Irish News Ulster GAA Conference Sold Out!

[Beir Bua]

Irish News Ulster GAA Conference Sold Out

Over 500 Club delegates will attend the Irish News Ulster GAA Club and Volunteer Conference in Armagh City tomorrow. The theme of the conference is self sustainability at Club level in the GAA a theme which has particular relevance as Ireland moves into a difficult economic period. GAA President Christy Cooney and Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail are expected to address the delegates with both speeches focusing on the importance of GAA Club's moving to a strong self sufficient model in terms of governance, finance and coaching.
The Conference has become a highlight in the non-games GAA calendar and has once again attracted a high calibre of speakers including the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin T.D and the Minister for Social Development Alex Attwood MLA.

Mary  Hanafin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport said  "the GAA's role  as  a  community  organisation  is  obviously at the heart of today's conference.  This  organisation  has  touched  the  lives of most people in Ireland  and  it  is  an  organisation  which  continues  to contribute and positively  influence communities across the country and further afield.  I
want to particularly offer the Government's congratulations and support for the    Ulster    Council's    work   on   inclusion,   reconciliation   and anti-sectarianism.  It  is  an  essential  contribution to building a truly shared future on our island".


Chairman of the One Small Step Campaign and former Ireland Rugby International player Trevor Ringland will also be a keynote speaker; this will be his first public event since his resignation from the Ulster Unionist Party. His keynote is expected to focus on Good relations and anti-sectarianism two areas that Ulster GAA has invested significant time and effort into over past four years.
Tyrone Senior Manager and Irish News Columnist Mickey Harte will also be present to endorse the Ulster GAA "Live to Play" campaign in December 2009 Harte strongly lobbied the GAA to launch a road safety campaign. In January 2010 the Ulster GAA Live to Play campaign was launched at the McKenna Cup final and has already been rolled out to 5 Ulster Counties with the remainder coming on board before the end of 2010. 

A raft of well known GAA officials will also present to host workshops including former GAA President Nickey Brennan who is now Chairman of the GAA ICT Committee will give an overview of new GAA ICT initiatives and future plans in this area, while former Ulster GAA President Tom Daly will facilitate a workshop on Club Facility Development and Project Management. Jarlath Burns who is Chairman of the GAA Presentations Committee will also be hosting a workshop with Ulster GAA Director of Games Dr.  Eugene Young on Club Governance, highlighting the importance of good Administrative and Financial structures at Club level. Mark Conway the founder of Club Tyrone and Ulster GAA honorary Strategic Advisor will also be hosting a workshop on fundraising which will strongly endorse the self-sufficient Club model using the Club Tyrone model at Club level.

John Devaney the Chair of the Ulster GAA Irish and Cultural Committee will also present a keynote in the importance of putting the "Gaelic" in to the GAA, highlighting the need for more promotion of the Irish language, Scor and Cultural activities at Club level.
The Conference will draw on the experiences of a range of active Club level GAA volunteers who have had success in the private sector and Ulster GAA are delighted that well known Down GAA official Feargal McCormack who is an Accountant and leading Economic advisor will be giving an overview of his experiences as PRO of St. Peter GAA Warrenpoint while well-known Strategic consultant John O'Neill will give an overview of success of strategic planning in his Club St. Patrick's GAA Donaghmore.

A new venture this year will involve interactive voting by the delegates on a range of topics relevant to Club Development and the ongoing progress of the GAA in Ulster. Delegates will get to vote on issues and topics they deem relevant to the ongoing success of the GAA in the Province. In his first public event since his retirement legendary Commentator Michael O'Muircheartaigh will close proceedings with an address on his view on the future of the GAA.
Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said: "I am really looking forward to the Conference, we have an excellent line up of speakers and workshops and I am confident that it will be another successful day which also provides a very good networking opportunity for our volunteer Club officials. The conference will assist clubs to approach their activities with renewed vigour"
Over 20 private companies will be present at the event in specific an exhibition zone to promote their products and services to the GAA club delegates.

The Organisers have asked that individuals who have not pre-booked do not to turn up on the day seeking entry to the event as the conference in now completely full to capacity.

[drici]

Ulster Club Development Conference - Clubs Warned of Need to Attend

1) Any club that is due a grant payment from Ulster Council will NOT be paid unless they attend this event.

(2) Attendance at this event is a requirement for Club Maith Award (Club Mark)

(3) As from November no Club can apply for GAA grants or future Funding programmes (sports Lottery etc) with out first having at least a bronze level of Club Maith.

Therefore if any club have a development which they intend to start in 2011 it is imperative that they send club representatives to this event.
No exceptions of any kind will be permitted.

[Beir Bua]

The Ulster Council official who asked me to post the press release informed me that Ulster GAA will be running 9 mini-conferences in every County from January to March, attendance at these events will cover now cover Club Maith requirements as there was such a demand for the Provincial conference that they had make arrangements to facilitate those Clubs who missed out..... apparently they had to turn away over 150 people seeking access to the conference after they reached the maximum number of 500. 

[neilthemac]

is there a list of the speakers and workshops being done?