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floodlights at Croke Park – an event which saw Croke Park crammed for the Dublin v Tyrone Allianz football league clash in 2009 (pictured).

This year will also see the return of Lá na gClubanna which will take place on May 8.

The inaugural Lá na gClubanna was held in 2009 as part of the GAA’s national events to mark our 125th Anniversary.

A decision has been taken to reintroduce this festival into the national calendar as a day when Clubs will take centre stage and afford them the opportunity to celebrate their existence and impact in their community and reconnect with their locality.

Clubs are being encouraged to keep this date free and to plan events to fittingly mark the role they play in their community.

Further details and an information pack detailing ideas on how clubs can utilise this occasion will be made available in the coming weeks.

More details at this link here

Every GAA club in Ireland is to be invited to play a role in the official 1916 Commemoration which will be held in Croke Park this April.

Sunday, April 24, 2016 will be 100 years to the day since the first shots were fired in the Easter Rising.

And this year it will also be the date of the Allianz football league Division 1 and 2 finals at Croke Park.

The GAA has decided to use this date as the official GAA involvement in the national celebrations around the Rising Centenary.And it is planned to issue a rallying call to give clubs all over Ireland an invitation to be a part in the ceremony.

Exact details of the event are still being finalised but it is envisaged that clubs will be invited as part of a plan to fill Croke Park to capacity and take part in a scripted ceremony – the first of its kind since the 2003 Special Olympics opening ceremony was held at Croke Park in 2003.

A similar rallying call was issued to Clubs to attend Croke Park for the turning on of the

CLUBS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN CROKE PARK’S 1916 COMMEMORATION

THE ALLIANZ LEAGUES ARE BACK. Buy before match day and get €5 off adult tickets* (* Division 1 & 2 football and Division 1 hurling)Your tickets are waiting now at gaa.ie, selected SuperValu and Centra stores and usual outlets.

BE THERE. ALL THE WAY.

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LÁ NA gCLUBANNA CONCUSSION

CLICK TO VIEW

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Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

Programme Overview The Club Leadership Development Programme is designed to provide GAA Club Officers with the basic knowledge and core leadership skills required to fulfil their roles effectively.

Officers will learn from trained Leadership Associates who have experience of being a Club Officer and of facilitating training sessions for adults. Learning will take place in a relaxed training environment in appropriate venues in the participating counties. All courses run for two hours and involve a lot of learning activities to encourage problem solving and idea sharing with fellow club officers. Officers who complete the programme will:

- Gain a better understanding of what their role involves

- Develop basic leadership, management and communication skills

- Experience increased role satisfaction - Have an awareness of where to access

resources and supports - Be able to share ideas and solve

problems with fellow officers - Be better prepared for future roles in

the Association All training sessions will be organised by County Development Officers in conjunction with the Provincial Councils.

Programme Structure The programme will have several core modules which will be delivered on a county basis and a selection of optional modules which will be delivered on a provincial basis once the core modules have been delivered. Core Modules PROGRAMME: OFFICER INDUCTION The aim of this module is to introduce the principal club officers – Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, PRO - to the Club Leadership Development Programme and the importance of their role as a club officer.

MODULE: OFFICER INDUCTION PROGRAMME: CHAIRPERSON The Chairperson is the principal officer of a GAA Club. As well as chairing Club Executive Committee and other Club meetings, the Chairperson has prime responsibility for ensuring that the Club is a well organised, well managed and an active unit. The Chairperson should be dedicated to the job, have good communication skills, have the ability to delegate key tasks and above all, be a person of integrity in the community. The contribution of the Club Chairperson to the effective working of a Club can never be underestimated. The programme for Chairpersons involves three specific modules:

MAJOR NEW TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR CLUB OFFICERS

In attendance at the launch of the Club Leadership Development Programme is, from left, Waterford hurler Noel Connors, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail and Paddy Flood, Chairman of the National Officer Development Programme.

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contains one specific module:

MODULE 1: ROLE OF THE TREASURER PROGRAMME: PRO Communications is one of the most important activities in the Association. The success of all units depends to some degree on the national and local image of the Association. Everyone in the GAA who has a role in their Club, no matter how small, has a part to play in effective communication. There is always a need for a proper flow of information in the Club so that everyone understands how the Club operates. The main function of the Club PRO is to communicate with the general public on behalf of the Club, presenting a positive image of the Club and Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in the local community and beyond. The programme for PROs contains one specific module:

MODULE 1: ROLE OF THE PRO Optional Modules Optional modules will be run in Provinces on a first come, first served basis. Topics will include:

- Insurance & the Injury Benefit Fund - Capital Projects & Club Property - Disciplinary Procedures - GAA IT Solutions The availability of these courses will be promoted by the participating counties after the core modules have been completed. Online Learning Through the GAA’s Learning and

- Role of the Club Treasurer - Role of the Public Relations Officer - Other Club Officer Roles - Property Ownership – Vesting of

Property and the Appointment of Trustees

- Effective Club Meetings - The Club Annual General Meeting –

AGM - Coaching and Games Development in

the Club - Communication in the Club - Membership and Registration - Financial Matters in the Club - Insurance and the GAA Injury Benefit

Fund - Culture and Heritage in the GAA Club - The Inclusive GAA Club - Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit - GAA Fundraising Toolkit To access it, visit - learning.gaa.ie/clubmanagement IT Resources A central library of supports and resources for the GAA’s IT systems is available online. Resources are available for: - Office365 - GAA Management System - Yendo – The official GAA Club

Accountancy Software - Injury Benefit Fund Claims System To access these resources, visit - learning.gaa.ie/itresources Member and Player Registration Clubs must register their players and members for the 2016 season on the GAA Management System which can be accessed by visiting people.gaa.ie/admin.

MODULE 1: ROLE OF THE CHAIRPERSON MODULE 2: EFFECTIVE MEETINGS & COMMUNICATION * MODULE 3: GAMES DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE * PROGRAMME: SECRETARY The Secretary is the chief administrator in the Club. The duties are many and varied and call for a high degree of dedication. The Secretary has more to do with the practical running of the Club than any other officer. He/she should be a good organiser, be methodical and above all, be reliable. The duties dovetail with those of the Chairperson and it is essential that both officers work as a team of which the Secretary will very often be the more active person. The programme for Secretaries involves three specific modules:

MODULE 1: ROLE OF THE SECRETARY MODULE 2: EFFECTIVE MEETINGS & COMMUNICATION * MODULE 3: GAMES DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE * PROGRAMME: TREASURER The Club Treasurer has responsibility for the safe-keeping of the funds of the Club. He/she is responsible for recording all income and expenditure and for reporting on the financial position of the Club to the Club Executive Comittee on an on-going basis. It is important to note that the Treasurer does not have to be an accountant to perform this role. However, he/she must have the ability to record all financial transactions, control expenditure in the Club, plan and assist in fundraising and provide regular reports to the Club Executive. The programme for Treasurers

