Audit of Gaelic games facilities to enable effective integration
Steering Group for Integration Chairperson, Mary McAleese, in attendance during the media update on the integration process involving the Camogie Association, the GAA and LGFA, at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
The Gaelic games associations have begun a comprehensive audit of all facilities available to club and county units as we move towards the full integration of the GAA, the LGFA, and the Camogie Association by 2027.
In November 2023 the Steering Group for Integration established a number of cross-organisational working groups tasked with addressing areas highlighted by an 18-month listening process that included the views of 30,000 respondents to Ireland’s largest ever survey.
One of these, the Integration Facilities Workgroup, today circulated a survey to every club secretary that will yield information which will feed into a new model of facility management in an integrated GAA.
Many clubs already struggle to meet demand with supply when it comes to the availability of pitches and other training facilities, and factors such as integration, increased participation, and the urbanisation of Ireland means continued investment in our facilities will always be a big priority.
To project what you’ll need in the future it’s important to know what you already have at your disposal, which is why Chairperson of the Steering Group for Integration and former Uachtarán na hÉireann, Mary McAleese, believes this audit is such a vital one.
She said: “Facilities are crucial to the playing of our games and have been cited as a key enabler for effective Integration.
“Facilities in many areas are coming under increasing pressure for reasons such as significant growth of Gaelic Games, increased participation, demographic changes and continued integration of male and female codes all resulting in increased facility use.
“Supporting clubs in the development of facilities has long been a strategic necessity, one which has always been supported by the GAA, the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. This will continue into the future and will require ongoing significant financial expenditure.
“Understanding the current provision and future requirements from a facilities perspective is a key step in the pathway towards Integration and will facilitate taking a strategic approach to ensuring that there are sufficient standard and number of facilities available to all our players.
“This audit gives a timely opportunity to gain this deep insight and we strongly appeal to those who receive it to take the time to respond and have their club included in the results.”