Paul Rouse: Words alone will not shape the GAA's future

There is much to admire in the Association's Strategic plan announced earlier this week but delivering on its objectives will require huge resources and the commitment of volunteers.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy and Ard Stiúrthóir of the GAA Tom Ryan with St Fechin's Gaa juvenille players Tom Riley and Isobel Walsh during GAA National Strategy Launch at St Fechin’s GAA Club in Termonfeckin, Louth. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

The real challenge with any strategic plan has very little to do with its research and writing. In many respects, coming up with ideas for improvement and committing them to paper in such a way that it can be presented as a plausible vision of the future is relatively straightforward. Not exactly easy in terms of the work involved, but relatively straightforward in its setting out.

But, too often, a strategic plan stands as an end in itself. There is an understandable reality to this: It is the product of hour after hour of work to get a document ready to launch and this is draining.