NUACHTLITIR

DE I R

E AD

H F Ó

MH

AI R 2

01

6

OC

TO

BE

R

20

16

F O R N E W S , V I D E O S A N D F I X T U R E S www.gaa.ie

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

NEW GAA MEMBERSHIP CARD WILL OFFER A THANK YOU TO MEMBERS

At present Croke Park is contacting club secretaries throughout Ireland detailing the process of how their club members will be able to access the new membership card which will carry their own unique GAA Membership Number.

The grma programme is for adults (over 18) only and will be available for paid up members who register for the programme online and will enable them to enjoy additional benefits from being a member of their GAA Club.

Watch this space for a more detailed update on the grma programme in the coming weeks and how you can obtain your membership card and be part of this exciting new rewards programme.

CLUBS will soon be provided with a new membership card that is being made exclusively available to GAA Members.

This new go raibh maith agat or grma programme has been designed specifically for GAA Club members and will entitle you to partner discounts, special offers and benefits on a range of products and services as well as earn points for purchasing GAA match tickets.

The grma programme will be launched next month.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

month earlier than normal – and this then allows club activity and club players to play their games earlier in the summer.

Crucially, it would give the club player a definite plan for their season.

“Our clubs, and therefore our club players, constitute the essence of the Association,” says Páraic.

While there has been some criticism of the decision to play more games at the end rather than the beginning of the Championship, the document lays out a detailed explanation and response to any perceived negativity and is mindful of the fact that when counties were asked to come forward with their own proposals for change last year that it was made very clear that counties did not want an All-Ireland B type Championship and that they also wanted the Provincial Championships retained.

In short, the options for change while honouring those clear positions are limited. The result is what Páraic Duffy calls a ‘modest change’.

This new format promises to make a more exciting finale to the football championship. It also pledges to play big quarter final matches at local venues so that they are not all played in Croke Park.

Members are asked to inform themselves in advance of the debate this winter by downloading the document and exploring all its contents before making up their minds.

www.gaa.ie/football/news/football-championship-proposal/

E VERY member of the GAA is being asked to engage with the proposal from our Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Duffy which recommends

a modest change in the format of the race for the Sam Maguire from 2018 onwards.

The key feature of the proposal is a recommendation that the eight teams that reach the All-Ireland football quarter finals are divided into two groups of four to play each other rather than in the knock out format that currently exists.

However, while this would mean some additional extra games – it would only happen in a significantly condensed inter county season – one that would recommend the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals coming forward and being played in August.

The document also proposes the abolition of the Allianz football league division one semi-finals and the playing of the All-Ireland football semi-finals over one weekend and looks to reduce the interval between county matches and also insists that extra time be played at the end of drawn matches.

What this means is that for 24 teams, their inter-county season will be over a

In addition there is a commitment to use the revenue from these extra quarter final matches to be used specifically to improve standards in lower ranked football counties.

Our Championships are 130 years old next summer. The football format was only tweaked for the first time in 2001 and there is an acceptance that a time has come to examine ways of enhancing this great competition.

NEW FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PROPOSAL WILL HELP RATHER THAN HINDER CLUBS

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finalists 2016: Tiarnan McCann (Tyrone), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Shane Walsh (Galway) and Peter Crowley (Kerry)

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

The GAA has launched details of an exciting new programme called Purchase Power which has been designed to secure special,

competitive rates for an extensive range of products and services for the benefit of GAA Clubs.

Uachtarán CLG Aogán Ó Fearghail was in Croke Park today to outline details of the new initiative which has seen the GAA, in conjunction with Achilles Supply Line, produce an initial list of products and services now offering exclusive deals for GAA Clubs, Counties and Provinces.

The GAA’s Purchase Power programme means Clubs can price products and services using the Achilles Supply Line platform.

Clubs are still free to operate with their existing providers, but the key behind Purchase Power is the ability of the GAA to represent 1600 Clubs nationwide to secure the best rates possible.

Uachtarán Ó Fearghail said: “I am delighted to formally launch the Purchase Power programme – an initiative which has been specifically designed with our Clubs in mind.

“The Club is the single most important unit of the Association. Our network of Clubs and our reach into every locality is what defines us.

