OIFIGEACH 1998 (1998 OFFICERS) UACHTARÁN OINIGH (HONORARY PRESIDENT) Geoff Butler 5542 Linder Court Crestwood, IL 60445 708-389-6156 CATHAOIRLEACH NORTH (CHAIRMAN) Pádraig Ó Rúnaí (Paddy Rooney) 509 Lawrence Rd Havertown, PA 19083 610-789-7321 610-789-4330 FAX AMERICAN LEASCHATHAOIRLEACH (VICE-CHAIRMAN) Chris Knightly 917 Howard Ave. Burlingame, CA 94010 COUNTY 650-685-8055 650-685-8051 FAX CISTEOIR (TREASURER) Michael O’Connor 52 Cerdan Ave. West Roxbury, MA 02131 BOARD 617-327-3070 DAY 617-325-2359 EVE 617-327-9731 FAX CLÁRAITHEOIR CONVENTION (REGISTRAR) Sean Gannon 21211 Edgecliff Drive Euclid, OH 44123 1998 216-531-5068 216-531-5669 FAX CUMARSÁIDE (PUBLIC RELATIONS) PHILADELPHIA Eamonn Kelly 1509 S Fairview Park Ridge, IL 60068 312-974-3215 DAY 847-825-6037 EVE November 7, 1998 847-825-7742 FAX RÚNAÍ (SECRETARY) Seán Ó Catháin (John Keane) 5819 St. Andrew’s Dr. Mukilteo, WA 98275 206-345-2152 DAY Philadelphia Marriot West 425-315-0106 EVE 425-290-6516 FAX 111 Crawford Av. [email protected] COISTE NA NÓG West Conshokocken (YOUTH DEVELOPMENT) John O’Flynn 340 Miramar Ave. San Francisco, CA 94112 415-239-8452 415-239-8452 FAX CONVENTION AGENDA Friday, November 6 07:30 PM Reinstatements Committee Meeting 08:00 PM NACB Meeting w/ Divisional Representatives Saturday, November 7 08:30 AM Call to Order and Invocation 08:40 AM Welcome by Host Division 08:45 AM Adoption of Standing Orders 09:00 AM Adoption of Minutes of 1997 Convention & Minutes of 1998 Pre-Playoff Meeting 09:30 AM Adoption of Secretary’s Report 09:45 AM Adoption of Treasurer’s Report 10:00 AM Adoption of Registrar’s Report 10:15 AM Adoption of P.R.O.’s Report 10:30 AM Adoption of Youth Officer’s Report 10:45 AM Any Other Business 11:00 AM Chairman’s closing remarks for 1998 11:15 AM Conclusion of NACB business for 1998 12 NOON Adjourn for lunch 01:00 PM Election of Convention Chairman and Secretary 01:15 PM Roll call of Delegates 01:30 PM Election of NACB Officers for 1999 01:00 PM Convention Motions 04:00 PM Paul Reynolds, President, Europhone 04:10 PM Helen O’Rourke, Rúnaí, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Dublin 04:25 PM Albert Fallon, Chairman, GAA National Coaching & Games Development, Dublin 04:45 PM Any Other Business 05:30 PM Convention Adjourns Sunday, November 8 08:30 AM Resumption of Convention (if necessary) Under-16 Football: Chicago. 1998 NACB The host committee of the Washington, DC Gaels, SECRETARY’S REPORT deserves tremendous credit for the success of their Playoff arrangements and they have set a Even though it’s been only one year as NACB difficult standard for other host committees in Secretary, I feel somewhat qualified to make future years. Whatever problems developed over observations and suggestions regarding the the weekend were minor compared to the NACB. numerous successes achieved. I personally thank the committee members for their cooperation and THE YEAR IN GENERAL assistance over the months of preparation for the Playoff weekend. Since the NACB was founded 40 years ago, 1998 was probably it’s most successful year ever, as WHERE ARE THE PLAYOFFS HEADED? there were more clubs and teams affiliated than ever before, more games played than ever before, In five years, the NACB Playoffs have more than the largest National Playoffs in our history by far, doubled. Just five years ago at the 1993 NACB and tremendous skill and sportsmanship on the Playoffs in San Francisco, there were a total of 18 field of play. That equates to unparalleled success games in 5 grades of competition. In 1998, by nearly any definition. including Minor games, there were 12 grades of competition, with about 50 games altogether. That success is mainly due to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the GAA members This year, we had 22 games on the Saturday. involved in the 80+ NACB clubs around the US. That one day required 154 game officials. We Not all of those clubs were winners on the field of could have had the inspection of over 700 play, but their mentors and organizers deserve registration cards and/or passports. One game on great credit for putting in the enthusiasm, time, and Sunday was delayed for 45 minutes by the card effort required to help keep Gaelic games alive inspection. What if that had happened on and well in America. Their love of the game and Saturday? their sense of fair play have made 1998 in the These examples illustrate the biggest problem we NACB a year of which to be proud. face with the Playoffs - it’s size. As presently THE 1998 PLAYOFFS organized, it’s becoming almost unmanageable. The 1998 NACB Playoffs, the culmination and There is every indication that participation in the highlight of our season, were a