#WeAreUlsterGAA CLG ULADH An Chomhdháil Bhliantúíl 2016 TUARASCÁIL AN RÚNAÍ #WeAreUlsterGAA Tuarascáil an Rúnaí A Chairde, Pension’ requirements. At the end of supporters for their continued the year Comhairle Uladh had worked attendances at our games. The The progress of the Association is its way through the many complex substantial reduction in the value of onwards, upwards and at times very legal aspects that apply to employees, the Euro has had significant impacts slowly before us. The performance Comhairle Uladh and to the law of the on transfers in the euro and sterling of our Counties is generally good but land. This has witnessed the ongoing transactions. The Marketing of our the matter of hurling does need to be of the requirements being more and games has been very substantially reviewed and renewed. more regulated and everything from maintained and this in turn has seen VAT to Pensions are placing greater a continued increase in online sales of When the past year is examined there responsibility on organisations like tickets for games ensuring that those are many aspects that are admirable ourselves. The ongoing inputs relating attending our games can pre - purchase as we are very competitive in football, to the proposed redevelopment of tickets either through our units or via but we do need to adhere to the Casement Park are also quite time tickets.ie or through outlets of the One Club One Association ideal. We consuming; the increased attendances, Musgrave Group. We are now starting welcome and admire the success greater input into funding for to see the growth in the wider economy of the Tír Eoghain Under 21 football projects and the stringent budgetary and we shall continue to market our team in winning the All-Ireland requirements places further obligations games, continue to work for the Championship. This was an excellent on the Council. The ongoing work community and be part of the future of achievement, given the overall strength in relation to the Council’s own the Country and our Diaspora. We shall of the teams involved both within income and expenditure continues continue to support the enhancement Ulster and throughout the Country. to be central to our work and it is in of Community development and to this It is an important marker in the scale this sphere that the demands have end will seek to maintain our investment of team and player development and continued to increase. in games, games development and our competitive capacity seems to areas of physical development. be progressing across more counties The income of Comhairle Uladh at this level. In hurling Fear Manach amounted to €6,674,527 inclusive The team of stewards from the deservedly won an exciting final of the of all grants. Our gate income, Counties, the team officials and Lory Meagher Cup. O’Donovan Rossa €1,746,950 represented 26% of this members of Comhairle Uladh won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club compared to 31% of the total income have given great assistance to the Championship and given the previous in 2014. In 2015 our grant income, organising of a very substantial success of Loughgiel indicates that €1,539,509, represents 23% of our total games programme and without the standards at Club level are on a in comparison to 23% in 2014. The these continuing efforts we would be competitive level with Clubs anywhere. expenditure amounted to €6,004,573. unable to maintain major input into In addition, the investment in Grounds all aspects of the games programme. The past year has been most and Infrastructure amounted €159,237. We acknowledge their dedication competitive and this has demonstrated There was an operating profit on and commitment given so generously that the games are still the central focus the years working equating to throughout the year and thank them of our Association, and the teams taking €510,717 which was transferred to our for it. They all do so in a voluntary part make a tremendous contribution accumulated funds. The through put of capacity and that includes many to the development of our Counties, funds in respect of Casement Park are members of staff who are also vital Clubs and Schools. This is very much in separately accounted for and this is the to our overall work on match days. evidence and the current standards are basis for the total project and beyond. An Cisteoir, Oilibhear Ó Gealagain is relevant to the aims and ideals of the We are grateful to the Finance and an outstanding Officer and a totally GAA and its future within our Country Governance Workgroup and Brendan committed person who has given where the Irish Diaspora needs to Waters for their guidance on this very great work to the Council throughout remain at the heart of the GAA. important