By Cian Murphy

John Horan has called on GAA clubs to be prepared to offer their facilities and make them available to their local doctors and pharmacists to help in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine in their communities.

In a farewell address to be included in the next club newsletter, and focused on the GAA’s club membership ahead of him handing over the baton of Uachtarán CLG to Larry McCarthy at congress next month, John Horan has said that GAA clubs can once again answer the call in the fight against the Pandemic – just as they have done throughout the 10-month virus ordeal.

He said: “Seeing how GAA clubs and club volunteers stepped up and responded in such huge numbers and worked so hard in their communities was one of the silver linings to the cloud that has been Covid-19.

“It really underlined what we have known all along about the club being at the heart of the communities they represent.

“I have had conversations with GPs who have concerns about their practices being set up to adequately cater for the numbers that will be involved in administering the vaccine because in many cases they are just not suitable for the turnover in people that will be involved.

“It is with this in mind that I would make a plea to our membership that they would engage with the GPs and Pharmacies in their area to make their club facilities available where needed to make the roll out of the vaccine operate as efficiently as possible.

"Clubs would need to ensure that they follow all of the appropriate guidance and that their offer of assistance will be subject to submission and approval of proof of valid insurance and risk management controls from the operator to the GAA insurance department or Marsh Ireland.

“Our clubs and club members were at the forefront of the community response to this crisis when it hit last March.

“I think there will be an opportunity to again offer assistance in our local areas in this manner as the country hopefully starts to move towards mass vaccination in the weeks and months ahead.”