Club Conference a ‘Massive success’

In what has been the largest of Conference of its nature to date over 560 delegates attended the Irish News Ulster GAA Club and Volunteer Conference on Saturday 6th November in the Armagh City Hotel. The event had five well attended interactive workshops facilitated by high profile GAA administrators such as Nickey Brennan, Mark Conway, Feargal McCormack, Jarlath Burns and Tom Daly. The workshops covered areas such as Club Fundraising, Club Planning, Facilities Development, Communications and Club Administration.

The Conference continues to attract significant civic interest with Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Department of Social Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, North South Ministerial Council and for the first time the Irish Football Association all sending representatives.

President of the GAA Christy Cooney opened the conference by outlining how the Ulster model for Club Integration which was devised in 2006 and rolled out across the Province  has now become the national policy within the Ladies Gaelic, Camogie and GAA for integrating Clubs together in the new “One Club” programme.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin TD praised the Ulster Council’s Community Outreach and Diversity work, highlighting the significant contribution that Ulster GAA has made to promoting peace and community cohesion, she singled out Ulster GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail, Director Danny Murphy and past President Tom Daly as “pioneers who have extended the hand of friendship to individuals and groups who traditionally would have no involvement in the GAA”.

She also said “The Irish Government strongly endorse and support the excellent work undertaken by the Ulster GAA in a range of areas and would praise the Association in Ulster for the strong role that it plays in both Communities across the Province”

Thanking the Minister for her comments Ulster GAA President Aogan O’Fearghail used his speech to outline the strong commitment that Ulster GAA continues to make to Community Outreach and Diversity Projects, he also praised GAA President Christy Cooney on his decision to promote the “One Club” model highlighting the significant effect that the integration project has had in Club capacity building in Ulster since the Ulster Council started promoting the single integrated Club model in 2006. O’Fearghail used his address to strongly encourage Clubs to look within for their Coaches and Managers, outlining that Ulster GAA has put significant resources into training excellent Coaches and Managers in each Club some of which were not getting the opportunity to train their own teams due to Committees brining in outside managers.

In a first for the Conference delegates were asked to provide feedback to the Ulster Council on a range of areas including the operations and work of the Ulster GAA by interactive voting on a series of statements and questions, the session Chaired by Senior Ulster GAA Official Ryan Feeney promoted some lively debate.

Mickey Harte addressed delegates and strongly endorsed the Ulster GAA’s road safety campaign “Live to Play”. Praising Aileen Tohill the coordinator of the campaign Harte highlighted how the initiative underpins the values and commitment of the Association to the wellbeing it’s Volunteers and the Communities it serves.

Former Irish Rugby International and Chairman of the One Small Step Campaign Trevor Ringland got a warm welcome from delegates, introduced as a “Good Friend of Ulster GAA” by Director Danny Murphy, Ringland gave his personal view on the Association, saying his personal experience of the Association was positive, he also admitted that he attended his first All-Ireland in 2002 to Support Armagh the year after the Association dropped rule 21. Ringland whose father was an RUC inspector said that he felt that he could not in good faith reach out to the GAA as long as an exclusive rule was in place. He also threw down several challenges to the Association calling on the GAA to establish a body of non-members and outside individuals to advise the Association on how to be more welcoming and open. He had warm words of praise of Ulster GAA Director Danny Murphy, describing him “as a good and wise friend who has taken the GAA in Ulster in the right direction”.  Ringland got a five minute standing ovation from delegates for this address.

Minister for Social Development Alex Attwood MLA gave a commitment to the delegates to continue to fight for current funding levels in the budget negations to maintain community and voluntary sector funding which included the GAA. The Department of Social Development currently fund the Ulster GAA Community Development Department.

The day ended on with recently retired legendary GAA commentator Michael O’Muircheartaigh addressing the delegates on Change, outlining the significant changes that had taken place in the Association over the past 60 years and asked delegates to keep planning and looking to the future.

Ulster GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail, said “I am delighted that the Conference has yet again been an outstanding success, we had representation from every County in Ulster and we were delighted to welcome GAA volunteers from outside the Province with Club officials travelling from Kerry, Dublin and Laois to attend the day. The feedback has exceed our expectations and would like express my thanks to all the delegates whose willingness to make their Club stronger made the day such a success”

Presentations and photos from the day are available on the Ulster GAA Club Maith web-site www.ulster.gaa.ie/club-maith/articles/#club-conf-2010 and delegates who attended are invited to provide feedback to Sharon Haughey by e-mailing sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie .

Related:

– Conference Delegates Feedback Form
– Conference Photo Gallery