Derry GAA Strategic Development Plan IN ASSOCIATION WITH 2012-2017 Ag Múnlú ár dtimpeallachta Shaping our environment Title to go here Sub Title to go here Clár Teachtaireacht an Chathaoirligh Chontae | County Chairman’s Message 4 Réamhrá | Foreword 5 Derry: Place and Places 6 Derry People and Where They Live 7 What Derry People Do 8 Derry’s GAA Clubs 9 Deprivation, Disadvantage and Derry 11 Schools, Colleges and Derry 12 The Importance of Derry City 14 Regional Planning and Derry 15 What Has Changed Since ‘Fis Feasa’ and setting Targets 16 Action Plan: Strategic Themes 17 1. Governance 17 2. Infrastructure 22 3. Culture and Heritage 24 4. Coaching and Games Development 26 5. Club, Community Development and Inclusion 32 How we did our work 34 Buíochas | Thanks 34 2 Derry GAA Strategic Development Plan 2012-2017 Ag Múnlú ár dtimpeallachta Ag Múnlú ár dtimpeallachta Derry GAA Strategic Development Plan 2012-2017 3 Teachtaireacht an Réamhrá Chathaoirligh Chontae Foreword County Chairman’s Message Planning: The importance of planning ahead cannot be overemphasised. The need to have a clear purpose and direction is a prerequisite for any successful In preparing for Councils. With careful consideration and collation of organisation - and the GAA is a very successful all of the opinions and aspirations the committee put organisation. The previous 5 year plan helped to steer battle, I have always together what they consider to be an achievable plan the GAA in Derry through highs and lows to where and one that should guide us through challenging but we are today. This plan needs to do the same, but in a interesting times for our Association. very different context. We now face financial recession found that plans are worldwide, emigration, reduced funding and all the Failure to plan is Imagine that we are a great oak tree, the County changes to lifestyle that will bring to our Community. useless, but planning Committee is the trunk and from it’s branches we have The Association has a major part to play in the way our County teams in Hurling and Football, Clubs, Scór, community responds to these challenges, putting to is indispensible. planning to fail Culture, Coaching, Finance, Infrastructure, Language, work the tremendous energy and skill of our volunteer Club Development, Health and Wellbeing, Ladies Gaelic, members for the good of all. -Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and if we don’t Camogie, Handball and Rounders. All must grow in Thirty-fourth president of the USA. unison and harmony; one weak branch can upset the Involving: The process of planning is an enriching and assess we guess, balance of the tree and could bring it crashing down. enabling process in its own right. The involvement of our We should be rightly proud of what has been achieved clubs, sub committees, managers, coaches, players and in our County over the years. We have a centre at wider community leads to a better understanding and wise words indeed. Owenbeg the first of its kind on this Island which is a therefore valuing of the work of Cumman Luchtchleas hive of action all the year round. It is for the benefit of Gael Dhoire. The Strategic Review Committee, reflecting the GAA. In prioritising some aspects we are not Club and County, the Clubs are the County so you are a wide range of interests, has brought together the diminishing any, but phasing development in a way we the shareholders. This plan is our road map forward, views and priorities of all of our members to produce a can manage in terms of finance and personnel. The if followed to the letter we will be a leaner and more “sat nav” for those committed and enthusiastic people ability to return to the plan and review these priorities accomplished organisation in 2017. who will spend their time and energy to deliver success in light of circumstances is important and necessary to Doire in the years ahead. The process has completed for its success. It is not our intention in Derry to fail rather it is our Finally I would like to pay tribute and personally thank the first phase of the task by producing this document. intention to be in a better position in five year’s time our Strategic Review Committee for their devotion and It is important that the monitoring and evaluation of I would like to thank the Review Committee, and in than we are now. Given that we are in a very healthy commitment, to the work is carried out, and reported on, to ensure that particular Ryan Feeney, for their time and expertise. state at present the future looks very bright. Gone all our Clubs, to targets are being reached, and changes of direction are To all those who