particular success. Playoffs will grow rather than shrink over the years. I especially want to highlight the role of our But how can we possibly grow the Playoffs any volunteer Playoff officials, and in particular of more? If more teams want to participate, can we Tommy Dolan, Hugh Duggan and Malachy Higgins handle the increased participation? who performed above and beyond the call of duty as referees. Altogether, the 1998 games required Before we lose control, now is the time to consider about 50 referee assignments and 300 umpires exactly where we are headed if we don’t make changes. We must set some goals for the and linesmen. The success of our weekend was Playoffs, where we really want to be in five years due in large part to their commitment to the GAA time, and decide what is the best way to get there. and we owe them our sincere thanks. ONE OTHER PLAYOFF PROBLEM Congratulations also to our 1998 NACB Champions for their sporting performances on the Since the Playoffs, I am amazed at how often I field of play: have been told that players and teams played Senior Hurling: Chicago Harry Bolands; illegal players at the Playoffs. While there was no Junior Hurling: San Jose St. Joseph’s; proof provided of the truth of these claims, it is Men’s Senior Football: Boston Aidan obvious we need to tighten up the rules regarding McAnespies; the identification of players. We should either Men’s Intermediate Football: Boston Notre Dame; make the ID system work or use some other Men’s Junior “A” Football: Florida St. Pats; system. Men’s Junior “B Football: Washington DC Gaels; Women’s Senior Football: Chicago Erin Rovers; GAA CONGRESS AND TRANSFERS Women’s Junior Football: Florida St. Pats; On other matters, NACB officers were in Dublin for Senior Camogie: New York Young Irelands; the GAA Congress in April. Rule 41 of the Official Under-21 Football: San Francisco; Guide was changed to prevent Inter-County Under-18 Football: Boston; and Transfers from Ireland to the NACB unless the player has first been living in the US for at least nine months. The immediate effect was that all The NACB was seriously discredited by such 1998 Inter-County Transfer requests from Ireland blatant disregard for basic GAA rules. Even the to the NACB were denied. Every player who GAA President, Joe McDonagh, publicly stated at registered in the NACB area in 1998 with an Inter- a meeting attended by representatives of Croke County Transfer, was automatically classified a Park and of all the International teams, that he took sanction player in 1998. Because of the rule their action as “a personal slap in the face”. change, their Transfer was never granted. Those The disappointing events at the games only players who are still in the US, must again fill out compounded the problem of how poorly we as a an Inter-County Transfer Request before County organized and prepared our County teams. registering in the NACB area in 1999. Obviously, the selection of Managers, selectors NEW YORK and players was not always based on ability and interest, since many of those selected didn’t even During the year, we had a very much improved bother traveling, and some of those who did, relationship with our counterparts on the New York seriously let down the NACB. GAA Board. We sincerely welcomed their enforcement of rules which prohibit NACB players The fact is that we as a County failed to take the from playing in New York, and we look forward to International Competition seriously even though it closer cooperation with them in the future for the is a serious competition. If we want to participate good of the GAA in the US. in the year 2000, and I believe we should, then we must start now by selecting an overall coordinator OTHER HIGHLIGHTS for the International Gaelic Games in 2000. GAMES DEVELOPMENT • We sent an Under-14 team from San Francisco to Ireland to compete in Féile na nÓg in June. As an indication of interest in the GAA in North • We sent men’s and women’s teams to Dublin to America, there are hundreds of young people in compete in the 1998 International Gaelic Football non-GAA cities around the US who watch the GAA Competition in September. Telecasts from Ireland every Sunday and who • We got our own NACB Web-Site up and running often go to “kick a ball around” afterwards. We on the Internet (www.NAGAA.org) . must find some way of encouraging the establishment of GAA clubs in cities like New • We resurrected the NACB Camogie Orleans, Dayton, Phoenix, Orlando, Dallas, Championship at the Playoffs. Milwaukee and Tulsa, cities that have inquired • We expanded the Minor program by adding an about affiliating or have expressed some interest in Under-21 and Under-16 Championship.