly regained the ascendancy. Inevitably it was Dunne who kicked most of their remaining scores, but he was aided by a strong performance in attack from his full-forward line partner Eugene Keating, who made his presence significantly felt in the second half, winning a lot of key ball and kicking a couple of vital scores.

Cavan led 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time, and were fully deserving of their five-point advantage after a very committed opening 35 minutes of football.

Tony Kernan raised the first white flag of the game for Armagh, but Cavan quickly edged in front following points from Dunne (free) and Damien O’Reilly.

Cavan lined out very defensively, with Mackey and Killian Brady dropping back and operating around their own half-back line. Armagh were struggling to create scoring chances against the Cavan swarm, and after a low-scoring first quarter, Cavan edged two ahead following a Dunne score from play.

Armagh got level on 19 minutes following two superb points in quick succession from Kernan and Caolan Rafferty. Kernan’s was a majestic sideline ball from way out on the left wing, while Rafferty’s point came sweetly with the outside of his right boot following a stylish pass into him from Aaron Kernan.

However, the rest of the half was all Cavan’s, and they made the breakthough on 22 minutes when Mackey stormed in for a terrific goal.

The score was made in Castlerahan. Ronan Flanagan, who played alongside Mackey at club level at the exact same underage group all the way up, found his long-time teammate with a fine pass into the centre. Mackey burst onto the ball, glided past two or three Armagh defenders, and kept his cool as he fired the ball into the net beyond Armagh goalkeeper Philip McEvoy.

That made it Cavan 1-3 to 0-3, and they kicked three of the final four points of the half to be in command going in. Dunne, who struggled with nerves in the early stages, missing a few easy frees, was gradually finding his range and his kicked his second point from play on 29 minutes.

Stefan Forker kept Armagh in touch with a fine score following a good team move but points from Niall McDermott and Dunne completed the first half scoring.

Dunne was getting lots of space in the Cavan full-forward line, in contrast to his opposite number Jamie Clarke, who was kept out of the game completely in the first half as a result of some excellent Cavan man-marking.

Cavan surged seven clear shortly after the restart, with points from Keating, McDermott (free) and Dunne putting them 1-9 to 0-5 in front.

They were threatening to run away with the game, but Armagh, cheered on by a very vocal and passionate travelling support in Cavan, forced their way back into the game.

Jamie Clarke thought he had brought them back into it on 47 minutes when he found the net brilliantly. However, the score was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Stefan Forker kicked a point from the resultant free, and Armagh followed it up with two more, from Mark Shields and Forker, to get within four.

Then on 58 minutes, Armagh found the net to set up a tense closing 15 minutes. Substitute Ethan Rafferty drove the ball to the bottom right hand corner, kicking it off the ground past the keeper, after some sloppy Cavan play failed to clear a ball that should have been.

However, that was as close as Armagh got. Keating first calmed Cavan nerves with a fine score and then Dunne added two more superb points to make it 1-13 to 1-9.

Armagh kept battling, and got back within three when Aaron Kernan fired over his second free of the day. But fittingly, Dunne had the final say, clipping over off the ground when the ball broke to him.

One sour note for Cavan was the late dismissal of midfielder David Givney, who picked up two yellow cards. But it was hard to see anything but positives on a bright day for Cavan, who now can look ahead to June 16, when they play Fermanagh in the Ulster quarter-final.

Scorers for Cavan: M Dunne 0-9 (1f), C Mackey 1-0, N McDermott 0-2 (1f), E Keating 0-2, D O’Reilly 0-1, J McEnroe 0-1

Scorers for Armagh: Stefan Forker 0-4 (2f), E Rafferty 1-0, Tony Kernan 0-2 (1 sl), A Kernan 0-2 (2f), Caolan Rafferty 0-1, M Shields 0-1, E McVerry 0-1

Cavan: C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, K Clarke; J McEnroe, A Clarke, R Flanagan; D O’Reilly, D Givney; C Mackey, K Brady, F Flanagan; N McDermott, M Dunne, E Keating.

