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GAA President On the Sunday Game GAA President John Horan stated that there will be no return to club or inter county activities as long as social distancing stays in place. Contact sports like football and hurling would not be safe for our players.
He also stated that meeting up at club grounds in groups of four to train is not feasible at this point in time even though it is on the government overview of re-opening phases. We can take it from this that there will be no re-opening of club grounds or a return to training for our players for the foreseeable future.
GAA The GAA would like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of so many of our clubs and members in community assistance projects, with as many as 90 per cent confirming in club surveys that they have been active in one way or another over the last eight weeks in helping those who need it most.
On the games front the GAA has confirmed that official on-field activity will not resume before July 20thand that facilities will remain closed until that date. Inter county championship games are not expected before October 1st.
The GAA will issue detailed advice before any return to play, outlining the steps that we have to take to facilitate re-commencement of training and games, both in terms of physical engagement and around the use of our facilities.
The GAA Player Injury Scheme will remain closed until an official return to activity is confirmed.
In the weeks ahead our County Committees will be devising revised schedules for games and activities at all levels and grades within the different counties and that information will be shared when those arrangements are finalised and there is clarity around the government guidelines.
Allowing for the complexities associated with the current situation, the GAA continues to plan for the staging of this year’s Kellog’s Cúl Camps and will communicate any changes to this approach with the clubs if they arise.
It is important that all club and community members continue to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country meets its targets over the coming weeks, thus allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.
Na Gaeil Volunteers Na Gaeil GAA Club volunteers continue to assist those cocooned in our community with their shopping requirements and also collecting medical supplies for them from their local pharmacies.
We thank them for their great work. We are getting very positive feedback from the local community and everybody cocooned at home are very appreciative of the great work that you are doing. You are making a difference so keep up the good work.
Please let people know that this service is available. You can contact any of the following co-ordinators: Mícheál Herlihy (0862438902); Cathy Carey (0863554499); Eddie Sheehy (0876791460), Colm O’Súilleabháin (0879080465); Tim Lynch (0874184239). You can also contact the shops directly. Please God we will all stay safe and come back stronger. Ní neart go cur le chéile.
Juveniles We hope that all our juvenile players are doing well and not finding the restrictions too taxing. The latest news coming through from GAA President John Horan informs us that groups of four players will not be allowed to gather in our pitches to train as previously stated on the government road map of re-opening phases. So for the moment we will have to continue training and practicing our skills in the back garden with members of our family.
Leaving Cert At long last there is clarity for Leaving Cert students with news coming through at the weekend that the Leaving Certificate has been cancelled. Well it is not completely cancelled.
Students now have the option of receiving calculated grades or sitting a postponed leaving Certificate exam later in the year when it is safe to do so.While it is not the ideal situation we hope it will relieve some of the stress being felt by our Leaving Cert students because of the uncertainty of the holding of these exams. We wish you all the very best and hope the outcome will be a positive one for everybody.
Summer Courses Due to the ongoing Coranavirous / Covid 19 pandemic in Ireland and the impact it’s having on cultural events, consequently the Irish / Gaeilge Summer Courses held in Chorcha Dhubhne area of West Kerry and the annual GAA Gaeltacht Scholarship scheme have all been CANCELLED for 2020.
Past GAA Matches The GAA in conjunction with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, have launched the GAA Digital Archive at Croke Park providing free access to past GAA matches to internet users all around the world.
113 All Ireland Finals since 1961 are included in the archive and provincial finals from 1961 also feature. The new archive also include All Ireland Club Finals since 1989. In all over 500 football and hurling matches were retrieved from broadcasters and information such as date, result, venue, referee, scorers and teams and substitutions were added. This might be useful to GAA fans during this time of isolation. The link is https:/www.gaa.ie.gaa-now/archive/
Club Activities Suspended As we know all club activities are suspended until further notice The pitches and the gym are closed but this could change on May 18th with groups up to a maximum of four coming together to train and work out. This will be clarified in the meantime.
Clubhouse The clubhouse will be closed for the foreseeable future. This means that our Monday night bingo, Tuesday night lotto and Wednesday night card playing are suspended indefinitely as well as all other activities that normally took place there on a weekly basis.
Clothes Collection There is now a Clothes Collection Bin situated in Na Gaeil car park for use by all members of the public.