Development Portal (learning.gaa.ie), club officers will have an opportunity to take online learning courses and achieve certification for their learning. By the end of March 2016, one course will be available for the following officer roles: Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, PRO. Getting involved All training sessions will be organised by County Development Officers in conjunction with the Provincial Councils. The participating counties in 2016 are: Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Donegal, Down, Monaghan, Tyrone Munster: Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Limerick Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Westmeath, Wicklow, Wexford Connacht: Roscommon, Galway There is no cost for officers who wish to attend any of the courses. The dates, times and venues will be communicated to Clubs by the Development Officer in each County. For more information, visit learning.gaa.ie/clubleadership Online Resources for Clubs Club Advice Manual The Club Advice Manual is a resource for all Club officers. It contains information on many aspects of Club activity and administration, such as:

- Mission, Vision and Values of the GAA - Introduction to the Club Manual - Club Activity Checklist - Club Committee Structure - Role of the Club Chairman - Role of the Club Secretary

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- Add, view and register members and players

- Set-up teams, groups, committees and families for reporting and communication purposes

- Communicate with these groups via bulk text message and e-mail

- Generate team sheets in Irish and English

- Generate registration reports - Pay and record fees - Affiliate teams and pay Injury Fund

subscriptions - Request membership cards - Create amalgamations - Access resources and supports A number of helpful online forums are available where you will find User Guides and FAQs for these sections. Please visit here or google ‘GAA Help Desk.’ Online Training Documents The GAA Learning and Development Portal contains a GAA Membership Training Manual and videos explaining the system. To access this information, visit - learning.gaa.ie/gaamanagementsystem

When logged on, the designated Club Administrator (Secretary or Registrar) should go to the ‘Register Members’ page and complete the necessary steps.

This page will contain the details of all of those people who have been registered with the Club in previous years. To add new members to the Club, go to ‘Add and View Members’, click on the ‘Add’ button, select ‘Member’ and complete the necessary steps.

Please note that anyone whose name is in red on either the ‘register’ page or the ‘add and view member page’, is unregistered for the current year.

Please ensure that all members, including all players, are registered. The deadline for registration to allow voting rights is March 31 2016. E-mail and Telephone Support Each Club will have access to the system either through their Secretary or Registrar. For any queries on access to the system, or on the system functionality, please e-mail or call the Servasport Helpdesk on: Email: gaasupport@servasport.com Phone: ROI: 04890 313 845 NI: 02890 313 845 International: +44 2890 313 845 Support hours until 31 March are as follows: Monday to Friday – 9am to 10pm Saturday to Saturday – 10am to 6pm User Forums The GAA Management System provides Clubs with functionality to:

County Officer Development Conference 2016

Over 200 people from all 32 counties attended the GAA County Officer Development Conference on Saturday, 9 January 2016, in Croke Park. Keynote speeches were given to attendees by Aogán Ó Fearghail (Uachtarán CLG), Paddy Flood (Chairperson of the National Officer Development Committee) & Declan Coyle (Director of Andec Communications).

The training and development of club and county officers is currently the top strategic priority for the Association and the hosting of the conference represents the first part of a new training programme for county officers in 2016. Throughout the day, a total of fifteen one-hour workshops took place on topics relating to the key roles and responsibilities of Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers, PROs and Development Officers.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Aogán Ó Fearghail speaking during the GAA County Officer Development Conference 2016

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IMPORTANT DATEAll tickets should be returned to your NCD County Liaison Officer by Monday February 15th.

Each County has assigned a designated G.A.A. National Club Draw County Liaison Officer who will coordinate the collection of tickets from Croke Park, the distribution of tickets to each club and the reconciliation of tickets returned by each club.

Tickets should not be sent directly to Croke Park.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAll sold tickets should be registered on the online ticket recording system before they are returned to your NCD County Liaison Officer. Please note that there is a new online system in place this year.

Full information, terms and conditions, in relation to the Draw including the link to the new online ticket recording system and the relevant support contact details can be found at www.gaa.ie/nationalclubdraw

Please remember that club’s are not permitted to purchase tickets in their own club name or to give away free tickets for any purposes.

We wish your club the very best of luck in this year’s Draw!

This year, the GAA is introducing a specific draw for all clubs who record, account for and sell a minimum of 200 tickets. The

prizes will be provided by the Central Council and will not impact on the value of the prizes which is limited by legislation.

For clubs to qualify for the draw they must have:

1. Sold a minimum of 200 tickets.2. Recorded all sold tickets on the new

online ticket recording system.3. Accounted for all funds raised in their

club accounts - i.e. the amount shown in club income should correspond with the total amount of ticket sales recorded.

4. Adhered to the terms and conditions of the Draw.

The Prizes:A draw will be done for all Clubs whereby 3 Clubs will receive a prize of €5,000.

A draw will be done per County whereby 1 Club in each County will receive a prize of €1,000.

The Club with the highest ticket sales in each Province will receive a prize of €1,000.

CLUB DRAW - NEW CLUB SPECIFIC DRAW

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GAA FINANCE – IN NUMBERS

€56M – This is the total amount in revenue for Central Council in 2015 and made up of Gate Receipts (48%), Commercial Revenue (33%), Other Income (14%) and Sports Council Grants (5%).

€9.5M – The operating cost for Central Council to run the Association

€12.5M – Distributed to counties to assist in their operating costs

€10.3M – Games Development investment, an increase of €1M on 2014

€6M – Funding used for the more than 200 full time coaches employed nation wide

€3.9M – Spent on Player Welfare initiatives in 2015

€2.8M – Spent on developing county grounds and training centres

€2M – Spent on Club Development Projects

€2.7M – Spent on County administration and sister organisations and educational bodies

339 – The number of matches run by Central Council across all levels

48 – The number of matches out of the 339 that made a profit

GAA FINANCE: WORKING FOR YOU!

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2. Introduction of Blood TestingFrom January 1st 2016, Blood Testing will be introduced in Gaelic Game’s as part of the Association’s Anti-Doping programme in conjunction with Sport Ireland (formerly the Irish Sports Council).

Blood testing is not a replacement for urine testing. Players may be required to give both blood and urine on occasion.Further information on the Introduction of Blood Testing for Players is available here

3. Reporting DopingPlease be advised there is now a “Report Doping” form that has been launched recently by the Irish Sports Council to help fight against doping in sport. Anyone reporting via this encrypted form can do so anonymously if they wish.The form can be found at www.irishsportscouncil.ie/report

The GAA Anti-Doping Booklet has been updated to include the above information and is attached for your reference.

Further resources are available on:

Official GAA website

E-Learning and Development Portal

If you require any further information or have any queries in relation to the above please do not hesitate to e-mail

Ahead of the new playing season, please circulate the following information in relation to Anti-Doping and Safety Equipment to all

members of your club.