GAA LAUNCH PURCHASE POWER PROGRAMME

“It is important for us to support our Clubs in every way we can and this Purchase Power initiative is a way for the GAA, through the collective strength of our army of Clubs, to be able to do just that by negotiating and securing the best deals possible for a range of products and services.

“Ní neart go cur le chéile goes the seanfhocail. There is no strength without unity. Purchase Power enables the GAA to harness the support of all of our Clubs for the greater good of the Association. We play as a team and now we are looking to buy as a team too.”

GAA Clubs are currently being contacted with the details on how they can access and avail of the exclusive rates available through the Purchase Power programme and information can also be found on www.gaa.ie

Achilles Supply Line is one of the world’s leading product and service procurement agencies with more than 5,500 services available through them. After a lengthy tender process the following products and services have today been unveiled in the GAA’s Purchase Power programme as nominated providers.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail in attendance at the launch of GAA Purchase Power at Croke Park.

Electric Ireland – nominated energy supplier

Darcy Sand – Pitch sand

Gold Crop & Castle Paint – Pitch line marking

Colorman & Custodian Print – Printing services

Finning & MW Hire – Generators

Evros - IT systems

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

Electric Ireland is the primary customer-facing unit of ESB, supplying electricity, gas and energy services to business and residential markets in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Customer service is the cornerstone of the Electric Ireland brand. We set ourselves high standards and are always innovating to offer competitive prices, as well as smart, innovative product.

***

Darcy Sands from Wicklow are one of the largest producers of high quality sports top dressing sand throughout Ireland. Darcy Sands have been established form almost 40 years and are committed to providing a professional and efficient customer experience. We supply root zone sand for pitch construction projects and top dressing sand for maintenance to over 300 GAA clubs in Ireland. We assure our customer that Darcy Sands meet the specification and quality assurance specified by the GAA Purchase power programme. From North to South and from MacHale Park to Croke Park, Darcy Sands deliver quality at the right price.

***

Goldcrop is a specialist seed and inputs company serving Agriculture, Horticulture, Professional Amenity, Home Lawncare market. Established by Michael P. Murphy in 1984 through a management buy-out of the Agricultural Division of Suttons Ltd., the company has continued to grow organically and through acquisition (Power Seeds and Hardware in 2007).

and personalisation operations. We work with the biggest brands across a range of sectors including IT, retail, finance, sport, govt and pharma and provide a complete end-to-end solution from our facilities in Dublin. We invest in our future and are currently undergoing an €9.5m expansion project installing the latest state of the art equipment. Working closely with our client we meet and exceed their individual requirements.

Custodian are Ireland’s leading, privately-owned print management company based in Dublin. Custodian specialise in print procurement and production, graphic design,digital marketing and logistics. Our services are managed through one web based integrated platform. Our technology includes an e-procurement module which gives our clients centralised control, speed to market and delivers significant cost savings.

We have a team of 52 people including 15 graphic designers delivering a cost effective, fast turnaround design service. We have also established a digital production department producing websites, animated screens and display advertising.

Print Management has been at the heart of Custodian’s business since our foundation 25 years ago and we would look forward to working with you on some of your upcoming print and design campaigns.

***

Finning are one of the world’s leading names in Power Generators. From their world-wide HQ in Vancouver in Canada, they employ 11,900 skilled staff around the globe and are

Today the company is run by a group of professional business managers each responsible for the further development of key business areas to ensure that Goldcrop remains at the forefront of all developments in the individual markets served. We apply the same core principles to all business areas: To ensure availability of a leading edge product range; To ensure all products sold satisfy strict quality controls; To ensure strong employee technical competence; To continually strive to improve customer service; To work to promote the best long term interests of the markets we service.

***

Castle Paints is a wholly Irish owned and managed company, first established in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in 1985. It is a family-run business with years of experience in the production and manufacture of Industrial, Agricultural, Decorative, Floor and Line paints. They are fully compliant with European standards and registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. All raw materials, where possible, are supplied by Irish companies. The central location of their plant at Cloncollig Industrial Estate, Tullamore allows a fast efficient nationwide delivery service. Their primary goal is to provide the customer with quality, value and best customer service.

