A general view outside Croke Park. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
With the registration deadline approaching, the GAA would like to remind all clubs of key rules and requirements to ensure all members, including players, are registered correctly for the year ahead.
Key Rules to Remember for GAA Members and Club Officers
You can find the GAA's membership and registration rules in the GAA Official Guide Part 1 and the GAA
Codes, available at: https://www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/rules-regulations Here's a simplified summary of key rules for members and Club Officers, but always refer to the Official Guide for the full range of rules and the exact wording:
1. Membership Year and Rights
• The GAA's Membership Year runs from January 1st to December 31st each year.
• Full Members must pay their annual Club membership by March 31st (or an earlier date set by the Club Executive Committee) to vote at Club meetings and nominate people for or seek election to the Executive Committee at any General Meeting in the same membership year.
• Member rights are contingent upon adhering to the rules of the Club and Association, including the
payment of membership fees.
2. Annual Registration of Members
• The Club Registrar must ensure that all Full and Youth Members are registered on Foireann by 31 March annually.
• Clubs must pay Central Council an annual fee of €2 per Full Member. Each County will communicate the payment timeline and process each spring.
3. Annual Registration of Players
• The Club Registrar must ensure that the Club's Adult, Under 21/20, Minor, and Juvenile (all grades) players are registered annually on Foireann before training or games.
• Players must be registered at least three days before a game.
4. Use of Third-Party Platforms
• While Clubs may choose to use third-party membership platforms, each Club Registrar must ensure that members - including players - are registered on Foireann to comply with membership rules and injury fund cover requirements.
• Please be aware that when someone adds a Club to their Foireann profile, they will show up on the Club's Foireann Members List as a 'New Member' which means the Club Registrar has not yet verified them as a member. This allows Clubs time to have each new member proposed and seconded as member at a Club Executive meeting in line with the Club Constitution.
• Once approved by the Executive, each Club Registrar can then choose to verify new members on Foireann, a step that will only need to be done once per member, following the steps outlined in the Foireann help centre: https://gmssupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360018374260-
Verifying-Members or leave them unverified.
• Verified members are only deemed ‘registered’ once they register themselves on Foireann or are
registered manually by the Club Registrar. This process needs to happen annually.
• Only a member who is verified and registered will have a Membership ID, so if no ID is visible on Foireann, they are either unverified or unregistered.
Foireann FAQs
What if a member forgets their login credentials?
Members can reset their login details on Foireann using the 'Forgot Username' and 'Forgot Password' functions available on the login screen. It's important to note that when using the 'Forgot Password' feature, members need to input their username rather than their email address. While some members may have chosen to use their email address as their username, this isn't always the case.
If a member is uncertain about their username, they can use the 'Forgot Username' function and provide the email address associated with their Foireann account. Alternatively, as a Club Admin, you have the ability to view a member's username by accessing their profile on Foireann.
Additionally, as an Admin, you can assist members by sending a password reset link directly from their profile. Simply navigate to their profile and select the 'Send Password Reset to User' option. This enables you to provide quick and efficient support to members and encounter less login issues.
How do I assign a member an ID/ membership number?
A membership number or ID will be generated for a member only when they are fully registered on Foireann, indicated by a green membership chip beside their record, and have been verified as a member by your Club.
As an Admin, you can verify members by selecting the checkbox beside their record, then navigating to member actions > verify, and choosing 'Member'. For detailed instructions on verifying members, please refer to the following link: Verifying Members Guide.
How do I refund a member for incorrect/duplicate or unwanted memberships?
Admins can refund single online payments on Foireann. To do this, simply click on the membership chip you wish to revoke and refund and click the refund button. For more information, please refer to the following link: Refunding Members
Please note that if you wish to cancel or refund an instalment payment for membership, you will need to
reach out to Foireann support to do this on your Club’s behalf.
How do I generate 2024 Player Injury Fund invoice?
The ability to generate a 2024 Player Injury Fund invoice is not yet available on the system. Clubs will receive
correspondence in due course outlining how to view, edit and pay for your club’s Player Injury Fund invoice
for the 2024 season.
Training and Support
• Help Centre: Your first resource to find information about Foireann. Every functionality is documented with written instructions, annotated screenshots, and guided video walkthroughs.
• Webinars: The Foireann webinars give Officers step-by-step demonstrations and Q&A sessions.
The full list of webinar recordings is available here: https://gmssupport.zendesk.com/hc/engb/categories/360002994899-Webinars
• Foireann Help Desk: If you cannot get the information you need on the Help Centre, or via a webinar, then the Help Desk is your next option. You can now contact the Help desk via three channels:
o Email: https://www.foireann.ie/contact-form
o Desktop/Mobile App: Use the Contact Form for quicker responses.
o Foireann Community Forum: Available via the in-app help portal, allowing users to share knowledge and discuss new features.