Anti-Doping

1. Applicability of Anti-Doping RulesAll GAA players and members are subject to the Irish Anti-Doping Rules as adopted by the Irish Sports Council.

Link to the current Irish Anti-Doping Rules here

It is important to note that all coaches and mentors of teams can potentially face suspensions of up to four years for breaching any of the Anti-Doping Rule Violations such as possession, trafficking or administration of a prohibited substance or assisting, aiding, abetting,covering up or any other type of complicity in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

It is recommended that all members of the association complete the following E-Learning course which takes around 30 minutes to complete.

GAA Anti-Doping Awareness E-Learning Course

Further Information & Resources

WADA Prohibited List 2016

Safety Equipment

Hurling HelmetsThe GAA would like to remind all players at all levels in all Hurling Games and Hurling Practice Sessions it is mandatory for, and the responsibility of, each individual player to wear a helmet with a facial guard that meets the standards set out in IS:335 or other replacement standard as determined by the National Safety Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

All players are advised that in the event of a head injury occurring, if the helmet being worn does not meet the standard or is modified or altered from the original manufactured state, they are not covered under the terms of the GAA Player Injury Fund.

Mouthguards for Gaelic FootballMouthguards are mandatory for players in all age grades, in all Gaelic football practice sessions and games. This rule has been mandatory for players in grades up to Minor since 2013 and applies to all age grades since January 1st 2014.

PLAYER WELFARE – PROTECTING OUR PLAYERS, PROTECTING OUR GAMES

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USE OF GAA GROUNDSAll Clubs are reminded that Third Parties cannot be permitted use of GAA Grounds unless a proof of valid insurance is provided. This insurance must contain a specific indemnity to the GAA club.

Minimum requirements for use of GAA Property are €6.5m Public / Products and €13m Employers. Insurance details can be forwarded to gaageneral@willis.ie and / or sinead.leavy@gaa.ie with full details of the proposed activity for review.

There are a number of activities which cannot be permitted on GAA grounds and clubs are reminded to seek advice in advance.

Existing Liability Insurance will null and void if clubs do not have adequate controls in place and valid insurance with specific indemnity is not in place from the Third Party User. This means that no indemnity will be provided from the Insurance fund and the GAA unit will have to meet the cost of the defence of claims and any award from their own funds.

GAA INJURY FUNDCover under the GAA Injury Fund is provided on a calendar year basis from Jan 1 to Dec 31. All teams that will compete in competition 2016 must be registered via the GAA Management System Seravsport immediately.

Clubs who do not have their User ID or password can contact Servasport as follows Tel: 048 90313845 or Email: gaasupport@servasport.com

Clubs must be registered and subscriptions paid in full before competitions commence.

Payment in full should be submitted to Croke Park. In order to ensure teams are covered from Jan 1, 2016 the latest date for payment to reach Croke Park is on or before March 31, 2016.

Teams who are not registered or paid by March 31 will not be covered by the Injury Fund and clubs will be responsible for meeting claims costs without reimbursement from the Injury Fund.

Willis are the appointed administrators of the fund on behalf of the GAA. Willis will not process any claim with a date of Injury in 2016 until registration is completed and subscriptions paid in full.Your county may require payment in full at a date earlier than March 31 and you should check this with your county board.

INSURANCE AND INJURY FUND

Teams not registered by March 31 will not be covered by the injury fund

There is €3.5m in

open claims against

GAA clubs from people

injured at events on

our property that are not GAA related

incidents

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Application for an Inter-County transfer may be made online as part of a pilot scheme by Central Council. If a player wishes to apply online, he should contact the Secretary of the Club he wishes to join and refer him/her to the transfers

section of the official GAA website for information on the process.

Benefits of using the new system include:

Quicker processing of applications.

Less chance of incorrect information being submitted.

Ability to check status of applications.

Easy access to transfer history.

Less administration work. Answers to frequently asked questions in addition to step-by-step user guides for players, Club Secretaries and County Secretaries can be accessed by visiting here. Please note the new online transfer system can only be used at present for transfer which are cross-provincial (i.e. approved by Central Council).

Accessing the Player Transfer System (Club and County Secretaries only)

A Club or County Secretary can access the Player Transfer System by visiting pts.gaa.ie and entering his/her 7 digit Membership Number and Password.

For more information, please refer to the user guides on the GAA website here.

NEW ONLINE PLAYER TRANSFER SYSTEM

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The new GAA.ie brings our Games to you like never before. We have taken our digital presence to a new level with the aim of

bringing our audience, at home and abroad, a website experience that will leave them coming back for more.

To really give you what you want, the site has been split into three separate portals. The main home of GAA.ie offers our most sought after content; fixtures and results, tickets, news and video. It’s also where you will find our live match centre.

MyGAA is the hub for those involved in our games at all levels; players, coaches, referees, administrators, etc. If you’re looking for information that supports you in your day-to-day role, this is the place you will find it.

TheGAA is the home of all of information regarding the Association as a governing body, its history and its structures.

This website redevelopment is step one on a journey to creating a digital sporting experience that will see the GAA on par with world leaders in digital sport.

We look forward to bringing you on this journey.

SEE GAA LIKE NEVER BEFORE - WELCOME TO THE NEW GAA.IE

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MY CLUB: DAVID MORAN - KERINS O’RAHILLY’S

very supportive given what I went through with injuries, they were tough times and they were always very supportive. I’ll always be grateful for that.

Q: Do you have any siblings involved with the club?

A: My brother Brian played with Kerry and he was a very strong player for our club up until a couple of years ago. He’s older than me so he’s not playing at the moment but he was a big player for us.

Q: Has your father’s expertise been called upon?

A: It has! He was manager there when we got to the Munster club championship final against Kilmurry-Ibrickane after the county final defeat a few years ago. He also would have done a good bit of coaching underage at the club along with Tommy’s father. It would possibly have been easier for me at the time not having him involved but when you get older and more mature it gets a lot easier.

Q: Is your clubmate Tommy Walsh the exact same age group as you?

A: Yeah, we were on the same Féile team, exact same age. I have known Tommy as long as I can remember, given that our fathers were playing together as well. He

In this issue of the My Club feature, we talk to Kerry midfielder David Moran about his club Kerins O’Rahillys.

Q: What’s the GAA scene like in Tralee?

A: We’re right in the middle of the town, on Strand Road. There are three main clubs in the town - John Mitchells, Austin Stacks and Kerins O’Rahillys and then there’s Na Gaeil there just outside the town, they play in the rural section. I’ve been at Kerins O’Rahillys since I could walk. The great John Dowling was heavily involved in recruiting us, because we lived so close, along with the Walshs and the Listons! So they used to organise a bus to come around and bring us all together.

Q: Your father Denis actually comes from a different club originally though?