Subs: M Reilly for K Brady (47), J Brady for N McDermott (64), J McCutcheon for D O’Reilly (65), M McKeever for C Mackey (68).

Armagh: P McEvoy; P McKeown, D McKenna, M Shields; A Kernan, F Moriarty, C McKeever; J Lavery, S Harold; C Rafferty, C O’Hanlon, K Dyas; T Kernan, J Clarke, S Forker.

Subs: E Rafferty for F Moriarty (19), B Donaghy for D McKenna (32), J Hanratty for C O’Hanlon (50), E McVerry for S Forker (15), G McParland for C Rafferty (66).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

Report courtesy of gaa.ie

With support from Department for Social Development, IRFU (Ulster Branch), the Irish FA and Ulster GAA are joining forces and using the power of sport to promote positive cross-community relations. From 2012 – 2015 the Northern Ireland Executive through the Department for Social Development has provided over £480,000 of funding to support community and volunteer development as part of the Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland.

An event entitled ‘Together Through Sport’ will showcase some of the existing work that clubs and community groups are doing to promote good relations in their area.  Participants will also have an opportunity to meet and interact with Craig Gilroy (Ulster Rugby), Daniel Lafferty (Irish FA) and Colm McCullagh (GAA) who will share their sporting experience at the event.  A demonstration of the GO3H will also take place at the event involving kids from local clubs

Tools that clubs can utilise to engage with other groups across sporting codes in an effort to positively transform community relations will be available on the night.

The event will take place during Community Relations Week on Wednesday 22nd May at Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry (commencing 6.45pm).  The content and discussions will be particularly relevant to club administrators, coaches, community group representatives and any others interested in using sport to promote good relations.

The event is free and open for all interested groups and individuals.

For further information Contact: Aileen Cummins: 07920528791

Notes to the Editor:

Sport in the Community

This event is one element of an overall programme partnership between Ulster GAA, the Irish FA and the IRFU, Ulster Branch with support from the Department for Social Development (DSD).  The programme is entitled ‘Sport in the Community’ and uses sport as a tool for community engagement.  The programme is focused on club, volunteer and community capacity building.

Game of Three Halves

The Game of Three Halves (GO3H) emerged from the efforts of various community and sporting organisations working at a grass roots level across Northern Ireland and has been developed further by the Sport 4 Change group.  Sport 4 Change is an umbrella forum established by the Irish Football Association (IFA), Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association (UGAA), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) Ulster Branch and PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) to promote diversity and good community relations through sport.

Photo caption: (Northern Ireland International and Burnley FC player, Daniel Lafferty, with Mayor of Derry, Kevin Campbell, endorsing ‘Together Through Sport’)

If you would like to reserve a place, please RSVP to: sportinthecommunity@gmail.com

The Planning period for the Casement Park application has been extended to ensure that all necessary best practice is incorporated within the final submission. The extension is not untypical for such a project of this significance and Ulster GAA are pleased to be in the final elements of completing this process.

The Stadium Project Board commissioned the production of a Scale Model of the Stadium so that it can be put on display over the coming weeks and in advance of the submission of a Planning Application next month. The model of the new stadium will go on display for two weeks in the Westwood Centre, West Belfast from 2pm Wednesday 22nd May 2013 and all stakeholders in the local community will be receiving information on the consultation in the coming days.

The Casement Park Stadium Project is progressing steadily, the time lines for delivery are being maintained and the Project Board and Ulster GAA personnel involved continue to work intensively to bring the Project forward.

Considerable time and effort has been invested by the Stadium Project Board in undertaking widespread community and stakeholder consultation with the outcomes feeding back into the Design Team on a constant basis. These consultations have been a key consideration in bringing the design forward and there has been various significant changes made to the stadium design programme to facilitate local community concerns. It is hoped to achieve the appointment of the Integrated Supply Team (IST – Builder) by the Autumn of 2013.

