Foreword from Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary

Welcome to the latest edition of the Ulster GAA Newsletter.  It has been a year like no other and the return of competitive hurling and football games in mid-July was a welcome boost for the wider GAA family.

This only became possible because of the efforts of countless GAA members and volunteers in adhering to health guidelines and the GAA Return to Play protocols. Everyone is entitled to give themselves a pat on the back for their efforts in helping to make this possible.

However, as lockdown restrictions began to ease the numbers of confirmed cases of Covid 19 began to rise.  This is a worrying development and it has led to a postponement – and in some cases a reversal – of plans to further ease lockdown restrictions.  It is now abundantly clear that ‘opening up’ the country is much more challenging than ‘closing it down.’

We all must play our part in keeping our communities safe.  The Covid 19 virus is primarily transmitted indoors and for this reason the GAA has consciously decided to keep its dressing room and indoor facilities closed.  It was therefore a disappointment when the Irish Government postponed a decision on increasing outdoor numbers at sporting events from 200 to 500 and then it came as a total shock when the Cabinet at their meeting of 18 August decided that all outdoor sports activity should be played ‘behind closed doors’ until September 13 at the earliest.  It was a baffling decision without any prior warning and the sense of frustration shared by the GAA and other sporting bodies was compounded by the fact that at the same meeting it was agreed to extend by 30 minutes the opening hours of those pubs and restaurants which are open.

In the ‘Six Counties’ in line with the Executive decision of July 24th, the GAA have imposed a ceiling on numbers able to attend games. It’s far from ideal that we have two different approaches on either side of the border and there is now a greater onus than ever for event organisers to ensure that all protocols surrounding the organisation and running of games are adhered to.  There is an onus on those attending games to adhere to all protocols inside and outside the ground and as our club championships enter their knock-out stages there is a civic responsibility on all supporters to only attend a game if you have a ticket to do so.  It is irresponsible to do otherwise.

We all have a wider civic duty to do all in our power to ensure that there is not a resurgence in the virus to such an extent that new lockdown measures will be enacted – either locally or nationally.

It is the sincere hope and desire of us all that club championships will be completed in every county and that the inter-county season can commence in October as planned.  An Ulster Senior Football Championship in November will be novel.  In the coming weeks details of the fixtures – fingers crossed – will be published and together with our colleagues in Croke Park we are working with broadcast companies to maximise television coverage of the Championship, given the unique circumstances in which we find ourselves.

I hope that you enjoy this Newsletter.  There is both a range of news and feature pieces.  I wish all of our clubs the best of luck in their respective competitions and trust that our games will continue to help lift the spirits of the country at this challenging time.

Stay safe,

Brian McAvoy

Rúnaí, Chomhairle Uladh CLG