A: Yes, he’s from Ballybunion. He was never involved with Kerins O’Rahillys as a player. He did train us though and we lived only a half a mile from the Strand Road field, and a half an hour from Ballybunion so it was never an issue for anyone that we would play for Kerins when we were young. Having said that, I have a lot of fond memories from summer camps out in Ballybunion and things like that but I’ve been a Strand Road man from day one. I have great memories with the club. They have been

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him for years and years so it was brilliant for everyone to have him back.

Q: How was your Kerry Senior Football Championship campaign in 2015?

A: We had a rusty start against Rathmore but we got to the quarter-finals in the end although we conceded four goals to Legion and you’re never going to win a game when they happens. We only lost by three points to Legion in the end but still. We beat East Kerry and we beat Milltown to get that far so it was an improvement on the year before. It still wasn’t as far as we would have liked. It’s disappointing but hopefully there’s enough done to build on.

Q: It’s been quite a while since Kerins O’Rahillys won the Kerry title...

A: Yeah, in 2008 we lost after a replay to Mid Kerry. We were two points up but lost out to a penalty in the last minute. That was obviously very disappointing. Then back to the last title we won in 2002, I was only 14 so I was only the water boy. Bomber Liston was manager and I was the water boy! They were great times for the club and memories like that drive you on, no doubt. When

exactly what it means, I don’t know - I suppose there’d be a few knacky corner forwards nipping around or something like that. But I’m very proud of it all, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Q: What facilities do the club have?

A: At Strand Road, there’s our main field, and then the clubhouse. Then about 300 yards up the road we have another senior field and two juvenile fields as well. Then there’s a porta-cabin there for changing. In terms of gym facilities, there was a great community project there that came together probably about four or five years ago when times were hard. The guys with trades all came together and built it themselves. The blocklayers laid the blocks in the gym, the carpenters did the roof and so on, and all the club had to pay for was the raw materials. All the labour was free. It was a great community project and it shows what can be done when people put their mind to it.

Q: Who are some of the Kerins O’Rahillys club legends?

A: John Dowling is a big one - he captained Kerry to All-Irelands in the 1950s. Then there’s Seánie Walsh, Tommy’s father. Then there’s Dan O’Keeffe as well, the goalkeeper from the Team of the Millennium. In more recent years, we had Barry O’Shea who was full-back on the 1997 Kerry team. There’s Morgan O’Shea also from 1997, then after that we had Declan Quill, Mike Quirke, they come to mind straight away. There’s plenty of others as well but I suppose the household names are the ones who won the All-Irelands with Kerry.

lives half a mile away from me, just on the other side of the field. We are the same age group within the club, the same school and so on.

Q: Did you both play in midfield growing up?

A: Actually, Tommy was always in at full forward, certainly with the club. I was always midfield. But football or not, we’d be best friends pretty much all our lives. Tommy has a brother two years younger than me and I have a brother two years older than me so the four of us would be very tight.

Q: You must have been a hard side to beat underage then?

A: We were. We lost the Féile above in Carlow, I think that was the only age group we didn’t win in Kerry. We won all the county championships when our time came, all the way up to minor. We had a few more guys beyond me and Tommy as well, Danny Sullivan who captained the Kerry minors in 2008, Barry John Keane as well. So we had a pretty strong team.

Q: It must have been a big deal for you and Kerins O’Rahillys when Tommy came back from the AFL?

A: Apart from me on a personal level, it was huge for the club. It gave everyone a lift, a lift that we really needed because the club had two or three years where we weren’t achieving things on the field as we would have liked. Tommy coming back in was a huge lift for everyone. All the guys from our age group at the club had all played with

you’re 14 and you see that, it pushes you. There were a lot of fellas who played with Kerry on that team too, Barry O’Shea, Mike Quirke, Declan Quill, Ronan O’Shea. All those guys inspire you to make senior with your club and to try and make the Kerry team as well.

Q: With Stacks, your biggest rivals, having won the Kerry and Munster titles in 2014, that must seriously drive you on?

A: Of course. But although we obviously would have preferred to have won it ourselves, it was good to see them do it and have football coming back strongly in Tralee. With Killarney so strong in the last few years with Crokes and Legion, it’s great to have the Tralee teams doing well so the kids of the town see that and want to have it for themselves and to play with Kerry. So we’re trying to wrestle the power back from Killarney.

Q: Would your club be classed as a ‘townie’ team and what does that classification mean to you?

A: I suppose we would from outside the town anyway! I suppose we would. As for

David Moran and Tommy Walsh back in 2009

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every county of Ireland yet since becoming President – I’ve been to every province- but I hope to have visited every county sooner rather than later.

My first club visit of 2016 was on January 2 to the Cloughaneely club in north Co Donegal. They are a small club, based in a Gaeltacht area, but they are proud, well organised and ambitious. They have ladies’ teams, mens’ teams, they look after their juveniles well, they have a very strong link with their schools and they have a strong Irish language focus.

These things are all important to us and if the visit of a President can help a club like this in any way, even simply to re-affirm the excellent work they are doing, it’s well worth it. The event was simply an annual gathering and a wonderful way to start the year, being in the company of such ambitious club volunteers, the kind which we will find in abundance in every club in Ireland.

I’m delighted to say that I also visited my own club in January, Drumgoon Ėire Óg in Cavan, and that was a lovely occasion. Our ladies’ team recently won the Junior Championship, which was a great moment for the club. Being with Drumgoon on this happy occasion once again highlighted to me the meaning of the ‘Gaelic Games family’, something I have discussed on many occasions before.

Since taking office almost one year ago, the policy direction of my presidency has very definitely been based around the club. What

we intend - myself, the Ard Stiúrthóir and Central Council - is that everything we do always has a focus on how we can make things better and easier for the clubs all around Ireland and beyond.

The absolute importance of the club to the GAA is something I see and am made keenly aware of in my regular visits to clubs around the country and abroad. Most evenings and certainly every weekend, I will be at a club or in a county at some event.

We get many requests from clubs to attend events every week, and my executive secretary Joan handles them and makes me aware of them every Monday morning. We get about three times as many requests as we can accede to, and unfortunately, given my commitments at Croke Park where I chair various committees and have many daily meetings and duties, we simply can’t accommodate every request. That said, wherever my diary permits, I will visit a club, or indeed a school, which is another very important aspect of this job.

I must say, there are parts of the country more active than others, or maybe it’s just that they are more active in seeking a visit from the President! I haven’t been to

UACHTARAN’S BLOG – AOGÁN Ó FEARGHAILTHE CLUB IS WHERE WE ARE AT OUR BEST IN THE GAA

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of events; it shows the GAA at its best. More recently I attended the Centenary celebrations of the great Glen Rovers club in Cork.

Glen Rovers have showed me what an urban-based club in a working class area have achieved. They were formed 100 years ago in 1916 and I attended their Centenary banquet which was incredible. Of course good fortune did smile on them because as well as being their Centenary year, they won the Cork senior Championship so that was incredible.

