Strategic plan will keep Kingdom on top
That’s the message board chairman Jerome Conway had for units at its formal launch in Tralee last night, emphasising that it was “a living document” which will need to be monitored, reviewed and altered according as the need arises.
Pointing out that their success in promoting and developing Gaelic games in the past had been achieved through good planning, leadership and delegation, he stated that the association was now confronted by problems created by the recession in terms of loss of employment and emigration, as well as rural depopulation. Other factors were the numbers of young people who play no games and competition from other sports.
“In order to ensure that our proud tradition is maintained, it behoves us to indulge in some short and medium-term planning. National and Munster GAA Strategic Vision and Action Plans for the next seven years have been produced, Kerry is required to follow suit and thereafter it will be the turn of the clubs,’’ he commented.
Munster chairman Sean Walsh, who performed the official launch along with Conway (his successor as county chairman) said he hoped the successful implementation of the plan would leave every facet of the association in the county in the best situation to face the future with confidence.
“Past officers of Kerry GAA had a vision for what they wanted for the county and worked tirelessly to ensure their aspirations came to fruition. These solid foundations helped to bring the county to where it is today,’’ said Walsh.
In the preamble to the document, reference is made to two initiatives undertaken during the chairmanship of Dr Jim Brosnan in the late 60s and early 70s, namely the setting up of Bord na nÓg and the introduction of county leagues for clubs. These, the document outlines, had “a profound and positive effect” on Kerry football, adding: “The marvellous achievements of Kerry teams can be traced back to the wonderful work of Bord na nOg.’’
Under the heading of Games Schedule, one of the stated aims is an overall improvement in fixture planning, in an effort to ensure a balanced games programme for all players.
The document points out that a fixtures review of adult competitions undertaken in 2008 was implemented last year. Progress was monitored and a juvenile fixtures review committee is already working on the streamlining of underage competitions.
The sub-committee overseeing this work envisages a 100% compliance with the fixtures schedule next year.
Another key area is urbanisation and the immediate objective is to increase the number of active players and volunteers in urban areas, as well as sustaining clubs in rural areas of the county. To this end, specified clubs will be asked to examine enrolment in primary schools in their area with a view to deciding on a five-year projection on their future teams.
“We will examine the current club and competition structures to address the difficulties associated with a reduction of the population,’’ it states.
Currently, there are 74 clubs in Kerry (12 hurling and 62 football) and 65 clubs are based in rural parishes (producing 175 All-Ireland senior medal winners over the years).
There are 10 divisions (two hurling and eight football) and a total 27 post-primary schools (five all-girls, four all-boys and the remainder mixed).
It’s intended that modified “small-sided” games – known as Go Games – will be adapted as best practice up to an including 12-year-olds to develop skills “in a challenging and fun environment”.
A greater effort will be made to recruit former players as volunteers and to encourage more females to get involved in clubs.
There are ambitions plans to develop hurling – in South Kerry particularly – and there are hopes of being able to at ‘A’ level in all Munster Colleges competitions by 2014, a Kerry minor team participating in the provincial championship and for the seniors to be playing in both Munster and All-Ireland series. For the record, the county contested one Munster minor final – in 1938, when they lost to a team which featured Christy Ring. Last year a combined Kerry Colleges team entered the Dr Harty Cup for the first time.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
