GAA launch initiative to increase urban participation

THE GAA hopes to increase its membership by 20% by 2016, and has targeted urban areas with little tradition of Gaelic Games as the main source of these players and volunteers.

The Association yesterday funnelled €200,000 into its National Urban Programme to fund a pilot scheme designed to encourage children not currently members of a club to play Gaelic Games.

Fourteen existing Games Promotion Officers have been seconded to take charge of the pilot scheme which will run for a 12 week period in Galway, Sligo, Dublin, Athlone, Drogheda, Bray, Belfast, Derry, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.