It was nice to see a club where their manager, chairman, coach - everybody involved is from Glen Rovers. They are totally self-sustainable and I thought that was a lovely feature and even their MC on the night was none other than Tomás Mulcahy, a wonderful two-time all-star who captained Cork in 1990. Of course the famous Christy Ring played with the Glen so, history echoes around the club.

They had 550 people there and it is a strong and vibrant club with an excellent camogie section also.

I really loved their jersey. They were formed in 1916 in a very Republican part of Cork and they immediately took the new national flag of green white and gold as their colours . But after the assassinations and the deaths of 1916 they decided to add a black bar in memory and in sadness of what had happened and that remains their jersey to this day and they wear green, black and gold and it is a nice tradition they have kept alive.

It’s important to have a ‘one club policy’. Men and women, boys and girls, we are all Gaels and we should all be working together as one. In Drumgoon, we all play on the same pitch and wear the same colours, like in many clubs around the country. In many ways, many clubs are ahead of the counties in this respect and dare I say it, they are ahead of what happens at national level too. My wife and I have two sons and two daughters and it makes no difference to us who we are cheering on when they are playing.

Another very enjoyable aspect of my visit to my home club was that the first ever juvenile team from the club, from way back in 1982, was reunited for the evening. I founded the juvenile club in Drumgoon all those years ago so it was wonderful to renew acquaintances again with those young men who I first met as children. Sadly, two members of that original group are no longer with us, and they were certainly in our thoughts when we all met again.

The following weekend I visited the Coolmeen club in Clare. Again, they are a small, junior club but what an incredible club they are and what incredible achievements they have had recently. It’s a very small area, with just a three or four teacher primary school base, yet last year their men and women both managed to win junior titles in the county.

I had the pleasure to be at a very enjoyable celebration of these achievements and it seemed to me that everyone in the parish was there, all working actively for the club, all enjoying the occasion. I love those types

They have camogie and hurling for every single level of their club right the way through and their celebration on the night was phenomenal in terms of the energy and excitement.

Their fantastic facilities are equally impressive. It is actually a Glen and they are well named from the Irish An Gleann and their pitch was on the side of a hill. But since that they have developed a field above and below. It reflects their expansion over the years and they have a fantastic network of coaches.

They have a strong tradition of teachers working in the schools, and the club and it is a complete community club. The club house is very much a part of it and the births, the marriages and the deaths all go back to Glen Rovers clubhouse.

Visiting these clubs and meeting so many selfless volunteers at these events convinces me of something hugely important. It’s that when the Ard Stiúrthóir and I and our various committees are working on policy at Croke Park, we have to always keep the likes of Cloughaneely, Coolmeen, Drumgoon and Glen Rovers in our thoughts and ask ourselves, how will this or that decision affect them? We always need to remember that’s where we are at our best in the GAA - in the clubs. My role as President is about re-affirming that.

Aogán Ó FearghailUachtaránCumann Lúthchleas Gael

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CROKE PARK MUSEUM LECTURE SERIES

GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail will join a group of leading historians

to deliver a special series of lectures on Revolutionary Ireland that will take place in the GAA Museum at Croke Park in the coming weeks.

The GAA Museum is delighted to launch this new Spring Lecture Series, which commences on 8th February.

Distinguished historians will present a series of engaging lectures over six consecutive weeks, looking at various facets of the revolutionary period in Ireland. These lectures, taking place in Croke Park, are sure to appeal to anybody with an interest in Irish history.

All lectures will take place in the GAA Museum auditorium and will commence at 7pm. Tickets for each lecture are €10 or a package for all six lectures can be purchased for €50 from www.crokepark.ie.

Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins at Croke Park in 1919

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Notes on the Lecturers

Aogán Ó Fearghail, ‘Gaelic Sunday 1918’.

Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, will give a talk on the fascinating events of Gaelic Sunday 1918 when GAA clubs throughout Ireland played a series of co-ordinated games in defiance of the British government’s attempts to interfere in the running of the GAA. Ó Fearghail, from Maudabawn in Cavan, is the current GAA President.

Tim Pat Coogan, ‘The 1916 Rising’.

Noted historian Tim Pat Coogan will give an account of the events, personalities and repercussions of the 1916 Rising. Tim Pat will highlight the impact the utilisation of the Orange Card by the English Conservatives had on setting the scene for the Rising, while also introducing the major players, themes and outcomes of a drama that would profoundly affect twentieth-century Irish history.

Tim Pat Coogan is Ireland’s best known historical writer. His first book, Ireland Since The Rising (1966) was a pioneering work, the first history of the fifty years that followed the 1916 Rising. Subsequent publications include biographies of both Michael Collins (1990) and Eamon de Valera (1993); a study of the Irish diaspora Wherever Green is Worn (2012) and 1916: The Mornings After (2015).

Paul O’Brien, ‘The 1916 Rising Battlefields’.

Military historian Paul O’Brien will engage

Dr William Murphy lectures in Irish Studies at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin City University. He is co-editor of The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884-2009 (2009) and the author of Political Imprisonment and the Irish, 1912-1921 (2014).

Liz Gillis, ‘What Did the Women Do Anyway?’

Liz will discuss the role that women played in the Irish Revolution. Although often overlooked, the women were indeed the invisible army of the Revolutionary movement and without their dedication, resolve and often their ingenuity, the Revolution simply would not have succeeded. Focusing on many of the lesser known women the talk will show that the women were vital Revolutionaries who gave their all in the hope of a better future for their country.

Liz Gillis has a Degree in Irish History and worked as a guide in Kilmainham Gaol. She now works as a Curatorial Assistant in RTÉ. Liz’s previous works include The Fall of Dublin (2011), Revolution in Dublin (2013) and Women of the Irish Revolution (2014) with two books due to be published in 2016 - We Were There: 77 Women of the Easter Rising and The Hales Brothers and The Irish Revolution.

8 FEBRUARY 2016:

Aogán Ó Fearghail, ‘Gaelic Sunday 1918’.

15 FEBRUARY 2016:

Tim Pat Coogan, ‘The 1916 Rising’.

22 FEBRUARY 2016:

Paul O’Brien, ‘The 1916 Rising

Battlefields’.

29 FEBRUARY 2016:

Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, ‘A Nation

and Not a Rabble: The Irish Revolution,

1913-1923’

7 MARCH 2016:

Dr. William Murphy, ‘Repression and

Resistance: the uses of prison during the

Irish revolution, 1915-1923’.

14 MARCH 2016:

Liz Gillis, ‘What Did the Women Do

Anyway?’

his audience with a detailed history of the various engagements that took place during Easter Week, 1916.

Paul O’Brien holds an M.A. in Irish History and has conducted detailed research for a number of projects. Paul’s publications include Battleground, The Battle for the General Post Office, 1916 (2015), A Question of Duty – The Curragh Incident, 1914 (2014) and Shootout, The Battle for St. Stephens Green, 1916 (2013).

Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, ‘A Nation and Not a Rabble: The Irish Revolution, 1913-1923’.

