Grassroots hurling gets €2.6m boost

THE GAA’s National Hurling Development Plan, unveiled at Croke Park yesterday, will invest €2.6m into coaching and games initiatives.

€1.25m is being put up by the Irish Sports Council, €354,000 is to come from the Sports Council of Northern Ireland, while the GAA will contribute €1m to a 32-county project described by President Sean Kelly as “probably the most important initiative ever taken in hurling.”

Nineteen full-time and 23 part-time officers will be engaged as part of the initiative although there is still no word yet as to when a National Director - or National Hurling Development Manager/Coordinator, as it has been rephrased - will be in place to spearhead the project.