Unleashing 'The Blue Wave' A Strategy for Dublin GAA - Croke Park

ARD StiÚrthÓir
cumann lúthchleas gael
Is cúis mhór áthais dom an deis seo a bheith agam na focail seo a leanas a
scríobh don foilseacháin fíorthabhachtach seo do gach éinne a bhfuil baint acu
len’ár gCumann an seo i gContae Átha Cliath.
As part of the Association’s Strategic Vision and Action Plan in 2008 it was
agreed that all county and provincial units would undertake their own Strategic
Reviews with the objective of putting in place a detailed plan covering the
activities and promotion of the Association within their area of operation. I am
pleased to say that the vast majority of our units have by now completed this
review and planning process, and that the process is already producing positive
results.
Croke Park does not accord a favoured status to any unit, but it would be
denying demographic facts not to recognise that Dublin is a region of vital
importance to the GAA. According to preliminary figures from Census 2011,
almost 1.3 million people live in Dublin city and county, which represents
20% of the entire population of Ireland. It is a simple statistical fact that
Dublin constitutes, in terms of population catchment area, the single largest
county unit in the Association, and is, therefore, a region in which the health of
the GAA has a profound impact on the wider health of the Association.
Apart from the high concentration of population, Dublin also offers the vast
range of cultural and leisure activities of a major capital city – not only does the
GAA have to compete against the strong presences of other sporting
organisations in Dublin, it must also fight for attention against the calls of
activities and opportunities that tempt people away from sport altogether.
One indication of the importance of a successful GAA in Dublin at a national
level is visible in the recent success of both the senior county football and
hurling teams. Both teams, through winning the All-Ireland Senior Football
Championship and National Hurling League, have generated excellent coverage
for the Association in national media and it is an indisputable fact that
successful Dublin county teams create an excitement and anticipation that no
other county can match. Such coverage is crucial – if the GAA does not get
these column inches and this broadcast time, they will surely go to other sports,
and will act as promotional activity for sports with which the GAA is in
competition in Dublin. Those wonderful successes reflect the hard work of so
many people with development squads and underage teams. But the
groundwork for the success of county teams takes place, as always in the GAA,
at club level. Here, the GAA has a strong and vibrant presence in Dublin.
The county’s 90 clubs provide an unrivalled network that brings the
Association’s community ethos to all areas of city and county. And it is also at
club level that the success of the GAA will be measured. Dublin, indeed,
presents a unique challenge to the Association, one we must all be ready to
accept: is the GAA offering good enough to allow the Association to survive and
thrive in the most competitive geographic area in the country It is in the
interests of the Association as a whole that it is. If we can compete successfully
for members and volunteers at club level, then the Association will prosper. The
formulation and enactment of the Dublin Strategic Plan are critical elements in
the Association’s drive to maintain and build upon its presence in Dublin.
I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to the formulation of the Dublin
Strategic Plan, and I look forward with optimism to seeing its implementation
strengthen the Association in Dublin city and county.
Rath Déar an obair.
PARAIC Ó DUFAIGH
ARD STIÚRTHÓIR
9