GAA must integrate non-nationals, says Howlin

ONE of the biggest challenges facing the GAA is the inclusion of children from immigrant families in Gaelic games, according to new Leinster Council chairman Seamus Howlin.

The ‘integration’ of non-nationals living in their province is one of the goals of his three year term, pointing out that immigrants could account for one million people in 10 or 15 years if population trends are maintained.

“It is imperative that we encourage these people to play our games,” he stated. “It’s not going to be easy because they are more familiar with our international games such as rugby, soccer and tennis. But, if we fail to get them interested in playing our games, we risk losing a huge chunk of our new population to the other sports.”

Chairman of the Kildare County Board, Syl Merrins, raised the same subject in his programme notes for Sunday’s NFL game against Donegal in Newbridge. He pointed out that the demographic survey carried out by the Leinster Council last year showed that their county now has the largest under-age population outside of Dublin.

“The population of the under nine age group now stands at over 30,000 in Kildare alone — a figure that is grater than the entire population of some counties,” he wrote.

“On one hand it is a positive position to find ourselves in, on the other hand it creates huge challenges in relation to facilities and manpower.

“The biggest concern for most clubs is in the area of manpower — or lack of it.” Howlin noted that half of the Republic’s population — approximately 2.2 million — currently live in the province of Leinster. And, whatever about manpower, he highlighted the fact that ‘for the first time in their history’ they now have a huge capital fund in Croke Park (largely created through the renting of the stadium for rugby and soccer) to help finance ambitious projects, such as regional centres of excellence.

“We must look at promoting our games where our people are living,” he said.

In terms of hurling promotion, he recalled that he had made a promise with outgoing chairman Liam O’Neill to do everything in his power to raise standards.

“It’s a six-year project and I intend to keep my promise,” he commented. “We must put solid structures in place to deliver this plan. We have done a lot of the footwork in Liam’s time and I intend pushing the plan further in my three years.”