The GAA’s National Pitch Maintenance Workgroup will hold a conference in the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Saturday November 4 on how best to maintain and service artificial and 3g pitches.

All GAA clubs with an all-weather pitch of any description are invited to send representatives to attend the conference.

Alastair Cox is regarded as the foremost authority on artificial pitches in Europe and will give a talk on setting standards of performance for synthetic turf surfaces.

Derry Enright will speak about the value and usage of artificial pitches, and Curtis Allen and Ian Lauder will discuss synthetic turf machinery.

Kieran McGann of the National Pitch Maintenance Work Group is urging all clubs with artificial surfaces or who are considering developing one to attend and avail of the advice the expert speakers.

“There's loads of GAA clubs and grounds with all-weather pitches and if they're not serviced properly and maintained properly they surface can become damaged and dangerous for players,” said McGann.

“All of our speakers are world-renowned and we'll also have machinery that we'll be showing those who attend the conference how to clean. It's an open day as well where people will see how to maintain them.

“So if your club has an all-weather surface it would be very much worth your while to come along to the conference to learn how best to service and maintain them.”

A two-hour work-shop for all county groundsmen will take place after the conference where best practice and standards will be discussed.

“Many counties would have multiple county grounds and groundsmen,” said McGann. “For example, in Galway you'd have Pearse Stadium, Ballinasloe and Athenry.

“We want to share our knowledge and discuss best standards with a view how a county ground could be in the running for the GAA pitch of the year. Semple Stadium in Thurles won that this year."

Go HERE for the full itinerary of the National Pitch Maintenance Workgroup’s Conference at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Saturday November 4.