***

Colorman (Ireland) Limited is one of the leading print manufacturing companies in Ireland with unrivalled print firepower. We have enjoyed significant growth through expansion and investment to become the largest and most advanced printing

the country’s largest Caterpillar dealer.

MW Hire group was founded by Matty Walsh in 2004.The company is now the largest private plant equipment rental company in Ireland and also one of the largest sellers of used equipment with a huge range for literally all industries as well as having a considerable sector of the market to private companies and individuals.

We are now one of Ireland’s largest suppliers of Generators in the country and are agents for the world-renowned Cummins brand. We sell & rent ‘Power’ to all sectors of industry also including windfarms, retirement homes, supermarkets, sports grounds and the export market. MW Hire Group has an approved IPAF training centre located in its newly built facility in Wexford town for all access equipment needs.

***

Evros Technology Group is Ireland’s leading provider of IT, print managed services and systems integration. We offer unrivalled design, supply, implementation and support of mission-critical ICT infrastructure providing a full end to end, flexible and innovative approach to servicing clients IT requirements. We deliver a range of technical support services from our fully manned 24/7 Network Operations Centre from where we monitor and manage over 100,000 client devices nationwide on a 24x7x365 basis. In addition, the company delivers Cloud platforms from our Tier 3 datacentres. Evros is a fully accredited ISO20000 in IT Service delivery, ISO27001 and PCI compliant.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

CLUB LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Are you a Club Officer? Are you considering taking on a new role at your Club’s AGM this year? If so, then the GAA’s Club Leadership Development Programme

(CLDP) offers you the perfect opportunity to learn more about what your role involves! The CLDP aims to provide the principal officers in each Club - namely the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and PRO - with an opportunity to gain the key knowledge and skills to carry out their roles effectively. It consists of two mandatory modules for each participating officer and then a number of optional ones. All modules are workshop-based so there will be lots of group discussions, fun activities and practical case studies. They are delivered in local venues by highly experienced Training Associates from across the island who have completed extensive training in preparation for the role.

Officers who complete the programme will:

• Gain a better understanding of what their role involves

• Develop basic leadership, management and communication skills

• Experience increased role satisfaction • Have an awareness of where to access resources and

supports • Be able to share ideas and solve problems with

fellow officers• Be better prepared for future roles in the Association• Receive a Certificate of Achievement

Over 1,000 Club Officers have already benefited from the programme in 2016. Here is what a few participants have said:“It was great to gain knowledge on my role and learn from officers with greater experience.”

“I enjoyed learning about the available resources and the huge amount of information that is available when you know where to go.”

“Our tutor engaged everyone very well in a relaxed manner while delivering key information clearly. It was very helpful to hear from an experienced officer who was able to back up points with personal stories.”

“The programme opened my mind to other people’s views and ways of dealing with problems.” The programme is currently available to all 32 counties and training will

commence again in October. To get involved, each Club Secretary is asked to complete the Expression of Interest form - available on learning.gaa.ie/clubleadership - and send it to his/her County Development Officer. He/she will then organise the programme and notify you of the dates, times and venues.

For more information on what the programme involves, visit learning.gaa.ie/clubleadership

GAA Leadership Associates at a recent seminar in the NGDC in Abbottstown

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

When is your Club AGM?Did you know that your club AGM should take place on a date before the end of November each year?

This requirement stems from Rule 8.3 of the Club Constitution (See Appendix 5 of the 2106 Official Guide) and is aimed at ensuring the Club AGM takes place before County Convention. As it is the most important meeting of the year for a Club, every effort should be made to ensure that it is organised in accordance with the rules as laid out in the Club constitution. The purpose of the AGM is to:

• Review the work of the previous year.• Review Financial statements and auditor’s

reports.• Elect officers and executive committee

members.• Get members views on Club and

Association policy.• Consider Club policy and revise or

endorse.• Make submissions through motions to

the County Committee on the framing of policy and dealing with the rules of the Association.

There are three phases to holding a Club AGM:

1. Setting the date… This is the responsibility of the Executive

Committee however it should take place before the end of November each year i.e. before the County Convention (Rule 8.3 of the Club Constitution).

