Ulster GAA are currently undertaking an audit of all GAA units to get an accurate picture of the sheer volume of work that our clubs are carrying out across the Province.

This audit, of all of our clubs, has been commissioned to present an accurate picture of the health of the GAA in Ulster.

The information gathered from the audit will help:

• Set the baselines and inform our local councils, sports council and other funding agencies when your county and clubs make presentations for support
• Clubs to get a snapshot of where they are in a number of key areas and is so doing assess the gaps and then develop the plans to provide support in areas identified.

The audit will focus on a number of key areas for clubs across the province:

1. Memberships – (numbers of boys, girls, nursery, juvenile, youth adult, disabilities)
2. Volunteers – (active volunteers who help out in the club and committee members)
3. Safeguarding – (training and vetting – Access NI / Garda vetting)
4. Facilities and activities offered within the club
5. Coaching – (active coaches, coaching levels)
6. Scór and Irish language activity
7. Health and Wellness activity
8. Financial health of the club.

A member of staff from your county or from Ulster GAA will be in touch with each club within the province over the coming weeks to arrange completion of the audit.

In total 11 Clubs from Ulster were awarded including:

Each club received their certificate of accreditation from Ulster GAA President Oliver Galligan at the Ulster GAA Club and Volunteer Awards Breakfast held in the Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh prior to the Ulster Senior Club Final on Sunday 1st December.

Speaking at the event the Ulster GAA President commented that:

“This is a significant achievement for each of the clubs involved and is not only an endorsement of the high standards of governance in place but will also be of great importance for future club development.”

A Club Maith award makes a clear, proven statement about the quality of a club right across five core areas of GAA club business: Governance; Community Engagement; Coaching and Games; a Safe Environment and Safeguarding Members.

The assessment process involves the submission of a club portfolio to the Club Maith assessors at the Ulster Council which must demonstrate how the club matches up to the governance standards set out in the Club Maith framework. The portfolio is then assessed and as part of the overall assessment, Assessors also visit the club to review standards and discuss the portfolio with the relevant club officers.

There are many benefits to going through Club Maith for your club. Feedback from clubs who have gone through the process says they have been able to make huge improvements in their club by going through Club Maith without having to spend a lot of money, or having to completely over-haul how they conduct their business. Clubs have reported that they have recruited new volunteers into the club as a result, and the club has become a more relevant place for members of their community who would have stayed away from the club.

Ulster GAA will support clubs through the process but ultimately a club’s application should be developed by the Club so as to be relevant to the club’s needs.

Should your club have any queries regarding Club Maith please email fionntan.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie  and support will be on hand.

Down County Dinner will take place on Saturday, 11 January 2020 in the Canal Court Hotel.

On the night Down GAA will honour the All-Ireland Champions of 1994 and the Ulster Bank Down GAA Club and County Awards will be presented. 

Tables of 10 are £350.00 or individual tickets are £40.00 each.

To book your table or to buy individual tickets please contact any of the county officers or the County Office directly.