Tuesday, March 02, 2010
THE Munster Council are set to hold a two-day seminar in the aftermath of next Friday night’s provincial convention in Listowel, where a blueprint for the development of GAA in the province over the next three years will be mapped out.
Incoming Munster Council Chairman Sean Walsh last night outlined how improvements to the area of ticketing and promotion of games, which figures prominently in provincial secretary Pat Fitzgerald’s annual report, will be high on their list of priorities.
"The week after convention, we’re coming together in Killarney – all the Council officers and all the delegates from the other counties – for a two-day get together.
"We’re going to look at how we promote our games and how everything operates in GAA in the province.
"That includes the area of match days which needs to be looked at. The issue of tickets is crucial. Family tickets were something we were very strong on last year and that’s an issue we’ll be looking at again next year.
"Safety is paramount for us and we’ll be looking to improve the situation at match days. It’s important to remember that a lot of people only decide to go matches on the day of the game. That’s a fact that we’ve to live with.
"But we will be trying to encourage as many people as possible to buy tickets before games to help the situation on the day."
Walsh also praised the current strong position of second-level GAA in the province after fears were expressed twelve months ago for the future of Gaelic football and hurling in schools due to government budgetary cuts.
Adjustments to the scheduling of games has ensured the smooth progression of second-level competitions this season ahead of a bumper weekend with the Dr Harty Cup final replay on Saturday and the Corn Ui Mhuiri final on Sunday.
"The most important thing to remember is the big interest that exists in the Dr Harty Cup and the Corn Ui Mhuiri," he said.
"These are wonderful competitions and that’s reflected in the big crowds that attend these matches. It’s a very important stage in the development of players in all of our counties. They have encountered difficulties with the changes made to budgets but there is fantastic work being put in by teachers all around the province to keep these competitions going. As long as the interest is there, these competitions will be there."
Walsh hailed the contribution of Munster Council Chairman Jimmy O’Gorman whom he will replace at next Friday night’s convention.
"Jimmy has been an absolutely wonderful chairman. You really saw him come into his own last year in the 125 celebrations, journeying all around the province to attend various functions. What he brought to it has been outstanding honesty and integrity. For me the highlight was the speech he gave at least year’s All-Ireland medal presentation to the Kerry footballers. It was the best GAA speech I’ve heard made by a GAA administrator and was an example of many of the wonderful qualities Jimmy brought to the job."
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