2. Notice of AGM to Members… Rules 8.5 to 8.5.3 of the Club constitution

govern the calling on the AGM and detail how members are notified. It is important that all Full Members of the Club are notified in writing of the AGM and are forwarded all relevant documentation.

3. The AGM Agenda The business of the Club AGM and the

Agenda is set out in rule 8.4 of the Club constitution, outlined as follows:

(a) Adoption of Standing Orders. (b) Minutes of previous Annual General

Meeting. (c) Consideration of the Annual Report

submitted by the Secretary. (d) Consideration of the Financial

Statements including the Report of the Accountant(s) or Auditor(s).

(e) The Chairperson’s Address. (f) Election of Officers and Members of

the Executive Committee. (g) Notices of Motion. (h) Other Business.

More guidance around running the Club AGM can be found within the GAA Club Manual. To access it, visit - www.learning.gaa.ie/clubmanagement

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

INSURE YOUR HOME AND HELP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GAA CLUB

To celebrate their long standing support of grassroots GAA and sponsorship of the GAA Club Championships for a

25th consecutive year, AIB has a great new promotion that could be hugely beneficial to your club.

Simply put, anyone who switches or purchases a new AIB Home Insurance policy can nominate a GAA club of their choice to receive a €50 cash reward. There is no money limit per club - so the more €50 nominations you receive the better.

For more information pop into your local AIB branch and ask about ordering a promotional pack containing posters and flyers to put up in your club or to distribute to your club members and supporters. It’s a simple promotion that not only helps your supporters insure their homes, but helps them support the future of their club.

Terms and conditions visit: www.aib.ie/gaainsurance

If you’re Interested in getting your club involved, there’s just a few simple steps to complete in order to get your club registered. Go to www.aib.ie/gaainsurance and complete the ‘Register my Club’ online form and then spread the word of the promotion to your supporters and club members. When your club members and supporters purchase a new home insurance policy with AIB and completes the ‘Reward my Club’ form online at www.aib.ie/gaainsurance, they can nominate a club of their choice to receive the reward.

AIB reserves the right to amend, withdraw or terminate the Club Reward Programme or alter the specification without prior notice. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is an agent of AIB Insurance Services Limited in relation to provision of general insurance products. AIB Home Insurance is exclusively underwritten by AXA Insurance dac. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. and AIB Insurance Services Limited are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Pictured at the launch of the 2016/17 AIB GAA Club Championships #TheToughest are, from left, Dr Crokes and Kerry star Colm Cooper, Kilmacud Crokes and Dublin star Ryan O’Dwyer, Pat Martin, Leinster Camogie Chairperson, Denis O’Callaghan, AIB, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail, Thomastown and Kilkenny star Shelly Farrell, Thurles Sarsfields and Tipperary star Ronan Maher and Kilcar and Donegal star Paddy McBrearty.

This year celebrates it’s 25th year as proud sponsor of the GAA Club Championships. For exclusive content and to see why AIB are backing Club and County follow us @AIB_GAA Facebook.com/AIBGAA.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

“I had a good bit of craic with me da and my brother, they have three All-Irelands and obviously I’ve pushed into the fourth so there was a bit of slagging over that,” Brogan joked.

“But it’s a very special Dublin team, the players and the lads who came through the ranks, lads like Brian Fenton and (Ciaran) Kilkenny, these young lads just came into the team and have just been in unbelievable form from day one.

“So the future is still bright.”

That is what Brogan is so encouraged about - how a new crop of players have emerged to assist established forces such as himself, Paul Flynn, Michael Darragh MacAuley, who weren’t included in the 2016 GAA/GPA Opel All Star nominations.

“Yeah, we need that because I have been lucky enough to have four All Stars, Flynner is the same, he has four, Michael Darragh has a couple, and a Player of the Year as well,” Brogan admits.

“To see the nominations without us, it’s a sign of the character of that team, the sign of a true panel and of players coming from all over the park and off the bench, and all adding to it.

“It’s a sign of the panel that Jim (Gavin)

demanding stint between the drawn and replayed clashes against Mayo. “It was tough. The week would have probably been grand. Two weeks was a long period of time. When you build yourself up for a big game – and I know we didn’t perform that well – even if we had won, we would have been thinking ‘we would have liked to do that better.’