are the days when we hoped that the next year would Mark Conway effected to ensure success. responded and be better than the last, in these times of economic and last but offered advice, I downturn we need to be well prepared for what lies by no means Costing: The 5 year plan presented here is ambitious hope that your ahead. I feel it makes perfectly good business sense least to Seán and demanding in a wide range of activities. The cost ideas and views to have a direction and a purpose to what we want to Bradley and Ryan of these actions will be considerable, and it will fall to are acted upon, achieve. This is not a dictatorial document, instead Feeney for their the current and future County Committees to ensure and serve to it reflects the views of all stake holders in the Gaelic leadership on this that sufficient resources are available. It may mean bring success and Athletic Association in Derry. A questionnaire was strategy and true that some aspects of the plan will have to be deferred, satisfaction to circulated to all our Clubs; a County planning workshop professionalism in but good housekeeping and living within our means will our members and was held and invites were sent to all Clubs and GAA the way they have be a defining aspect of the GAA of the next five years. wider community stakeholders in Derry, Consultation meetings were also put this document in the next held with our Hurling Development Committee and together. Prioritising: The most difficult aspect of any planning five years . representatives of the Club Derry Committee. process is the prioritising of ideas and targets. Every Beir Bua aspect of our Association feels that their particular Sean Bradley The Committee also held a joint consultation Seán ó Cianáin interest is the most important. This enthusiasm and Cathaoirleach workshop with representatives from the local County Chairman drive is great to see, and is a positive strength for Coiste Pleanála 4 Derry GAA Strategic Development Plan 2012-2017 Ag Múnlú ár dtimpeallachta Ag Múnlú ár dtimpeallachta Derry GAA Strategic Development Plan 2012-2017 5 Derry: Place and Places Derry People and Where They Live Derry always was; is; and will remain a County which Like many other parts of Ulster and Ireland County Under 16 and 15% aged Over 60 compared with the brings together huge physical variety, merging and Derry was afflicted by the ravages of the Famine of equivalent NI figures of 24% and 18%. Births currently mingling inland; upland; lowland; and coastal Ireland. What This Means the 1840s. In 1841 just over 222,000 people lived here exceed deaths in the County by nearly 1,900 a year. It runs from Lough Neagh through The Sperrins to but by 1851 that had fallen to 192,000, a reduction of Lough Foyle and covers nearly 2,100 sq km. It is not a 14%. Over the next fifty years the County’s population After a century of out-migration which debilitated the for Derry GAA homogenous County and is equally one where internal fell by another quarter to 144,400 and the decline County until the 1930s, recent years have seen a major travel and communication can be difficult. continued until 1926 when Derry’s population bottomed inflow of migrants to Derry. Several thousand, mostly Derry enjoys a powerful out at 139,700. Since then however the County has from eastern Europe, have now made their homes in What’s now County Derry vividly reflects the story experienced a steady and accelerating growth, the County. of Ireland from pre-historic times. A settlement heritage and is a County reaching 165,300 by 1961 and an estimated current developed at Mount Sandel, Coleraine around 9,000 of great variety. The GAA total of over 250,000. Again like much of Ulster and Ireland, Derry is BC is accepted as Ireland’s oldest and one of our becoming increasingly urban. Already home to Ireland’s strongest early-Christian links is with the 6th Century needs to reflect and respect This population growth is projected to continue with the well-established ‘Fourth City’, Derry hosts a number of monastery founded in Derry by St Columba. By the these in its work and play County forecast to reach 260,000 (plus 4%) by 2021. other significant towns. Nearly two-thirds of Derry’s 12th/13th Centuries Derry had become a key medieval people (over 160,000) now live in the County’s eight town and from the 17th Century onwards Derry city and its part in complementing The population age structure is healthy with 26% aged main towns (and this proportion is certain to rise): County would be central to the Plantation of Ulster; The Derry’s histories; heritages; Williamite Wars; Partition; and all that flowed from them.