Cumann Lúthchleas Gael - Coiste Átha Cliath Comhdháil Bhliantúil Páirc Parnell, Dé Céadaoin 16ú Nollaig 2020 ar 7.00 i.n. An Clár 1. Minutes of 2019 Convention. 2. Adoption of Standing Orders. 3. Auditor's Report and Financial Statement. 4. Secretary's Report. 5. Chairman’s Address. 6. Election of Officers. 7. Fixture Planning & Competitions Control Committee Report. 8. Coiste Éisteachta Report. 9. Coaching & Games Development Report. 10. Appointment of Auditor. 11. Appointment of Delegates to Leinster Convention and Congress. Standing Orders for Convention 1. The Proposer of a motion, or amendment thereto, may speak for no longer than five minutes. 2. A Delegate speaking to a resolution or an amendment must not exceed three minutes. 3. The proposer of a resolution or amendment may speak a second time for five minutes before a vote is taken, but no other delegate may speak a second time to any resolution or amendment. 4. The Chairman may at any time he considers a matter has been sufficiently discussed call on the proposer for a reply, after which a vote must be taken. 5. A Delegate may, with the consent of the Chairman, move ‘that the question be now put’ after which, when the proposer has spoken, a vote must be taken. 6. A speaker to the Annual Report or to any other general discussion shall not exceed three minutes. 7. Convention shall not be entitled to consider any matter not on the Agenda, except with the consent of a majority comprising two-thirds of the votes of those present, voting and entitled to vote. 1 AINMNIUCHÁIN Cathaoirleach Mícheál Ó Saomhar (Oileán na hÉireann) Leas-Chathaoirleach Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin (Cuala) Leas-Rúnaí Séamus de Róiste (Fionnbhrú Colmcille) Outgoing Seán Mac Niocláis (Gaeil N. Shéamais An Caisleán) Cisteoir Fionnbharr Ó Mathúna (Naomh Pádraig Baile Phámar) Outgoing Oifigeach Forbartha Cormac Ó Donnchú (Na Fianna) Oifigeach Oiliúna Gearóid Ó Liatháin (Uí Duibhir) Outgoing Oifigeach na Gaeilge Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill (Na Gaeil Óga) Outgoing Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí Fiona Ní Thuairisc (Naomh Bríd) Outgoing Oifigeach Leanaí Póilín Ní Cuillinn (Naomh Pádraig Baile Phámar) Outgoing Árd Chomhairle Séamus de Róiste (Fionnbhrú Colmcille) Outgoing Comhairle Laighean Tomás Ó Sé (Naomh Marcais) Outgoing Mel Ó Fearauil (Oileán na hÉireann) Seosamh Ó Liatháin (Naomh Fionnbarra) 2 Tuarascáil An Rúnaí Tá sé in am dom arís féachaint siar ar na príomh imeachtaí don bhliain atá imithe. Chomh maith le sin, seo an t-aon seans atá agam, mar Rúnaí Chontae, mo thuairim phearsanta a chur ós bhur gcomhair. Teastaíonn uaim mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le hOifigigh an Chontae agus na gClub as ucht a gcuid oibre i rith na bliana. There is no doubt that 2020 will be remembered forever, but mostly for the wrong reasons. The onset of Covid-19, a global pandemic, wreaked havoc on society. It touched adversely on every part of our lives, forcing families apart, closing businesses and schools and unfortunately for many families, it resulted in the loss of loved ones. Our condolences go out to members of the Dublin GAA family and, indeed, everyone who experienced bereavement this year. The GAA is primarily a sporting organisation; we get that. But it has always been so much more than that, and never has this been more apparent that during the Covid-19 crisis. All over this island, as the first lockdown cut off so many of the population from any contact with the outside world, GAA clubs rose to the challenge. I don’t think I have ever felt more proud of our Association than this year. As countless people at risk were forced to cocoon themselves for fear of the pandemic, the GAA came into its own. Clubs galvanised themselves into action immediately. The most vulnerable were identified and shopping and delivery services were provided. Contact was made with those who lived alone, reassurance was given and our members made sure that those who needed assistance got it. This will come as no surprise, of course, because the GAA club has long been the heartbeat of the local community, not just in rural parishes, smaller villages and towns – but also in sprawling conurbations such as Dublin. How often have you attended a funeral, to discover a team of marshals from the local club organising parking and a smooth movement of traffic? Or then a guard of honour on the day of the funeral itself, a show of solidarity that means so much to the bereaved family. 