“This year it’s been kind of a different journey for me, but I’m just relieved just the way it ended, the way we got over the line,” is

Bernard Brogan’s assessment regarding another silverware laden campaign in a Dublin jersey.

A fourth All Ireland win in six years confirmed Dublin’s brilliance, while Bernard Brogan was also happy to secure family bragging rights too.

has built. He’ll play lads that are playing well and for a young lad coming through to think, ‘If I play well I have a chance of playing’.

“Cormac Costello hadn’t played all year and he was hurting, he really went after it in training the last couple of weeks and he was flying, and Jim gave him his rewards for that.”

Brogan acknowledges that it was a

DUBS WIN SAM - BROGAN: ‘IT’S A VERY SPECIAL DUBLIN TEAM’

Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan with the Sam Maguire Cup.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

“Two weeks was long. In fairness to Jim, he didn’t slog us. He didn’t do hour-long meetings. He kept things short and sharp. He let lads get their head space right.

“The workload had been done. It’s just about getting our mind right and learning from the mistakes we made from the first day and just letting lads express themselves.”

Brogan is respectful about how Gavin informed him about the decision that he wouldn’t start the replay. “As I said I have played a lot and Jim would always show players respect and talk to them on their own, so Jim took me aside and just said ‘this is the way we think is the route for the game’, and I just said ‘no, problem, whenever you need me I’m ready to come in and do a job,” Brogan revealed.

“There’s no point in moping about around it, it was about putting the mindset right and getting a performance.

“Jim said to me ‘you’re not going to start the next day, but we are going to need you at some stage’. I was like ‘grand,’ obviously disappointed, but I was like ‘okay, no pressure on me now’.

“Jim said when I came on I was going to finish so when it happened just go at it like and I took a lot of energy form that.

“Sometimes when you are a forward and there is a lot of competition and you miss a few chances, you are going ‘I’m going to be taken off here,’ whereas I said when I came on, I’m going to finish it out and throw everything at the game so it was a different challenge, but I actually enjoyed it.” Bernard Brogan walks down the Hogan Stand tunnel after an eventful Saturday at Croke Park.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

LEINSTER GAA AND THE GPA LAUNCH COACHING PATHWAY FOR FORMER INTER-COUNTY PLAYERS

Inter-county players whose talents have inspired generations of future stars are now being assisted in becoming top-class coaches through

a partnership between Leinster GAA and the GPA.

The initiative which provides Award 1 Youth/ Adult coaching courses for former players will be rolled out across the province over the next few months. It has already been successfully piloted in Kildare and Meath, where the feedback from the participants was extremely positive, and a course starting in Louth this week will have over 20 well-known names taking part.

A formal launch of the project was held this morning at the GAA National Games Development Centre at Abbottstown, at which former inter-county players including Colm Nally, John Doyle, Trevor Giles, Richie Power and Jason Sherlock (pictured) voiced their support.

Participants in the courses will be provided with the necessary skills to meet the mandatory standard that is now required by the GAA to be the lead coach with youth or adult teams. The training provided will also ensure that the former inter-county players have the ability to transfer the knowledge and experience gained from competing at the top level in order to maximise their potential as coaches.

is very important given the level of inter-county experience within the group.”

Leinster GAA Chairman, John Horan highlighted the tradition in the GAA of people “giving something back to generations coming after them”.

“Inter-county players have an important role to play in inspiring players of the future through their on-field exploits

One former inter-county player and selector who has already completed the course is Kildare’s Brian Flanagan, who said: “I found the Award 1 Course to be very informative and interesting. As an ex-player, it was an eye-opener for me with regard to gaining insights into best practice around coaching methods and guidelines in today’s game. I also found the group dynamic to be very enjoyable. Participants were encouraged to share their own views on coaching which

and increase we see them do this through their off-field work in coaching and team management,” Mr Horan said.

Leinster GAA Operations and Games Manager, Shane Flanagan said he was delighted with the involvement of the GPA and emphasised how many former county players have been influential coaches within the GAA over the years.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

Dessie Farrell, CEO of the GPA commented; “For former county players, filling the void that retirement brings can be challenging. This scheme provides an opportunity for those players with a passion for our games to become involved in a formal coaching programme, benefitting the next generation of players.”

