According to the most recent census Ratoath has seen an 88 per cent explosion in population in the past six years, posing all sorts of challenges for the village and its sporting bodies. Brian Hayes - a relative newcomer to the area - tells how the GAA club is responding to the challenge. Brian Hayes settled in Ratoath in 1997, having been domicile in Dublin since the late 1970s. However, his football roots were firmly planted in Co. Cavan with his native Cootehill, playing for Cootehill Celtic for many years. Following a chance meeting with club chairman Hugh Daly last year he decided to throw in his lot with Ratoath. Brian more than most understands the difficulties of relocating to a burgeoning village in south Meath and establishing roots. "It takes a few years to settle in, sort out the house and so on. It wasn't until last year (2001) that I started asking questions about the local GAA club." It also took the club some time to formulate a strategy to unearth the hidden talent in the new housing estates popping up around the village. To that end dedicated public relations sub-committee was established for the first time in 2002 to promote the club in the area. Brian was invited to join the sub-committee. He explained the rationale behind establishing the public relations sub-committee. "The club realised that they needed to reach out to a wider audience. There are a lot of people in the area with no direct contacts with the club. The sub-committee was established to promote the club in the Ratoath area. We have undertaken a number of initiatives such as a quarterly newsletter as well providing match reports and club news to the local papers. We have also posted notice boards around the area to keep people informed of what is happening within the club on a weekly basis." The club has also taken the innovative step of setting up its own website (www.ratoathgaa.ie) which when completed will provide a useful reference point for the club. It will also act as an important medium and communication tool for keeping supporters' of the club abreast of all the latest developments. Brian continued: "There are a large number of sports people in general and GAA people in particular within that 88 per cent increase. It is the job of the sub-committee to promote the club to these people and to get them on board. We have had a number of inquiries which we hope result in an increase in membership." With the likes of Skryne, Dunshaughlin, Blackhall Gaels and Dunboyne all with a stones throw of Ratoath, Brian realises the club faces an uphill battle in recruiting new members. "Traditionally Ratoath has suffered because it is surrounded by strong senior clubs. We now have the facilities of a senior club, yet we are playing junior football and hurling. The target is to upgrade the club (both on and off the field) to such an extent that a player's ambitions can be fulfilled within the club." He added: "The objective is to move up through the divisions. We need to get the football and hurling teams winning their respective leagues so, we can launch an assault on the junior championships. We need to be looking at getting the teams playing at the highest level in the near future." "There is a very good underage coaching structure in the club. Ger McCullough was on the Meath minor team this year and we had four lads on the Minor B hurlers, so there is talent coming through. Our minor footballers performed brilliantly this year. We just need to harness that talent." Off the field the club is well on the way to offering state-of-the art facilities to all its members, In 1996 the club purchased 27-acres of land, half a mile from the village on the Dunshaughlin road for the purpose of developing a new spiritual home. In June the club opened the first of three new championship size pitches. "The first pitch was completed in June and we have played all out home matches on it since. It is a very big pitch. The drainage that has gone into the pitch is state-of-the-art and that will stand us in good stead in the future." He continued: "The second pitch is also completed. We are now waiting for the surface to mature. We will be playing on all three pitches by the end of 2003. We have flood lights on our existing facility, and we will retain it for training and underage matches." Brian describes the changing facilities at their new home "as very temporary" but all that will change by the end of 2003. "By the end of the year we expect to be constructing our new clubhouse and changing rooms. The building will be 20,000 square feet comprising four dressing rooms, physio room and referee's room. There will also be a bar and function room and gymnasium and training room up stairs. When designing the new facility the club considered, constructing the building on a phased basis. "We moved away from that idea totally, on the basis that building costs are increasing year on year. We decided it was better for us to 'bite the bullet' in the first year and complete the job. We are looking at a time frame of 12 months from start to finish," Brian commented. The new clubhouse has been costed at in excess euro two million which represents a huge investment on behalf of the club. The club is hoping to about recoup 40 per cent of the costs through grant funding, leaving a shortfall of somewhere in the region of euro 1.2 million. "We are looking at a number of initiatives to fund the shortfall. We are looking to increase our regular income (Sunday Night Lotto). We are currently running a promotion to get people signed up to a euro 20 standing order. That will give them two chances in every Lotto Draw. It will also cover their membership for the year. Because we are registered as a sporting body with the Revenue Commissioners it is tax deductible," Brian elaborated. The club will also continue to run annual profit making events such as a "Day at the Races" and "Golf Classics" to boost coffers. "We plan to have three or four fund raising events during the year to complement our weekly Lotto. They will give us an injection of capital, but we will be relying on the Lotto for our regular funding," Brian concluded. Tweet

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