work. We acknowledge the the year and on a myriad of fronts. He grants from DCAL and Ard Comhairle in has been fully involved in our financial FINANCE respect of the Casement Park Project. affairs and has been an outstanding The Financial affairs have seen help to Comhairle Uladh. We thank continued expansion with regards to Our attendances have continued to him for his outstanding work on our the various aspects of the financial increase over the year and this has behalf. The complex work undertaken workings of Comhairle Uladh. The past seen an increase of income across our by Michelle McAleer, our Head of year has needed some very complex competitions which we acknowledge Business and Finance, has also been work in dealing with the ‘Peoples and thank all our members and outstanding and her contribution to 34 CLG ULADH AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚÍL 2016 #WeAreUlsterGAA our overall work of Comhairle Uladh initiative saw a total of 24 teams the Nicky Rackard Final, Ard Mhacha has been enormous. Brian Mallon has compete from across the province of conceded a costly last minute goal been a tremendous asset and although Ulster as well as teams from Louth. to lose out to Ros Comain by 2-12 to he has moved to work for Ard Mhacha The Connacht clubs who originally 1-14. In the Lory Meagher Final, Fear we were well served by his enthusiastic competed were again incorporated Manach just edged out to Sligeach approach and wish him well in his new into the Connacht section. There were by 3-16 to 1-17 on an emotional day challenges ahead. Paul Sanders also a total of three divisions. Middletown for the Ernemen. They overcame the contributes to the controls that ensure (Ard Mhacha), Setanta (Dún na nGall) tragic death of their teammate Shane that in this field, our finance team are and Sean MacCumhaills (Dún na nGall) Mulholland and gave his family a always in charge. We are grateful to emerged as the Division 1, 2 and 3 fitting tribute to claiming the national their diligence in taking care of our winners respectively. With regard to title. Ar dheis do go raibh a anam. finances and related matters. the Ulster Football Club League, 2015 They then backed this up with a Nicky saw a total of 41 clubs involved, with Rackard play off win over An Lú to cap COMÓRTAISÍ CÚIGE 14 teams in senior and 27 teams in a successful season that ensures they In 2015, the Anglo Celt Cup was intermediate. Ballinderry (Doire) and will play at a higher level in 2016. reclaimed by Muineachán while Galbally (Tír Eoghain) won the Senior Aontroim again won the Liam Harvey and Intermediate finals, with both finals In our first competition of the year, the Cup. The Ulster Club Championships being great spectacles. This competition Dr McKenna Cup, Tír Eoghain again both went to familiar homes in the again provided clubs with competitive collected the title by defeating An recent months as Ruairi Óg Cushendall action at their appropriate level prior Cabhán by 1-13 to 0-10 at another well and Crossmaglen Rangers collected to the commencement of their internal attended final at the Athletic Grounds. the honours in their respective county games programmes. I also extend my gratitude to Bank of codes. The fact that both our Senior Ireland for their sponsorship of this Finals required extra time illustrates Ulster had three representatives in important competition in the Ulster the competitiveness of our club the National Football League Finals, GAA calendar. championships. Crossmaglen edged with contrasting results. Ros Comain out Scotstown in the football final at defeated An Dún in the Division 2 SENIOR FOOTBALL the Athletic Grounds in front of over decider, while Ard Mhacha beat Fear CHAMPIONSHIP 8,600 spectators while Ruairi Óg Manach in the all Ulster Division 3 The 2015 Ulster Senior Football secured a memorable and historic Final. With regards to hurling, we had Championship commenced at Pairc extra time win over Slaughtneil at the representatives in the Ring, Rackard MacCumhaill on Sunday 17th May, same venue. The attendances at our and Meagher Finals. In the Christy Ring where Dún na nGall welcomed Tír Ulster Club Championships continued Final, Ciarraí defeated Doire by 1-20 to Eoghain. In an enthralling encounter, to rise and we experienced particularly 0-12 and then they went on to defeat Donegal just held out to emerge 1-13 large crowds at the Ulster Football and Aontroim in the Liam McCarthy Play to 1-10 winners. Seven days later, in Hurling Club Finals. off. This was a seriously disappointing Kingspan Breffni Park, a late surge result and means that Aontroim will from Muineachán saw them defeat 2015 saw the fourth year of the Tain participate in the Christy Ring along An Cabhán by 0-16 to 0-15.