Interested players are asked to contact their county games managers or, alternatively, Leinster GAA Learning and Development Manager, Colm Clear (colm.clear.leinster@gaa.ie), or GPA Project Manager, Eamon Murphy (eamon@gaelicplayers.com).

Case Study: Positive Reaction To New Coaching Initiative In Louth

Former inter-county goalkeeper Colm Nally is spearheading the implementation of the partnership between Leinster GAA and the GPA in Louth to get more ex-players involved in coaching, and at the launch in in Abbottstown this morning, he detailed the progress being made:

“We’re starting tonight (Wed. 19th October) in Louth and we have 23 ex-county players signed up. I am one of the coaching tutors with Leinster GAA and have already done one of these courses with the ex-players in Meath and seen how successful it was.

“After Louth great Stephen Melia sadly passed away, a seven a-side tournament was organised in his memory, and a lot of former players participated. I started to gauge the interest through a What’s App group that was created at the time of the

tournament, so that’s how we got the ball rolling in terms of contacting players.

“A lot players came back expressing an interest. We agreed on dates and 23 of them then signed up. We are beginning with our first module tonight in our Centre of Excellence in Darver at 7.30pm. One of local tutors, Paul Gallagher, is taking the first module. Out of the course, we are hoping to get some mentors for our development squads.

“There are eight modules in the Award 1 Youth and Adult course. It’s a combination of practical and theory – the introduction is theory-based, on the role of the coach. Then there are modules on team play, tactics, physical fitness, etc, which are all practical.

“In Louth, we have an interesting group in that we have players from the ‘90s and early ‘00s and even some fellas who have recently finished playing, so there is a nice spread there and different levels of experience in terms of fellas who played under different managers and in different eras. I would be hoping that they will all gel together, exchange stories, and maybe get back involved with teams.

“There seems to be an appetite among former county players to do this together. There’s a great GAA community in Louth, and some great young players, and we are trying to create the best environment for them to blossom. If that includes using the experience of ex-players, we’re delighted to do that, and I’d like to thank the GPA and Leinster GAA for their support.”Colm Nally (Louth)

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

GAA CLUB CARDIAC AWARENESS

Recent events have once again highlighted the need for all clubs to ensure they have raised awareness of the association’s recommendations in relation to Cardiac Screening and are ready to A-C-T in the

event of a cardiac arrest occurring at a training session or fixture.

GAA Cardiac Screening Questionnaire

The GAA advise that the most effective way to identify risk of cardiac issues is for players over the age of 14 to undergo cardiac screening on one occasion. It is also advised that this process be repeated before the age of 25. Players should consult their team or family doctor if they wish to get screened and screening should consist of completion of the GAA’s Cardiac Screening Questionnaire, a Physical Examination and an ECG.For further information, including the Cardiac Screening Questionnaire see:

www.learning.gaa.ie/node/110300

Is your GAA club ready to ACT?

The following video shows the value of a defib as a life saving device at a club fixture in 2015.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZATrKDxPRU4

ACT to Ensure Heart Safety at your Club

Accessible – make sure that your defibrillator is stored in an area where ACCESS is not restricted, remember time is critical. Specialised units are available for outdoor storage.

Charged – Ensure that your defibrillator is fully CHARGED and that self-tests have passed by carrying out weekly inspections.

Ensure that your battery and pads (pad-paks) have not reached their expiry date.

Trained – Ensure there are enough TRAINED rescuers to respond anytime the Clubhouse or pitches are occupied.

Certified training courses are available from

> the Irish Heart Foundation (www.irishheart.ie)

> Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (www.phecit.ie)

> Heart Safety Solutions (www.hearts.ie)

> The Cormac Trust (www.thecormactrust.com) (Ulster only)

Further information on the GAA Defibrillator Scheme, including the association’s guidelines for clubs and the defib purchase and trade in scheme see:

www.learning.gaa.ie/Defibrillator%20Scheme

For further information on Player Welfare issues including Concussion Management and Anti-Doping see:

www.learning.gaa.ie/player

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

October Mid-Term at the GAA Museum

Following the Trick or Treat Trails on the October Bank Holiday weekend, the fun continues at Croke Park for the remainder of the Mid-Term Break. From Tuesday November 1st to Sunday November 6th, there will be two family friendly additions to the Croke Park Stadium Tour.

