MAY 2019 NUACHTLITIRBEALTAINE 2019 FOR NEWS, VIDEOS AND FIXTURES www.gaa.ie Football Hurling Club General FIXTURES REVIEW COMMITTEE TO BE ESTABLISHED achtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael level will have a representative, third level John Horan has confirmed that a and then from within the organisation itself,” Fixtures Review Committee will be Horan explains. established to come up with three Uproposals to be debated at Congress next “People who have an understanding of the year. actual fixtures programme. Somebody said it on the radio at the weekend, there is no silver Eddie Sullivan has been appointed Chairman of bullet for this. If it was easily solved it would the Committee with an emphasis being placed have been a solved a long time ago. I would on providing a ‘meaningful programme’ for be hoping that this group will come back with club players. proposals that will be beneficial to the clubs on the ground. “When I took over as President I promised that in the summer of 2019 I would put a “Key to it all I think is that I would like them to group together to look at the overall schedule come back with three proposals. To come back “When you look at the Championships in the “I think we will possibly get it through at and fixture programme that we offer in the with one proposal and were it to fall would not last few weeks you see great local derbies and Central Council and if we do we will call a organisation,” Horan stated following this serve any great purpose from the work of the great matches,” Horan remarked. Special Congress in September or October morning’s All Ireland SFC Round One Qualifiers committee. time to have a look at putting this forward to draw on RTE’s Morning Ireland. “Then you see some games a little bit with too have it introduced next year.” “The indication I will be giving to them when big a gap in the result. With a big gap in the “Key to that is to give clubs an opportunity, they do come together is to come in with three result if you look at the draw we have made The GAA President believes the committee will that they would have a meaningful proposals because there is a debate out there this morning you can see a large number of be afforded a significant opportunity to put programme on the ground. Eddie Sullivan, a whether provincial championships should Division Three and Four teams already in the together proposals on a new fixtures structure former Secretary General within the public survive or not survive. qualifiers. for the future. “There are lots of people out service, is being appointed as Chairman of this there with opinions on the problem, but when committee. He is a former Chairman of his “That will be a decision taken by the “So our hope would be that at the next Central they take the whole complex nature of it into club, St Sylvesters in Malahide.” membership of the organisation at Congress Council meeting in June to bring forward a account they don’t necessarily have the simple 2020, but in the meantime that offer has to be proposal to look at the introduction of a Tier solutions,” Horan added. Horan is adamant that the group put together put on the table.” 2 Championship for those teams in Division three proposals which can be debated at Three and Four. “So this committee are going to be given length by GAA members at the end of the year. It was also confirmed that a Tier 2 Football the opportunity to come in with whatever Championship, which could potentially “There is an appetite out there within the proposals, I’m not tying anybody’s hands “The CPA and the GPA will each have a commence next summer, will be discussed organisation for us to go ahead with a Tier 2 behind their back. The ultimate decision will representative, the other members of the by Central Council next month with a Special Championship. Now, I feel, is the time to grab be made by the democratic process we have committee will be from other sectors -second Congress a possibility in the autumn. that when the appetite is out there. which is Congress.” Football Hurling Club General NAOMH MEARNÓG’S GROUNDFORCE INSPIRATION The driving force behind the group is Pat Shane Ryan and Dublin Ladies football stars resource for the club to benefit from this Monaghan – a former Westmeath dual star, such as Denise Masterson, Cliona O’Connor, volunteer ethos. who settled with Naomh Mearnóg where he Karen Kennedy and Orla Colreavy. had a lengthy teaching career. In return, the social element is clearly massive. To the envy of many, they have eight pitches Each group is responsible for their own tea “We started 10 years ago and on average we including an all-weather and some training break and many of the men produce the fruits have 32 club volunteers involved – all retirees areas. But in owning these pitches, it means of their baking skills when they get to take a - as well as three special needs men. that they are responsible for making sure they well-earned break. are maintained. “There is eight per team on a monthly rota The men have golf outings and a Christmas who are on for a given week. The work is That is where GROUNDFORCE have come into party but also the satisfaction of knowing that allocated on the Monday of each week and we their own. this busy club looks the part and is helped generally work from 10am to 1pm. in no small way by the contribution of their They have virtually every county in Ireland precious time. “The advantages are that it is a great social covered in the maintenance and repair Meet GROUNDFORCE – the hard-working and outlet, there are health benefits and it is good group and crucially almost every area of Well done to all in GROUNDFORCE and in inspiring volunteers from Naomh Mearnóg to stay active while there have been huge expertise too, from plumbers to painters and Naomh Mearnóg. who, for the last 10 years, have saved their financial savings for the Club.” electricians to engineers. club a small fortune by organising retirees in If your club has a similar story in operation, the club into a dedicated group who look after There was a GAA presence in this beautiful They have cut grass, hung nets and lined we’d love to hear from you. Drop a line to their running repairs. part of north county Dublin back in the 1930s. pitches and painted rooms, fixed toilets and [email protected] But it was on the back of Dublin’s landmark electrical problems, and maintained the club’s We are all familiar with the phenomenon All-Ireland football triumph of 1974 and the grounds and gardens immaculately in that that has been the Men’s Sheds movement in surge in popularity for the GAA in the capital, time. society which has grown in popularity all over that inspired a resurrection and led to the the country and is an invaluable social outlet foundation of the club. But they have also installed a diesel tank and for retired men. pump, sourced a well and installed a pump Club stalwart and founder member Jackie and pressure tank for separate water supply, In many ways GROUNDFORCE is a GAA version Hughes recalls hosting a fundraiser in a hotel rebuilt a damaged boundary wall and erected of a Men’s Shed group. And as GAA President in town for the fledgling club, and it being lights for the hurling wall – to name just a few John Horan found out recently on a visit to swamped as the heroes of the ‘74 team of the bigger jobs to get done. them in Dublin’s Portmarnock, they have arrived with the Sam Maguire. made a massive contribution to the upkeep of To have outside contractors pay for that work their club and also maintained the connection More than 40 years later, Naomh Mearnóg would have been a major financial burden. and enjoyment and participation of their is firmly established on the Dublin GAA GROUNDFORCE do it because they are GAA Uachtarán John Horan meets Pat Monaghan (second right) and members. landscape. It has produced the GAA all-star members and GAA volunteers. It is a fantastic some of the GROUNDFORCE team in Naomh Mearnóg Football Hurling Club General 94 GAA CLUBS RECEIVE €476,785 THROUGH THE INTEL MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM AA clubs were among the big variety of sporting clubs ranging from GAA Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan said: “I am clubmate Paul Donoghue just what sort of a winners when Intel recently to cycling, and various other organisations delighted to be able to represent the significant contribution is being made here celebrated the success of its such as animal sanctuaries, scouting GAA for the latest installment of the and we are hugely appreciative. 2018 Matching Grant initiative, groups and schools. phenomenal support that our Association Grewarding 249 community organisations receives through this initiative in Intel. “Intel has a great track record of investing and schools from across Ireland with Click Here to see a full list of the recipient in its People and I’d like to think that it is €912,684. organisations. “I know at first hand through my own club common ground shared with ourselves in in Faughs and the support given to our the GAA.” The Intel Involved Matching Grant Program This is the eleventh year that Intel has encourages Intel employees to engage implemented the current grant scheme, in outreach and volunteerism in their and in that time, more than €5.5 million has communities by supporting employees’ been donated to charities, schools, sports giving their time and talent to qualified clubs, social initiatives and community non–profits organisations and schools.