Professor Diarmaid Ferriter explore new perspectives on and new sources for the key historical events that took place in Ireland during the period 1913 – 1923. Diarmaid will talk about the emergence of the Ulster Volunteers, the Irish Volunteers, the rise of Sinn Féin and the Irish War of Independence.

Diarmaid Ferriter is Professor of Modern Irish History at University College, Dublin. His published works include The Transformation of Ireland 1900-2000 (2004), Judging Dev (2007), Ambiguous Republic: Ireland in the 1970s (2012) and A Nation and Not A Rabble: The Irish Revolutions, 1913-1923 (2015).

Dr. William Murphy, ‘Repression and Resistance: the uses of prison during the Irish revolution, 1915-1923’.

Dr. William Murphy will explore the use of imprisonment as a weapon during the period 1915-1923.

LECTURE SERIES

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Club HWO’s throughout February, March and April of this year.

This training will be delivered by a network of over 50 specifically trained Tutors, from 25 different counties, who received their training at the beginning of 2016. The entire Training package, including the Tutor training, has been developed by a working group involving members of the National Health & Wellbeing Committee as well as interested members from our clubs who were invited to become involved. Now in the final stages of development, it is envisaged that the training will start being made available to clubs in early February. If you would like to find out more information about Club Health & Wellbeing Officer Training in your county, please contact your County Health & Wellbeing Committee at: chair.hwc.[county name]@gaa.ie

More general information relating to the role of Club Health & Wellbeing Officer and the development and provision of training may also be found at gaa.ie/community or by emailing: community.health@gaa.ie

Over the last number of years significant developments have occurred within the

Health & Wellbeing Section of the GAA. In the initial months, the establishment of the national Health & Wellbeing Committee was the first major milestone, followed then by County Health & Wellbeing Committees which created a structure similar to other sections of the Association.

In order to fully emulate parallel sections however, and to achieve the ultimate goal of the National Health & Wellbeing Committee - make the Association a healthier place for everyone to enjoy - the next and perhaps most important component of the Health & Wellbeing structure is being developed.

As of this year, all clubs should have appointed a Club Health & Wellbeing Officer who will be tasked to help ensure their club is a healthier place for everyone to enjoy. This position, which has evolved from the former ASAP Officer Role will be supported by their Club Executive and their County Health & Wellbeing Committee, the latter of which will be offering training to all

CLUB HEALTH AND WELLBEING OFFICER TRAINING

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Croke Park recently welcomed representatives from 53 community groups, schools, resident associations & sports

clubs to a special reception hosted by GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail.

Over 100 guests were in attendance at the event which celebrates the work of local groups who received financial support from the stadium’s annual community fund of €100,000. Established in 2009, the Croke Park Community Fund has now allocated over €675,000 in support to community projects based within 1.5km of the stadium.

Pictured talking to President Ó Fearghail at the reception were John Fitzgerald, The HAY Justice Project.Sitting at front: Tricia Skelly & Rita Lynch from the Ardilaun Square Residents Group

CROKE PARK AT WORK IN THE COMMUNITYCROKE PARK ALLOCATES €100,000 IN FUNDING TO 53 LOCAL GROUPS IN 2015

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as a leasainm agus d’oscail sé bialann mhearbhia ar an gCeathrú Rua, áit darbh ainm Tí Learaí Ramhar. Is iomaí mála sceallóga a d’ith mé ann. Ar aon chuma, chaithfeadh sé nár ith fir na Ceathrún Rua mórán sceallóga ná burgair i 1996, nó ní bheadh an cluiche ceannais bainte amach acu. Agus an t-am ag sleamhnú uainn, bhí an chosúlacht air go mbeadh an corn ag fanacht ar an taobh thoir den Choirib. Sin go dtí go bhfuair Garry Mac Donncha, fear a bhfuil neart taithí aige ar cur síos ar éachtaí éagsúla spóirt agus é ag tráchtaireacht ar TG4 agus ar RTE, greim ar an liathróid. Bhronn sé an gaisce ba mhó riamh ar an bparóiste an tráthnóna sin. Uimhir a 13 a bhí ar a dhroim, geansaí nár thug mórán den ádh d’Orán Mór. Bhuail sé an eangach le urchar. Chaithfeadh sé gur cloiseadh i gConamara an bhúir a tháinig ón slua. Faitíos nach raibh dóthain déanta ag Garry, fuair sé cúilín eile in sna nóiméid deireanacha. Cinnte anois. Bhí corn Frank Fox ag dul siar. Nuair a séideadh an fheadóg, bhí sé ina raebadh, ceiliúradh de chineál nach bhfaca mé riamh. Is cuimhin liom gur chaith an corn sin an chuid is mó den bhliain leagtha ar an gcuntar ag an mbúistéar i siopa Tomás Breathnach Teo. Níor tháinig sé siar ó shin, ach chaon uair a chonaic mé é á chrochadh in airde ag caiptín buacach éigin, chuir sé an lá sin i gcuimhne dom.

A, in aghaidh Bhóthar na Trá, an chéad uair riamh acu an chraobh sin a thabhairt leo. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí a deirtear, agus dhá réir, tá plean 5 bhliana leagtha amach chun cur le áiseanna an pharósite agus leis an imirt, féachaint le sár-pheileadóirí, agus daoine cumasacha, Gaelacha a mhúnlú.

Mar aon le gach cumann CLG sa tír, is breá linn na laethanta maithe agus na coirn, ach ní hé sin amháin a thugann aitheantas agus láidreacht don phobal. Leanfar, leis na h-éachtaí ar an bpáirc imeartha, ach níos tábhachtaí ná sin, leanfaidh an cumann ag cur le fás agus forbairt ár mbaile álainn, speisialta, dearg agus dubh na Ceathrún Rua i gcuisle an cheantair.

A mhuintir Chonamara, a mhuintir na Ceathrún Rua. Ní dheachaigh an cupán seo garr do Chonamara ó 1938, 58 bliain.

Tá súil agam nach mbeidh sé chomh fada arís.’

Sin a dúirt Mícheál Chóilín O Domhnaill, ar an lá sin i 1996, nuair a ghnóthaigh peileadóirí na Ceathrún Rua, craobh sinsir peile an chontae don chéad uair riamh. Dhá bhliain déag d’aois a bhí mé nuair rinne mé mo chéad turas soir ó thuaidh go dtí Páirc Naomh Iarfhlaith, i dTuaim. Lá speisialta don pharóiste. An Cheathrú Rua ag tabhairt aghaidh ar Orán Mór Meáraí, i gcluiche ceannais sinsir peile na Gaillimhe. B’fhéidir nach raibh mórán d’aistear bóthair ann, soir le farraige agus suas an N17, ach fiú den chuid againn a raibh an chiogríoch siúlta againn, oscalaíodh doras nua an lá sin.

