As the GAA season draws to a close it has been announced that attendances at Ulster SFC games have risen by over 8% in the last two years. 

These figures exclude the replays in the preliminary round and the semi-final between Armagh and Monaghan and outlines that a total of 135,257 people attended Ulster Championship matches in 2014.

The new figures released by Ulster Council also highlight that attendances are increasing across all other areas of Ulster games with three consecutive years of growth in all competitions, which has been supported by a two year ticket price freeze. Both the U21 and Ulster Club Championship have seen attendances increase by 5% in the year to 2013 with over 60,000 people attending McKenna Cup games.

According to Martin McAviney, Ulster Council President, it is an example of the strong development across GAA games within Ulster which has 90,000 members throughout the Province and the Association's commitment to invest in all Counties: "It is a reflection of the growing interest in our games coupled with great work and planning that has ensured that Ulster GAA has increased its attendance and participation figures across all Championships during very difficult financial times.  

"Online sales and social media continues to develop and grow as an avenue for us to engage with our members and supporters and this has resulted in a 60% increase in online sales and use of our social media channels, Facebook and Twitter growing by 29% and 12% respectively.  We remain committed to developing our games and investing in facilities and resources which reflect the popularity of GAA in Ulster.

"Our outreach and community engagement programme has seen 25 schools within the controlled education sector that in the past would have had no GAA provision now participating in coaching sessions and in the Ulster GAA Cuchullian Cup with 550 people now taking part. 

"The Disability Games programme has also developed through wheelchair hurling competitions, across all Counties with Ulster playing host to the Inter Provincial All-Ireland Wheelchair Hurling Semi Final. So too, Ladies Gaelic Football and camogie continues to grow in popularity, where we have enhanced our support by providing further coaching, financial, capacity building and club development support under the integration programme. 

"It is an exciting time for GAA in Ulster and through our targeted programmes and various championships we expect to further grow participation in and attendances at our games."

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