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

UNLEASHING “THE BLUE WAVE”
TABLE 1
CENSUS DATA
NUMBER OF REGISTERED BIRTHS
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Munster 16,269 16,096 16,220 16,456 17,579 18,861 19,670 20,066 19,222
Connacht 6,795 6,951 6,898 6,912 7,142 7,816 8,297 8,163 8,114
Ulster 3,936 4,042 3,912 3,943 3,744 3,943 4,329 4,286 4,438
Leinster excl. Dublin 17,702 17,892 17,646 17,485 18,789 20,302 21,541 21,154 21,532
Dublin 15,729 15,691 15,778 16,280 18,171 19,698 20,159 20,609 21,452
City 5,189 5,096 5,259 5,723 6,548 7,123 7,553 7,827 8,220
South Dublin 3,982 3,899 3,976 3,951 4,450 4,711 4,575 4,524 4,746
Fingal 4,340 4,373 4,277 4,330 4,777 5,284 5,346 5,430 5,560
Dun Laghaire/R’down 2,218 2,323 2,266 2,276 2,396 2,580 2,685 2,828 2,926
Dublin Percentage 26.0% 25.9% 26.1% 26.7% 27.8% 27.9% 27.2% 27.7% 28.7%
GAA games are our national games and in order for them to continue in
their pre-eminent position it is essential that we address the challenges that
this population increase presents, it is necessary to ensure that all the
inhabitants of Dublin are given the opportunity to embrace our ethos and
participate in our Association. It is important from a strategic perspective
that we understand the population changes in Dublin and devise a strategic
plan that is grounded in this reality. Currently our engagement process is
divided into a number of different age categories;
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Pre-Nursery: Children at 4/5 are introduced to basic ball skills in
line with their general motor and developing social skills.
Nursery: Children at 6/7 who are encouraged to develop general
motor skills (ABC).
■ Go-Games: Children from under 8, at the 1 st January, to under 12
who play in small sided games in a friendly environment with the
emphasis on fun rather than competition.
■ Juvenile Games: Children from under 13, at 1 st January, to under 16
who play the traditional 15 a side game with an increasing emphasis
on competition.
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Minor Games: Youths at under 17 and 18 who are transitioning to
adult games.
Adult Participation: Remainder of population who engage in
different playing environments from elite to social and who will
provide the majority of our non-playing volunteers.
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