Bhí cupla babhta gur mhothaigh muid nach raibh an bua i ndán dúinn. Ní raibh ár gcaiptín, Pádraig Stephen Mac Donnacha, in ann a dhul chun páirce mar go raibh sé criogaithe ag aipindic. Ansin ní raibh 5 nóiméad imrithe nuair a chuir an réiteoir an ruaig ar Learaí Ramhar. Sea, d’imir Anthony Finnerty, an fear a bhí in sna tosaithe ag Contae Mhaigh Eo, don Cheathrú Rua tráth den tsaol. Dála an scéil, bhain Anthony Finnerty ‘leas’

Sin é bun agus barr Chumann Lúthchleas Gael. Pobail bheaga i ngach coirnéal den tír ag glacadh páirte, agus corr uair, tagann lá an Phaoraigh. Tuige nach dtiocfadh, agus Seán Og de Paor ar an bhfoireann.

Bhí ré iontach peile ag an gCeathrú Rua sa tréimhse sin. Ghnóthaigh siad Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, sa mbaile, ar Pháirc an Cháthanaigh i 1997. An bhliain dár gcionn, bhí Seán O Domhnaill, agus a chomharsa Seán Og de Paor, ar fhoireann na Gaillimhe a bhuail Cill Dara i gcluiche ceannais peile na hEireann. Chuadar chomh fada le Páirc an Chrócaigh arís i 2000, ach fuair an Ríocht an ceann ab fhearr orthu an uair sin. Leigheasadh é sin an bhliain dár gcionn, i 2001, agus rinne Sam an bealach siar arís. Níor fhill craobh an chontae ar an gCeathrú Rua ó shin, in ainneoin iarrachtaí. I 1999, theastaigh ath-imirt le solas an lae a chuir eadarthu agus Cill Fhir Iarainn, foireann Pháraic Joyce, i gcluiche ceannais an chontae. An uair seo, áfach, ní raibh sciorta den ádh ag fir Chonamara. Sa lá atá inniu ann, cuireann An Cheathrú Rua 15 fhoireann chun páirce, idir cailíní agus buachaillí, fir agus mná. D’imir mé féin, fadó an lá, ar an gcéad fhoireann a bunaíodh do mhná. Cosúil le foirne Gaeltachta eile, déantar gach rud i nGaeilge. Tá An Cheathrú Rua fós ag réiteach imreoirí don chontae, agus leithéidí Paudie Mac Cormaic ag imirt ar fhoireann mhionúr na Gaillimhe, agus Jeaic O Gaoithín, ar fhoireann faoi 21 na Gaillimhe. Tá na buaicphoinntí stairiúla fós ag tarlú. Ag tús na bliana, rinne foireann faoi 21 na Ceathrún Rua éacht nuair a bhuaigh siad craobh an iarthair

CUIMHNÍ CHONAMARA

‘

le Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh (RTÉ)

Seán Óg de Paor

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girls aged 7 to aged 10 years. A national participation day will be held on 25th June in Dublin for all clubs taking part in the programme. On this day both parents/guardians and their daughters will take part in a fun day of blitzes/games. Provincial Blitz dates - Under 12 blitz days for clubs will be run in each province again this year. Last year these events took place in Pearse Stadium-Galway (24 clubs), Newry, Down (35 clubs), O Connor Park,-Tullamore (43 clubs) and Semple Stadium- Tipperary (48 clubs) with 150 clubs from 27 counties taking part over the four locations. 3750 girls took part in this initiative in total. Provincial days will be run again this year before Camán to Croker Day (8th Aug) with draw to decide who participates. Camán to Croker- 8th August Last year 64 under 12 club teams took part in this one day event in Croke Park sponsored by Torpey Hurleys. The date for this year’s event is the 8th August. Teams who apply to attend their provincial dates will be put in a draw to go to Croke Park. Also any club that runs a Hurl Smart Week this year will also be put in the draw to attend the Camán to Croker event. U14 National Blitz Date: Last year over 1200 girls participated in the national under 14 Blitz Competition in

Camogie4Teens Camogie4Teens is a new project for 2016 for the Camogie Association that will specifically target the teenage age group. The project will have 5 main elements that the teenage girl can take part in. These include participation blitzes, coaching courses, referee course and administration course with focus on public relations and social media. There will also be a lifestyle and health day as part of the programme for the participating teenagers. Clubs will be clustered together for the roll out of this programme with a target of 100 clubs in total. Hurl Smart Week – 6th-12th June 59 clubs took part in this initiative in 2015. Hurl Smart Week aims to increase activity levels at all ages in the community by providing a programme of events in the local Camogie club for the week. Clubs will be able to register to take part in Hurl Smart Week this year and will be put into a draw for a chance to take part in the Camán to Croker day on 8th August. Hurl with Me Programme National Day: Saturday 25th June This programme is for girls in your club aged 7 to aged 10 years and their parents/guardians. The programme will be for 6 weeks and held in 24 clubs around the country. A tutor will coach the basic skills of Camogie to the parents/guardians and

Dublin on Saturday the 12th September. 51 teams from 29 counties took part in the competition across 5 divisions. The date for this year’s event is the Saturday September 10th. Under 15 National Blitz Dates: Last year, 2 phases of the under 15 Blitz took place with 20 counties and 23 teams taking part in the event in total. The dates for Phase 1 Counties this year is August 13th. For more information on any of the development projects listed above contact: Caroline Murray, Project & Initiatives Co Ordinator with the Camogie Association Caroline.Murray@camogie.ie

CAMOGIE DEVELOPMENT DATES FOR 2016

Granagh Balingarry, Limerick

Athenry Hurl with me

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HANDBALL HEROES HONOURED AT ÁRAS

The hugely successful GAA Handball Team Ireland that competed in last year’s World Championships and took home

20 medals have been honoured by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins at a reception in Áras an Uachtarán.

The Uachtarán addressed the Team and management and spoke of his experiecnce in Handball as a young boy growing up in county Clare. In his speech President Higgins paid tribute to the 16 players who represented Ireland in August in Calgary and complimented them on their medal haul of 20 medals from the games.

Read more here.

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to laud the examples of best practice that are being honoured this evening and I congratulate all within the organisation who give this the attention it not only deserves but requires.”

The winners of the 2015 McNamee Awards are as follows:

PROVINCIAL MEDIA AWARDMeath Chronicle

The award acknowledges Fergal Lynch’s article based on the cancer battle of former Meath player, Alan Nestor. It provides insight and details of the illness and the recovery of the player and his determination to play Gaelic football.

BEST WEBSITEMonaghan GAA (www.monaghangaa.ie)

This site is vibrant and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the ease with which the user can navigate and locate information is testament to the developer and it shines a positive light of GAA activity within the county both through its content and its lay out.

2015 BEST PROGRAMMEKildare GAA Football Final

The effort that Kildare GAA has put into the planning process of their match

factors including the level of research conducted, using a variety of sources, into the club itself, the quality of writing and the overall presentation, including the liberal use of interesting photographs.