Project Board Chairman, Tom Daly commented, “The submission of the Planning Application in June will represent a significant and positive milestone for this major project which will contribute hugely to the re-generation of the Belfast area and provide a world class modern design 38,000 all-seater stadium to meet the strategic needs of Ulster GAA for the next half century.”

For further information Contact: Ryan Feeney: 07920528790

The University of Ulster Magee campus was a hive of Derry GAA nostalgia last night as personalities from the last eighty years congregated to celebrate the rich and colourful history of Gaelic games in the county.

Two hundred people packed into the university’s Great Hall before the event to view an exhibition of historical artifacts relating to the GAA in Derry. Proceedings began in earnest with a parade of many successful Derry captains from over the decades, including the likes of Jim McKeever of 1958, Henry Downey of 1993 and Mark Lynch of the present day.

While most of the personalities present were chiefly associated with football, the first half of the historical discussion focused on the rich hurling tapestry of Derry City and county. Newly discovered material detailing the playing of hurling in Derry City from the earliest days of the GAA, even before the first county board was formed in 1888, confounded many presumptions. Numerous obstacles that complicated the progress of the association in the county in the early decades were examined. The display of the minute of the meeting at which Paddy McFlynn was appointed county secretary on 5 May 1940, 73 years ago, drew an instant round of applause; Paddy, who later became president of the GAA, was present and spoke of his early memories last night.

The second part of the event, compered by chief organiser Seán Bradley and Gerry Donnelly, featured film clips of matches from the 1950s to the present day, interspersed with brief interviews with prominent players of the past. Among the stars of yore who spoke were Roddy Gribben (1940s-50s), Tommy Diamond (1960s), Adrian McGuckin and Peter Stevenson (1970s), Dermot McNicholl and Damien Barton (1980s), Henry Downey and Kieran McKeever (1990s), and Conor Murray (2000s). Present-day players Gerard O’Kane and Ruairí Convery also spoke with hope for the future, drawing inspiration from the past. GAA President Liam O’Neill was in attendance as well, and spoke briefly at the start.

The event was organised jointly by the Ulster Council and Derry County Board of the GAA.  Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney said, “This was a great night to celebrate 125 years of GAA in County Derry.  It was great to look back at Derry’s proud history and it certainly is motivating for the future of the GAA in Derry.”

Photo Caption: Pictured at a Celebration of 125 years of GAA in Derry, organised jointly by Ulster GAA and Derry GAA and held at University of Ulster Magee – Successful Derry Captains since 1950 with winning Cups.

Sunday 19th May

Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Cavan v Armagh, Throw In 2.00pm at Kingpsan Breffni Park, Cavan

Ulster Minor Football Championship Preliminary Round
Cavan v Armagh, Throw In 12.15pm at Kingpsan Breffni Park, Cavan

Nothing Beats Being There!

Ticketing Information:
This is NOT an All-Ticket Game, but patrons can purchase tickets in advance of the event.

Terrace
U16s FREE
Student & Senior Citizen: £9/€10
Adult: £12/€15

Stand
U16s: £5/€5 *
Senior Citizen: £12/€15
Adult: £20/€25

Tickets are available through Clubs, County Boards & gaa.tickets.ie

* Family tickets for the stand are available to purchase through County Boards.

Patrons can also buy tickets at one of the following Supervalu & Centra Stores:

Antrim
- SuperValu Dairy Farm Centre, Stewartstown Rd., Belfast, Co. Antrim BT17 0LB

Armagh
- Centra Crossmaglen, 12 North St., Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh BT35 9AB

Cavan
- Tarpey’s SuperValu, Cavan Town, Co Cavan
- McEvoy’s SuperValu, Virginia, Co Cavan

Derry
- SuperValu Waterloo Place, Derry, Co. Derry BT48 6DU
- SuperValu Shantallow, Northside Village Centre, Shantallow, Derry, Co. Derry BT48 8NN

