President launches Strategic Plan
April 30, 2010The Mullingar Park Hotel was the setting for the launch of the Westmeath GAA Strategic Plan 2010-2015 on Wednesday, February 3 last.
GAA president Christy Cooney was on hand to launch the initiative which, among other things, will tackle the huge discrepancy between the numbers of underage GAA and soccer teams in the county's two largest urban areas - Athlone and Mullingar.
The report revealed that there are 22 underage soccer teams in Athlone, compared to just three GAA clubs - Athlone and Garrycastle (both football) and Southern Gaels (hurling).
The GAA president informed the large attendance that Athlone is the next urban area Croke Park will examine in their efforts to increase participation levels in large centres of population. He said the GAA, through its Urban Development Committee, has looked at participation levels in a number of cities and large towns throughout the country, adding that Athlone would be among the next urban areas for the Association to examine. "Athlone is probably the next area to look at because of the population of around 30,000. We want to increase participation levels in urban areas such as Athlone," he said.
Clonkill clubman Declan Leonard, who was a member of the sub-committee which produced the plan, noted that soccer is the most popular sport with youngsters in Athlone and suggested that the GAA "should copy what soccer is good at".
"Rather than being negative about the competition, should we not be copying their modus operandi and developing Gaelic teams based on large estates and districts to feed in at a higher level to the established clubs?" he asked.
"One could name a dozen housing estates in our major towns containing between 250 and 700 houses. A lot of our strong rural clubs don't have the same number of houses in their catchment area. Full-size pitches or dressing rooms, while great to have, are not necessary for this type of activity.
"Instead, games can be arranged at U8, U10 and U12 level on greens within estates, while also using town facilities. Very often there is as much competition between the Gaelic football and hurling clubs as there is between GAA clubs and other sports. The advantage of these types of games is that these teams cam get more games at local level on a regular basis."
He continued: "The flip side of urbanisation is generally population decline which impacts on our rural clubs. Unfortunately, it's not within the remit of the GAA to direct or influence population movement and the GAA as an organisation can only react to population trends. Just as the town clubs have to show initiative, rural clubs will also have to be innovative in their thinking and actions.
"The county committee can help by providing information, options and statistics, but clubs themselves must decide if they can keep going by only being able to field on an irregular basis. Realistically, if you can only field 10 players at U12 level, how many do you expect to field at U16 and minor level?
"This is a difficulty and, no doubt controversial issue, but it is a topic that must be addressed in the lifetime of this plan."
The Westmeath County Council employee said the playing of Gaelic games in the county's schools is "our lifeblood", adding that the links between the GAA and schools need to be developed further. He suggested that there should be a liaison officer in each club with the responsibility of forging links with schools in the club's catchment area. He also identified the need for astro-turf or all-weather facilities in all clubs.
In conclusion, Mr Leonard said that compiling the Strategic Plan was in some ways "the easy part" and that implementation of its objectives would be far more difficult.
"Our aim is to increase the number of players and volunteers active in clubs and schools by 100 per cent in urban areas, 25 per cent in other areas during the lifetime of this plan. We will do this by targeting large estates in urban areas and making the GAA clubs everywhere the centre of the community.
"A county steering group will be established based on the Derry initiative to promote our games in urban areas. The county committee will work with Croke Park on games promotion in our urban centres," he added.
Westmeath county board chairman Tom Farrell said the Plan would involve coaches going into housing estates in the county's two biggest towns.
"I'd appeal to the clubs in Athlone and Mullingar to come together to promote our games in these estates," he said.
When the inevitable question of the need for new clubs in urban areas was asked, Declan Leonard pointed out that between 40 and 50 per cent of the county's population is in Athlone and Mullingar, whereas the six clubs in the two major towns represent 15.6 per cent of the county's clubs.
"I wouldn't be the person to talk about new clubs but it might arise (in the future)," he said.
Christy Cooney said "nobody should be afraid of a new club", adding that clubs have to be honest if they cannot provide games for all their players.
The GAA president described the Plan as "very practical and focused on what you need to achieve in Westmeath over the next five years to make the Association stronger in Westmeath." But while acknowledging that its aims are "achievable", he stressed the need for cooperation and hard work from all of the county's 47 clubs. He said the success or otherwise of the Plan would be judged by whether the clubs are stronger and better as a result.
On the issue of small rural clubs amalgamating, Tom Farrell used the Maryland/Tang underage club as an example of what can be achieved when clubs join forces. The county board chairman also suggested that urban clubs should look at "sharing facilities" if their pitches are being over-used. He added that the Strategic Plan will be reviewed every six months and that another sub-committee will be set up to oversee its implementation.
Leinster Council chairman Seamus Howlin, who also addressed the meeting, noted that Westmeath is the third Leinster county to produce a strategic plan after Longford and Laois.
The Strategic Plan tackles other issues relating to games scheduling, the recruitment of volunteers and club officers, finance and fundraising, infrastructure, refereeing, communications and Scor.
The report concludes by saying: "Our aim is to offer an inclusive and welcoming environment to everybody and build on the outstanding reputation we have for attracting and retaining members from all sections of the community. We welcome people of all nationalities, religions, ages and abilities and make it easy for everybody to take part."
The sub-committee which produced the Westmeath GAA Strategic Plan consisted of: Sean Kenny, Declan Leonard, Noel Tierney, Noel Delaney, Liam Martin, Tom Farrell, Pat Lynagh, Terry McCague, Ken Kinahan. Tweet
