Almost a third of Gaelic sports club officers dedicating eight hours a week
WORRYING: 15% of respondents said it was extremely difficult to recruit club officers while 27% reported it was moderately difficult another 26% claimed it was quite difficult. Pic: Stock image
A new report has revealed over 30% of current club officers in the GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and The Camogie Association hold more than one executive role.
While almost a third of respondents (31.15%) to a SETU Waterford study in partnership with the GAA said they spend over eight hours per week on club-related duties. The average time spent was just over five and a half hours per week.
“More Than A Role – Understanding Club Officers, Their Roles, Their Responsibilities, and the Realities of Volunteering in Gaelic Games” provides insight into the current challenges facing those giving up their time for their GAA units.
A total of 1,305 responses (19% of all club officers) were received with the majority of them coming from Cork (263, 20%) and then Dublin with 135 (10%). Almost 94% of respondents were current officers.
Just over 60% of club secretaries reported they held an additional position in the club followed by 17% of chairpersons. Secretaries stated they were more likely to fill the extra role of registrar, while chairpersons were most often acting as county board delegates.
Between the three organisations, an estimated volunteer workforce of 20,473 is required – 13,472 officers in the GAA’s 842 standalone clubs, 3,771 in the LGFA’s 419 and 3,230 in the Camogie Association’s 323.
Worryingly, 15% of respondents said it was extremely difficult to recruit club officers while 27% reported it was moderately difficult another 26% claimed it was quite difficult.
It was found those aged between 35 to 55 years of age were most likely “and perhaps most suitable” to take on a club officer role. The average time a club officer remained in the role was just short of four years.
Among the recommendations of the report are the promotion of non-financial recognition initiatives such as awards and match tickets, preventing key roles from being taken on as secondary roles and the reduction of time spent on administrative tasks via improved systems and delegation.
Interestingly, 32% of officers said they would like recognition and rewarding of their efforts from the GAA’s national level, while 30% seek the provision of ongoing training and skill development.
In other GAA news, Dingle stars Dylan Geaney and Tom O’Sullivan have been shortlisted for the AIB GAA Club Footballer of the Year along with St Brigids’s Ruaidhrà Fallon.
The pair were instrumental in Dingle claiming a famous All-Ireland senior club success in January when they defeated the Roscommon and Connacht champions after extra-time.
In total, Dingle comprise a third of the club team of the 2025-26 season. Joining Geaney and O’Sullivan are Conor Flannery, Mark O’Connor and Dylan’s cousin and Dingle captain Paul Geaney.
O’Connor, who was given permission to line out for his club by his employers Geelong right the way through from the Kerry SFC, commences the 2026 AFL season against the Gold Coast Suns in Queensland on Friday.
St Finbarr’s and Cork forward Steven Sherlock has also been acknowledged for his exploits in the Munster senior football championship. It is the second time he has been shortlisted following his 2022 acknowledgement.
St Brigid’s are represented by four players – the excellent Fallon who is selected in the team for a second time, Seán Trundle, Paul McGrath and Conor Hand. Leinster winners Ballyboden St Enda’s have three inclusions – Galway’s Céin D’Arcy, Dublin footballers Ross McGarry and Ryan O’Dwyer.
Ulster victors Scotstown pick up two awards – goalkeeper Rory Beggan, who is also selected for a second time, and defender Damien McArdle.
The identity of the footballer of the year will be revealed at the awards night in The Croke Park Hotel on Friday, March 13.
Rory Beggan (Scotstown, previous winner in 2024); Damien McArdle (Scotstown), Seán Trundle (St Brigid’s), Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle); Ruaidhrà Fallon (St Brigid’s, previous winner in 2024), Conor Flannery (Dingle), Paul McGrath (St Brigid’s); Mark O’Connor (Dingle), Céin D’Arcy (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Conor Hand (St Brigid’s), Dylan Geaney (Dingle); Ryan O’Dwyer (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Paul Geaney (Dingle), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s, previous winner in 2022).
Ruaidhrà Fallon (St Brigid’s); Dylan Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan (both Dingle).
E. Gibbons; J. Bellew, C. McHugh, C. Kennedy; C. Burke, C. Crummey, P. Dunleavy; D. Power, C. Ó Riain; F. Whitely, D. Burke, J. Madden; D. Purcell, J. Hetherton, D. Ó Dulaing. Subs: S. Brennan, D. Ryan, D. Lucey, S. Gallagher, D. Keogh, P. Doyle, R. Hayes, B. Kenny, C. Donohoe, C. O’Sullivan, B. Hayes.
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