Following each behind-the-scenes tour, our guides will lead younger visitors on a special Junior Explorer route around the GAA Museum, which highlights some of the most fascinating and famous exhibitions. The Junior Explorer mascot Cluasóg, the Irish hare, will also be on hand to assist and pose for photos!

Visitors will also have the unique chance to lift the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups! The iconic silverware will be on display in the GAA Museum throughout the week and there’ll be a chance to take plenty of family pictures as you raise the cups in victory! (Please note: The cups will not be available on October 29th and November 5th).

After you’ve tasted the scent of victory, it’s time to taste some scarily good food at the Blackthorn Café at the GAA Museum, which will serve a spooky themed menu throughout the week.

These special stadium tours will operate hourly at 11.00; 12.00; 13.00; 14.00 and 15.00.

BOOK NOW

Etihad Skyline Tour

Soar to new heights and see Dublin from a whole new perspective on the Etihad Skyline tour at Croke Park. For the Halloween Mid-Term break, we’ve added extra tours to meet demand. To set the tone, our brilliant guides will include some of the creepier Dublin tales to mark the ghostly season. Family tickets for Etihad Skyline cost €52 (2 adults & 2 children) and €60 (2 adults & 2 children) and should be booked online in advance of your visit. Note: children must be 1.2 metres or taller to take the tour.

Etihad Skyline Halloween schedule: • Saturday October 29th: 11.30; 12.30; 13.30; 14.30• Sunday October 30th: 11.30; 12.30; 13.30; 14.30• Monday October 31st: 11.30; 12.30; 13.30; 14.30• Tuesday November 1st: 11.30; 14.30• Wednesday November 2nd: 11.30; 14.30• Thursday November 3rd: 11.30; 14.30• Friday November 4th: 11.30; 14.30• Saturday November 5th: 11.30; 12.30; 13.30; 14.30• Sunday November 6th: 11.30; 12.30; 13.30; 14.30

BOOK NOW

Santa Experience at Croke Park

Santa guides his sleigh back to Croke Park this winter and tickets are now on sale for this unique family event at GAA Headquarters. The Santa Experience begins on Saturday November 26th and advance booking is required to avoid disappointment. A visit to Santa at Croke Park promises to be a memorable one and children will see the team dressing rooms transformed into the elves’ living quarters!

There’s also a chance to peek inside the toy workshop and see the famous pitch. All children who visit Santa receive a present and access to the GAA Museum and interactive games zone is included in the ticket price.

BOOK NOW

FAMILY FUN AT THE GAA MUSEUM

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

If any GAA Clubs produced souvenir publications (booklets, match programmes etc) to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising, it would be appreciated if a copy of these publications could be sent to the GAA Museum’s library and archive.

For further details on this please contact Mark Reynolds at: mreynolds@crokepark.ie or (01) 8192350.

CALLING ALL CLUBS WHO COMMEMORATED 1916

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General

CAMOGIE NATIONAL UNDER 15 COMPETITION TAKES PLACE IN LONGFORD

The National under 15 Camogie Competition for phase 2 counties took place in Longford Slashers GAA club in Longford on Saturday

October 1st 2016.

8 counties took part in the competition on the day including Kildare, Tyrone, Carlow, Donegal, Westmeath, Laois, Wicklow and Armagh.

Laois defeated Carlow in the Cup competition by 5-8 to 0-2 with Tyrone defeating Donegal in the shield competition on a score line of 2-7 to 2-2.

Tyrone Shield winners

Laois Cup winners

MÍLE BUÍOCHAS

Thank you to all of those who have contributed to this month’s edition of the GAA Club Newsletter.

Your feedback is welcome and any comments, suggestions or queries should be directed to clubnewsletter@gaa.ie

Produced by the GAA Communications Department in Croke Park, edited by Cian Ó Murchadha and designed by DBA Publications in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Football Hurling Club GeneralFootball Hurling Club General