O'Neill launches 'Give A Year Back' scheme
Micheál Martin with special guests John Lonergan (ex-mountjoy Prison governor) and G.A.A. President-elect Liam O'neill.
UACHTARÁN TOFA, Liam O'neill, launched the Wexford G.A.A. Give A Year Back Scheme at a club seminar in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Tuesday last. The scheme, which is being organised by county ViceChairman Micheál Martin, aims to boost club membership and revive volunteerism in Wexford G.A.A.
The seminar, which was attended by 140 club officers, opened with a passionate and entertaining address by John Lonergan, former governor of Mountjoy Jail, who appealed to all delegates to promote positivity in their clubs. 'The Celtic Tiger made us lose sight of our core values,' he claimed, adding that 'people only saw what was in it for themselves'. He appealed for clubs to appoint a recruitment co-ordinator, highlighting how it had paid massive dividends for his own club, Kilmacud Crokes.
Lonergan's comments were echoed by Micheál Martin who told delegates that Wexford G.A.A. has a chance to re-invent itself. ' We must start again, this is a new beginning. County Board and clubs must now work hand in hand. If you set up an initiative like a club nursery programme, we need to be at your door offering help and encouragement.
'Instead of you coming to us, we have to go looking for you. Our new action plan will be detailed and will put the club at the centre of our revival. The mistakes of the past can never be repeated,' he added.
The incoming Uachtarán added to this theme, stating that he intended his term to be one of vibrancy. He lauded the new Wexford initiative as 'innovative and exciting', stating that it was the first of its kind in the country, expressing his delight at being invited to launch the initiative.
The Give A Year Back scheme aims to get volunteers into clubs to fulfil roles in a number of areas including coaching, administration and helping with facilities. Recruiting older members to the club is also being promoted through the G.A.A. social initiative which was outlined by Maria Nolan from Rapparees-starlights.
Clubs were given books and posters and asked to appoint a recruitment co-ordinator to work on increasing the number of members in their club.
Micheál Martin outlined that he had conducted research on the current numbers in each club and that the success of the initiative can therefore be measured in the coming years.
Liam O'neill added that he was looking forward to coming back to Wexford in the coming years to see this initiative developing and hoped that Wexford would set an example to other counties in this regard. 'Rather than standing from the top watching you dig your way out of the trench, we will get in and dig the trench with you,' was the core of the message delivered by the G.A.A. President-elect.