Donegal
- Kavanagh’s SuperValu, Donegal Town, Co Donegal
- Kavanagh’s SuperValu, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
- Rooney’s SuperValu, Killybegs, Co Donegal
- Cosgrove’s SuperValu, Bundoran, Co Donegal
- Kelly’s Centra, Mountain Top, Co. Donegal
- Centra, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal
- SuperValu, Carrindonagh, Co. Donegal
- Boyce’s Centra, Carrigart, Co. Donegal

Down
- SuperValu Downpatrick, Ballymote Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down BT30 6PY
- SuperValu Newry, Hill St., Newry, Co. Down BT34 1AF

Fermanagh
- SuperValu Lisnaskea, Main St., Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0BJ
- SuperValu Newtownbutler, Clones Road, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh BT92 6JP

Monaghan
- Evans and McNally’s SuperValu, Clones, Co Monaghan
- Fleming’s SuperValu, Monaghan Town, Co Monaghan

Tyrone
- SuperValu Coalisland, 30 Dungannon Rd., Coalisland, Co. Tyrone BT71 4HT

Travel Info:

• Turnstiles will open at 11.00am.
• Patrons are advised to lock their cars and not leave valuables in sight.
• Patrons should respect the residents in the area in respect of parking and litter.
• Patrons are asked to co-operate with stewards at all times and to adhere to the ground regulations, which will be printed in the match programme.

Armagh’s Ciaran McKeever and Cavan’s Alan Clarke speak to Ulster GAA ahead of their Ulster Championship opener:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Feile Uladh for 2013 will take place on the weekend of Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June, with the competition being sponsored once again by O’Neills Sportswear. The group games will be played on Saturday 22nd June in regional venues throughout Ulster with the Finals being played on Sunday 23rd June in Owenbeg Centre of Excellence, in Dungiven, Co. Derry.

All Hurling/Camogie Clubs are invited to attend, BUT must be pre-registered before the closing date for applications, which is Wednesday 22nd May.

Clubs must complete the Application Form attached below, and also include:
1. A fully completed Official Team GAA Team Sheet from the ServaSport system.
2. A JPEG picture of your Current Team, as the Gaelic Life will be previewing Féíle Uladh on Thursday 20th June with Fixtures details of the event, and will require a team photo.

For 2013, Ulster GAA will be setting the Divisions based on how teams finished in their county Feile. Every effort will be made to balance the groups, both in standard and travelling distances.

Also any clubs who would like to make their club facilities available on Saturday 22nd June for the Group Stages, please indicate this as well.

Feile Uladh will be preceded on Friday 21st June with the Ulster Poc and Cic Fada on Divis Mountain Belfast, Starting at 7:15pm.

Related:
Feile Uladh 2013 – Application Form

Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney said, “The GAA is all about volunteers and it takes an incredible number of volunteers for our Ulster Championship to include stewards, gate men, event organisers and pitch-side officials. We are now delighted to open a new recruitment drive for our Programme Sales and Customer Services team. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in Gaelic Games to be part of the behind-the-scenes match day experience.”

Volunteering with Ulster GAA offers people the opportunity to be into contact with a wider range of people than their experiences at school or University or work, and provides a perfect opportunity to help develop skills of teamwork, leadership and communication for the successful volunteers.

All these skills developed through volunteering are transferable to the work environment and will help those involved when it comes to applying for jobs, college or university. Anyone aged between 18-24 will also be able to record these volunteer hours to the GoldMark Programme.

Applications are open to all volunteers who would be available to offer their services at Ulster Championship games beginning on Sunday 19th May – 21st July 2013.

Anyone who would like to be involved please email fionntan.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie to register your interest or phone Fionntan on (028) 3751 7180 for more information.

Photo Captions: Pictured alongside Paul Durcan (Donegal) and Justin McMahon (Tyrone) are some of the young volunteers who will be part of the Ulster GAA Programme and Customer Service Team for the forthcoming Ulster Championship.