GAELIC GAMES GAA launches ISC funding for Gaelic Games

03 October 2006

Irish Sports Council funding for Gaelic Games announced at the launch of the Kellogg’s GAA Coaching and O2 Medical Conference

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue T.D. announced the details of the 2006 Irish Sports Council funding of €3.59m to the GAA in respect of its 2006 programmes under the Grassroots to National Programme (€1.34m), Hurling Development (€1.25m) and Dublin Gaelic Games (€1m).

This brings to €12.65 million the total invested in the GAA by the Irish Sports Council from 2001 to 2006 under the Special Budget Measure aimed at increasing participation in sport by young people.

Minister O’Donoghue, speaking at the launch of the Kellogg’s GAA Coaching and O2 Medical Conference Croke Park, said: “At the heart of our policy is the aim of increasing participation in sport, particularly by young people. The GAA is uniquely placed in Ireland in delivering on this important objective. I am delighted with the results of the GAA’s innovative and quality programmes for young people since the Special Budget Measure was introduced in 2001”.

Ossie Kilkenny, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council said “Our investment in the GAA is based on the excellent track record of the GAA in providing new opportunities for our young people to participate in Gaelic games in every part of the country and our confidence that they will continue to deliver increased participation levels in their games”

The President of the GAA Mr Nickey Brennan, paid tribute to the Minister and the Irish Sports Council, “The Minister and the Council share the GAA’s view on the importance of sport to our communities. The GAA is working closely with them in providing programmes that make a real difference to the quantity and quality of sporting opportunities provided by the GAA in every community in the country”.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council: “This investment supports the work of the GAA which is often outside the public gaze. The Association has a long term view of promoting its games and we recognise the value of this strategy in terms of providing sustainable opportunities in sports throughout the country”. 

Kellogg’s GAA National Coaching and O2 Medical Conference 2006

The Minister and the President of the GAA were presiding at the launch of the 2006 Kellogg’s GAA National Coaching and O2 Medical Conference and Exhibition village  (24-26 November)

The three day coaching conference, supported by Kellogg’s, will bring together leading experts in Croke Park, offering 800 delegates the opportunity to hear talks relating to key coaching issues in both football and hurling. Among the top speakers will be Cork’s All Ireland winning manager John Allen, Mayo manager Mickey Moran, Kerry physical trainer Pat Flanagan and National Hurling Co-Ordinator Paudie Butler. Professor Niall Moyna (DCU) Colm O Rourke, renowned Physiotherapist Ronan Carolan and Val Andrews will be among over thirty experts to address the Conferences on issues such as training practices, match analysis, injuries, refereeing and a host of other topics relevant to Coaching and Games Development.

This year, for the first time, the event will also include a Medical Conference, featuring a number of eminent GAA Medical Practitioners who will address key topics of player welfare.  This exciting new element is supported by O2, as is the new Exhibition Village, which will feature suppliers of GAA related products and services. 

Speaking at the launch, GAA President Nickey Brennan applauded the extensive programme of speakers and events. He said, “I am delighted that Kellogg’s is once again supporting the Coaching Conference and I am pleased to welcome O2 as a new partner for the Medical Conference and Exhibition Village.  We are most grateful to both sponsors for their ongoing support and commitment to Gaelic Games.”

The central theme of this year’s Conference will emphasise the importance of a player centred approach to coaching and games development.  There has already been huge interest throughout the country in the event, which will also see the unveiling of a new Education Framework for Gaelic Games, entitled the CARE for ALL Foundation.

Speaking at today’s launch, Kellogg’s MD, Stephen Twaddell said, “we are delighted to be involved in this important conference once again this year.  As with all such Kellogg’s partnerships, the initiative underlines our commitment to the promotion of healthy, balanced lifestyles throughout Ireland and celebrates our passion for Gaelic sport.”

Oliver Coughlan, Director, O2 Ireland said: “As proud sponsor of Cork GAA, O2 is delighted to support the new Medical Conference and Exhibition Village.  Our involvement with this initiative further demonstrates our commitment to Irish sport and specifically GAA.

Further information on delegate bookings and exhibition opportunities are available by contacting 01 7007578 (Delegate Information) and 087 9219217 (Sponsorship/Exhibition opportunities) or by logging on to www.gamesdevelopment.gaa.ie

GAA Launch Resource Pack for Schools

The GAA today also launched a new cross curricular resource pack for the senior cycle in Primary Schools. The pack entitled “Céim Ar Aghaidh/Step Ahead” has been specifically designed by the GAA in conjunction with Model Education so that subjects such as  Irish, English, Maths, History, Geography, Science, S.P.H.E (Social, Personal and Health Education), Special Needs Education, Music, Art & Design, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Drama and Physical Education (PE) can be taught through the medium of Gaelic games.

The Resource Pack can be used by teachers and parents to adopt a more integrated and stimulating approach to teaching while ensuring that the children are fully engaged in their own learning.

In keeping with the ethos of the GAA Grassroots to National Programme (GNP), the material has been designed to promote participation for all. In the ever more inclusive environment of the mainstream school in Ireland today, this involves a growing number of pupils with special education needs and an increasing number of non nationals, some of whom may have only a limited knowledge and exposure to Gaelic Games or Irish culture.

Copies of the resource Pack will be provided - free of charge - to Primary Schools in September and it is hoped that this will help to raise standards and encourage pupils to develop their full potential on and off the field of play.

New GAA Club Hirers Insurance Scheme

The GAA, in association with Insurance Brokers Coyle Hamilton Willis and insurers Allianz Corporate Ireland PLC, have devised an insurance scheme which will provide Public liability insurance for outside groups or individuals wishing to use GAA premises for functions or events. The new scheme, to be known as GAA Club Hirers Insurance, will be unique in that not only will it protect the GAA club and its members but will also offer protection to the Hirer from any claims arising.

The GAA’s National Insurance Work Group were instrumental in the development of the scheme. Work Group Chairman Michael O Donoghue said that the lack of affordable insurance solutions for groups wishing to hire GAA premises had been a stumbling block in the past for clubs. He said that up to one third of the Associations liability losses had arisen from non-GAA activities in the past. He explained: “This scheme has been designed to be inexpensive and accessible. Put simply, any one wishing to use a local GAA club, having got the approval of the club will be directed to the Scheme brokers Coyle Hamilton Willis, who will make the necessary arrangements to ensure appropriate cover is in place”

Full details of the scheme are available through the GAA’s website www.gaa.ie/theclub/insurance or directly through www.coylehamiltonwillis.ie/gaahirers