GAA to unveil major marketing campaign

GAELIC GAMES:THE GAA will shortly unveil a major promotional and marketing campaign for this year's senior championships. Director General Páraic Duffy described the initiative as "the most comprehensive marketing plan ever undertaken" by the GAA and outlined what he saw as the major challenges facing the association.

Replying to the debate on his annual report at the formal opening of this year’s annual congress in the Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Co Laois, he said that on the weekend the championships start, the final of rugby’s European Cup (and Champions League) would take place and that this would be followed by soccer’s European Championships and later in the summer, the Olympic Games.

“It will take a big effort,” he said, “but with the co-operation of everyone in this room I believe we can actually increase attendances this year.”

Duffy also asked counties to release team selections earlier in the week, saying that these announcements were very effective in generating discussion of upcoming matches and he reminded delegates that GAA media would be fighting for space during the busy summer ahead.

The director general expressed surprise that there had been no discussion on his comments about indiscipline within the games, which he described as “more damaging to the association’s image than we sometimes realise from the inside”.

The other issue he addressed was raised by Munster secretary Pat Fitzgerald, who had called for a review of the activities of the independent arbitration body, the Disputes Resolution Committee.

“It is time the association had a look at the use of the DRA and the use of the time of voluntary officials. We need to review it, particularly in light of recent decisions – I’m not going to specify which ones – how it works and how it affects voluntary officials.”

Responding to this, Duffy paid tribute to the DRA, which he described as “wonderfully successful in keeping us out of the courts”. He said that it was important to remember that “the solicitors, barristers and GAA people are all giving their time on a voluntary basis.

“The paid lawyers at hearings aren’t from DRA; they’re from ourselves and we owe those volunteers a great debt of gratitude.”

A short promotional video was shown looking for support for Connect Ireland, the government- and IDA-funded initiative to attract foreign job investment to Ireland.

A reward of €1,500 is on offer to clubs or individuals, who are able to use contacts overseas to pass on to Connect Ireland the names of any companies intending to expand overseas if those companies go on to establish or expand operations in Ireland.

Further details are available on the www.connectireland.com.

Congress also elected former provincial chairs, Waterford’s Jimmy O’Gorman and Wexford’s Shéamus Howlin as representatives of congress (formerly trustees).

This afternoon congress will inaugurate the presidency of Liam O’Neill, the first Laois man to hold the office in nearly 80 years.

Finally, Meath county committee yesterday morning confirmed that the county executive had recommended the termination of Séamus McEnaney’s appointment as manager of the county senior footballers and the appointment of Seán Boylan.

McEnaney was appointed last season for two years but found it impossible to escape the fall-out from last week’s defeat by Louth, which saw Meath relegated to Division Three of the football league.

The recommendation that Boylan take comes a week after he resigned as the county’s director of football but his standing in the county is considerable having managed the county for 23 years and delivering four All-Ireland titles.

A decision will be taken by next Wednesday’s county committee meeting.