Ulster GAA encourages clubs to aim for excellence with Club Maith

Front; Niall Devlin, Head of Business Banking NI, Bank of Ireland, and Ciaran McLaughlin, Ulster GAA President, with Stewartstown Harps GAC committee members; Paddy Park, Cathal Coyle, Sean Gallagher and Martin Campbell.

Ulster GAA is encouraging clubs across the province to engage in the Bank of Ireland Club Maith accreditation scheme.

The scheme allows for clubs to review how they currently operate through a process of benchmarking against best practice.

In doing so, it encourages them to aim for excellence in the core areas of GAA club activity: Governance; Community Engagement; Coaching & Games; Health & Wellbeing and Safeguarding Our Members.

The launch of the partnership between Ulster GAA and Bank of Ireland was recently held at Stewartstown Harps GAC, Co Tyrone, who currently hold a Club Maith Gold standard accreditation. As a long-standing corporate partner of Ulster GAA, the Bank are also sponsors of the Dr McKenna Cup competition and Club Together volunteer development conference held earlier this year.

Ulster GAA President, Ciaran McLaughlin commented: “The real value of Club Maith is the journey that it takes a participating club on. This is something accredited clubs can testify to, with improvements being seen in many aspects of club life.

“Increasingly, we are seeing clubs that have embarked on the Club Maith pathway are realising their potential both on and off the field.

“We warmly welcome Bank of Ireland’s sponsorship of the Club Maith scheme, and thank them for furthering their support of Gaelic games in the province.”

Niall Devlin, Head of Business Banking NI, Bank of Ireland said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Ulster GAA to champion best practice through the Club Maith accreditation scheme.

“By committing to the scheme, participating clubs make a statement of intent that they want to achieve the highest standards for the club and its members across all aspects of club life from finance and safeguarding to coaching and community engagement.

“Securing the accreditation is proof of the clubs’ commitment to success and I would encourage those who haven’t yet signed up to do so.”

If your club is currently not Club Maith accredited, but you are interested in applying and want to register your interest or just have a general question, please contact fionntan.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie

The Bank of Ireland Club Maith Portal and support material can be found at ulster.gaa.ie/club-maith.