3 That’s before you consider how the GAA has been a godsend in terms of the mental health and wellbeing of our children during these traumatic times. Once training and games were allowed to resume, the local pitch became a mecca for our sports-starved youth. And even before that, you had club and inter-county players on social media, giving selflessly of their time, day after day, to produce coaching videos and devising skill tests for their massive online audience of devotees. Fittingly, the Irish expression 'Ní neart go cur le chéile' (No strength without community) appears on many GAA club crests throughout the land and the Clontarf/Raheny initiative is a great example of putting UNITY into CommUNITY - as was vividly showcased in their #GoTheDistance joint fundraiser in aid of St Francis Hospice. From our own 'back of an envelope' research in Dublin GAA, we estimate that charity fundraising initiatives undertaken by Dublin clubs during Covid-19 to date have raised in excess of €1 million for a wide number of charities. There were plenty of other examples throughout the country - the 'Do It For Dan' campaign being just one example. The irony is that the GAA’s standing among the wider community was probably never higher than during that period when no games were taking place. And then, sadly, once the club season was reaching its climax and a host of county finals took place, the GAA found itself in a firing line of virulent condemnation. Clearly, the celebratory post-match sequel to quite a number of those club finals was ill-judged - they 'dropped the ball'. In such challenging times, when everyone’s nerves are already very frayed, the optics were all wrong … and that’s before you factor in the all-too-obvious public health ramifications. But that whole saga also underlined that some people are invariably only too happy to scapegoat our Association for all the ills of society. County boards all over Ireland did a wonderful job in running off their club championship programmes in a timely – and safe – fashion. If a minority of cases led to regrettable crowded get-togethers, then lessons need to be learned. But Croke Park acted promptly and decisively by postponing all club activity in early October, 4 and what has happened since then – an inter-county season like no other – has provided the mostly vital and uplifting distraction in a year that, otherwise, can’t end quickly enough for all of us. And for that, the GAA has much to be proud of. Senior Hurling It proved a case of what might have been for Dublin’s senior hurlers in this strangest of years as an inconsistency in performance levels undermined their efforts. Following the disappointment of their championship exit to Laois a year previously, Dublin began their healing process with a 1-22 to 0-17 Walsh Cup victory over Westmeath at TEG Cusack Park in mid-December 2019. The New Year saw Dublin secure their second win on the bounce as they beat Carlow by 3-20 to 0-18 in Parnell Park where two goals in the opening quarter from Eamonn Dillon set them on course for an 11-point victory. Top spot in the table and a semi-final berth was confirmed on 9th January in Donnycarney as Dublin made light work of Laois, easing home by 1-28 to 0-17. Fourteen different Dublin scorers got on the scoresheet with John Hetherton leading the way in terms of scores with 1-3, while his St Vincent’s clubmate Tomás Connolly chipped in with five points from play. Their reward was a semi-final spot clash with Galway with the Tribesmen doing just enough to prevail by the slimmest of margins (0-19 to 0-18) in Parnell Park. Oisín O’Rorke was the top scorer with ten points for a Dublin team that remained in the hunt throughout but were unable to overturn a 0-12 to 0-11 interval deficit. Despite that defeat, Dublin entered the ensuing National League in a positive frame of mind but that confidence was dented as they lost to Kilkenny in Round 1 by 3-21 to 0-18. Some much-needed cheer was provided a week later as the Dubs picked up their first points in Round 2, easing past Laois once again in Parnell Park, 4-18 to 2-17. The hosts raced from the 5 blocks initially with a Dillon goal propelling them seven points clear but some errant shooting ensured their lead was reduced to three points (1-11 to 1-8) by half-time. Early second-half goals from Oisín O’Rorke and Davy Keogh gave the scoreboard a more accurate reflection and Ronan Hayes put paid to any hopes of a Laois comeback when firing home a fourth goal. A second win arrived a fortnight later with Carlow on the receiving end of a 0-20 to 0-9 defeat at Netwatch Cullen Park, with Rian McBride impressing with four points from play. Croke Park was the venue for Dublin’s Round 4 clash with Wexford with a scrappy and tetchy affair decided by Jack O’Connor’s late goal that secured a 2-14 to 0-18 win for the visitors.