2015 NATIONAL MEDIA AWARDMarie Crowe (article on the Austin Stack journey)

This article captures the very essence of the GAA in a poignant yet beautiful piece that encompasses untold grief, community spirit and indomitable sporting courage. The role that the Association can play at grassroots level in times of adversity has long been recognised and in this respect the author paints a vivid picture of the support, comfort and encouragement it has to offer. The strong focus, too, on how tragedy and triumph can often walk hand in hand is portrayed in a manner that is both sensitive and beguiling.

The winners of the 2015 MacNamee Awards have been confirmed by the GAA.

These awards, the GAA National Communication and Media Awards, are named after the late Pádraig MacNamee, former President of the GAA, Chairman of the GAA Commission (1969-1971) and member of RTÉ authority. They are presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals and Association units in the area of media and communications.

The awards will be presented by Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail, at a function in Croke Park tonight, Friday, February 5th.

The GAA President offered his congratulations: “The importance of communicating the GAA message has never been greater given the clamour to be heard in an era of simplified communications.

“The GAA story is an extremely positive one and one that needs to be told and I am pleased to acknowledge those who have excelled in this regard this evening.

“As methods of communication and journalism continue to evolve I am pleased

programmes has resulted in well designed and crisp templates. The content is concise, reader-friendly and consistently accurate throughout. Intelligent styling of the cover and within the body of the publication permitted excellent use of imagery.

2015 BEST GAA PUBLICATIONNorth Kerry – A Hurling History by Tommy O’Connor

This publication was chosen as the best GAA publication on account of the author’s meticulous research and engaging presentation of a lesser known aspect of Kerry’s rich GAA tradition.

2015 BEST GAA CLUB PUBLICATIONThe Story of the GAA In Killeavey by Oliver McDonald

This publication was chosen as the best GAA Club publication for a number of

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF OUR GAMES

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standard in each of the programmes in the series is to be highly praised.

2015 BEST PHOTOGRAPHMartin Rowe

Taken by Martin Rowe this photograph captures the combined timing of the photographer and the skill of the Kilkenny player, TJ Reid, into a moment that is only a moment but is recorded for posterity.

Weeshie also played senior football for Kerry and when his playing career was over, he turned to refereeing and became one of the leading inter-county referees in the country, taking charge of three all All-Ireland football semi-finals.

However, for younger GAA supporters ‘Weeshie’ as he is popularly known is probably best known for his insightful analysis on Radio Kerry and his engaging Monday evening ‘Terrace Talk’ programme on the same station. He has interviewed all the Kerry legends and many GAA stars from outside the county also.

Weeshie also published his life story in a book appropriately named ‘My Beautiful Obsession, Chasing the Kerry Dream.’

2015 BEST GAA RELATED RADIO PROGRAMME WLR FM

In the winning production by Kevin Casey from WLR, Waterford hurler Maurice Shanahan reveals his battle with depression which forced him to give up the game in the beginning of last season, only to return and win an All Star before 2015 ended.Shanahan’s open and honest account of his struggle and of the help he received from family, friends, club-mates and the GAA family at large, makes for compelling listening and must be a source of strength for others who find themselves in similar circumstances. The programme is enhanced by the compassionate and sensitive style of interviewer Kevin Casey.

2015 GRADAM GAEILGE (IRISH LANGUAGE AWARD)GAA USA (Sónta Films for TG4)

Tá an gradam seo tuillte go maith ag an sraith faisnéise ‘GAA USA’. Tugann sé léargas iontach faoin ról lárnach atá ag an gCumann Lúthchleas Gael i saol na hÉireannaigh atá lonnaithe i Meirceá, agus tá cur síos déanta ag an scéal ar stair na hÉireann chomh maith. Tugaimid ard mholadh don taighde, don chur i láthair agus don ardchaighdeán ginerálta atá le feiceáil sna gcláracha sa tsraith ar fad.

This award is fully deserving of the television documentary series, ‘GAA USA.’ It gives fantastic insight to us all about the key role that the GAA plays in the lives of the Irish based in America, while the story also intertwines with the history of Ireland. The great research, presentation and

2015 HALL OF FAME AWARDWeeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry

Weeshie Fogarty started work in St Finan’s Hospital in Killarney in 1962 and worked there as a psychiatric nurse for 38 years. He played for the hospital team and when the club were no longer able to field a team, he returned to the Legion club in the town.

He won Kerry County Championship medals with divisional team East Kerry and was in the East Kerry panel that beat Bryansford of Down to win the first All-Ireland club football final, here at Croke Park in November 1971. (After that final it was decided that divisional teams would not be allowed to play in the club championship).

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail presents Weeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry, with the GAA Hall of Fame Award

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crowds of over 20,000 travelled to Ranelagh to witness the event.

The remainder of the club crest incorporates two distinctive lush green trees – which represent the old Ranelagh woods.

And beneath the football and hurls is a triangle, which symbolises the well-known junction that remains the heartbeat and focal point of Ranelagh life to this very day.

The crest was designed in 2010 and worn by Ranelagh Gaels players for the first time in 2011.

Today, Crosbie ‘the first Irishman to fly’ is memorialised with a statue in Ranelagh Gardens.

And his unshakable belief that nothing is impossible continues to inspire the Ranelagh Gaels club to reach new heights on and off the field.

All GAA clubs aim for the stars – but for many outfits such lofty aspirations end up being little more than blowing hot air.

However, the Ranelagh Gaels club on Dublin’s Southside are so determined to fly high that they have even commemorated Ireland’s first ever manned flight on their crest.

In what is one of the most unique GAA club crests anywhere in the world, a vivid red and white basket balloon floats high against a light blue sky and between a set of pearly white goalposts.

It is not a homage to Phileas Fogg – but rather Ireland’s first aeronaut, Richard Crosbie.

In 1785 Crosbie flew a hydrogen air balloon from Ranelagh Gardens to Clontarf on the Northside of the city.

It was the first time a manned flight had taken place in Ireland – and occurred just 14 months after the world’s first ever manned balloon flight had taken place in France.

Such was the clamour at the time to witness the historic event in Ranelagh that police had to close several roads and advise patrons to ‘park their carriages in an orderly manner at the rear of Ranelagh House.’

Newspaper records from the time reported that

THE STORY BEHIND…

We are looking to get your interesting stories – tales about your founding members perhaps or about your club crest, your club history, or the cups that you play for.

Send entries to clubnewsletter@gaa.ie

This month we have the Ranelagh Gaels club from Dublin 6 in the Capital and surely an exclusive GAA club crest in that it features a hot air balloon. Gordon Manning fills us in…

FEEDBACKWe want to hear from you.

Please email clubnewsletter@gaa.ie with your comments.

Newsletter design and production DBA Publishing, Blackrock Co Dublin

Edited by Cian Murphy, GAA Communications, Croke Park