Oráid An Chathaoirligh. Seán Breathnach. Ag Comhdháil Bhliantiúil Comhairle Na Mumhan In Ostán Bunratty, Co. An Chlár

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1 1 Oráid An Chathaoirligh Seán Breathnach Ag Comhdháil Bhliantiúil Comhairle Na Mumhan 2013 In Ostán Bunratty, Co. An Chlár 08/02/2013 A Athair agus a dhaoine uaisle, is mór an onóir domsa mar Chathaoirleach ar Chomhairle Na Mumhan bheith i lathair anseo anocht. Ba mhaith liom fáilte is fiche a chur roimh gach éinne don Chomhdháil Bhliantiuil seo. Impím oraibh tamall a thabhairt dom mo chuid smaointe agus mo chuid thuaraimí a chur ós bhúr gcomhair. It is my pleasure to address you for the final time as Cathaoirleach Comhairle Na Mumhan and to extend a very warm welcome to you all to our annual convention. A three year term of office passes by very quickly and having devoted much of my time to the affairs of this council for the past six years, as vice-chairman and chairman, I sincerely hope that my contribution will be remembered as one that advanced the aims and ideals of the GAA in the province by ensuring that above all the games and games development were at the forefront at all times. Ag féachaint siar ar an bhlian atá imithe is feidir a rá go raibh bliain mhaith torthúil ag Comhairle Na Mumhan agus ag na fo-choistí. Chuir gach duine a lán oibre isteach ó thus na bliana. Tá na baill agus oifigigh an Chomhairle comh maith leis na fo-choistí ag obair go dian dícheallach agus tá torthaí na h-oibre sin le feiscint go soiléir in dtuarascáil na Bliana. Ag deireadh na bliana is féidir linn a rá gur féidir le gach duine a bheith sásta lena gcuid oibre

2 2 ar son an Chomhairle agus molaim iad go léir. Thug sé misneach, neart agus fuineamh dom go raibh an có oibriú idir na baill den chomhairle, mo chó oifigigh agus na fo choistí go láidir agus éífeachtach. On the field of play 2012 was a great year for the Clare Under 21 Hurling team and the Tipperary Minor Hurling team both of whom went on to add All-Ireland titles to their Munster titles. This recent run of successes for their Under 21 and minor teams has given a great boost to hurling in the Banner County and it has come at the right time when they are in the process of re-establishing their senior team as strong contenders in the Championship and League. In congratulating the Tipperary Minor Hurling team on winning the All-Ireland Minor Hurling title it is important to remember that 10 players on this team were also on the county s minor football team. Congratulations also to the Kerry Junior Football team and the Tipperary Intermediate Hurling team on winning their All-Ireland titles. Unfortunately the senior teams from this province did not feature in this year s All-Ireland Senior Hurling and Football Finals. The Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire Cups are in Kilkenny and Donegal this year. Congratulations to players and management teams from Kilkenny and Donegal on their All-Ireland titles. Hopefully 2013 will bring better fortunes to the Munster senior teams. New HQ On Saturday September 12 th last Uachtarán Liam O Neill officially opened our new Munster GAA Headquarters at Castletroy. It marked another wonderful milestone in the proud history of Munster GAA, founded at a meeting in Mallow on June 30 th 1901, it has grown and prospered for over 100 years serving the needs of GAA in the province, in the counties, in the clubs, providing games for our

3 3 players and these games give unparalleled enjoyment to our supporters. In order to adequately provide for the administrative needs of the council and provide more space for meeting rooms, it was imperative that a new purpose built headquarters be built. It is an iconic state of the art building, indeed a landmark building that suitably recognises the status that befits the GAA in this province. Cost was always an important consideration in relation to this project. The prudent management of the financial affairs of the council over many years by the past and present officers allowed us to complete this project without putting any burden on our balance sheet. This was done without borrowing. It was our intention that the provision of the new headquarters would not impinge in any way with the Council s commitment to the clubs and counties of the province. I am acutely aware that it is county teams that generate income for the Council, income that has to find its way back to the clubs and in particular to the counties that prepare the teams. Supporting Club Developments We are committed to investing a large percentage of the revenue from our championship gate receipts to coaching and games development in the province and also to the various grants given to the clubs in each county for the development of their pitches and facilities. It continues to be our commitment that the revenue generated from the games will go back to the clubs in grants and coaching projects. I want to reassure the counties that the Council will continue to meet our usual commitments to them. This year we increased the number of Third Level Bursaries awarded to students in the Third Level Colleges

4 4 and in this respect we are delighted that we can offer this level of support to our players attending the colleges especially when many of them are experiencing difficulty in meeting the financial demands of a Third Level education. We also continue to provide scholarships to students attending GAA courses in the Gaeltacht. Difficult Economic Situation We are acutely aware of the financial difficulties that individuals, families, clubs and County Boards are having at present. As an association we are not immune from the impact that the recession is having on our members and on our activities. The GAA has always been and will continue to be a strong force in every community and now more than ever we need to use our position to support our players and our members during these difficult economic times. Emigration is having a serious effect on many of our clubs, particularly in rural Ireland. In this province the majority of our clubs are rural based and the scourge of players emigrating is forcing clubs to evaluate their future. Some are experiencing difficulty in fielding teams particularly at under age level and we as a provincial council must support them in establishing structures that will enable them to maintain the future viability of their clubs. The recession is also having an impact on the numbers attending our games. Other sporting events and entertainment events are affected in a similar way. It is not the cost of admission alone that is responsible for the drop in attendance numbers. Travel and fuel costs are also being taken into consideration by our supporters. It is however imperative that our games, particularly our summer championship programme of games, are accessible to all of our members and supporters. We as a

5 5 council will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our admission charges are not a deterrent to our supporters from attending our games. It goes without saying that the continued financial strength of the Council depends on our patrons who support our games at all levels. Each year we publish the financial support we give to counties, clubs and players from the revenue generated from our championships. Strengths of the Provincial Championships Structures Munster GAA makes a huge contribution to the sporting and social fabric of this province as well as facilitating a significant financial boost to the local economy especially during our Senior Championship season. The Munster Championships and especially the Munster Hurling Championship and Final are among the great events of the Irish sporting calendar. Our championship games are renowned for the high drama, showcasing great courage, exceptional skill and sportsmanship and above all else year after year we marvel at great displays of skill and sportsmanship displayed by the players who play in our championships in keeping with the proud and illustrious history and tradition of the Munster Championships. For generations the Munster Championships have provided great entertainment and very good value for money and long may that prevail.

6 6 Coaching Report From time to time we remind you of the huge investment we continue to make from our annual income towards Coaching and Games Development. There is always a diversity of views and opinions on the value we are getting for this significant investment and because of this we as a council needed to evaluate the return we are getting for the money spent on all aspects of our Coaching and Games Development activities. In the introduction to the Financial Report to this Convention you will see reference made to the independent study we commissioned last year where we engaged Focus Consulting to undertake an analysis on the return on our coaching investment across the province. The review process focused on current coaching investment across schools, clubs, coach education and additional Munster Council GAA Games Development initiatives. The research methodology employed for the review process included both primary and secondary research. The programme of secondary research consulted a wide range of existing information sources including Munster Council GAA data for club and player registration details, coach education, annual hourly outputs of the provincial games development personnel and numbers involved in specific coaching and development activities. Additional secondary research was undertaken into examining current levels of physical activity among underage players and sports participation in general. The basis for the valuation of the overall coaching return on investment was the creation of a Coaching Value Pyramid. This identified key stakeholders in the coaching and playing structures at underage and subsequent measurement of the outputs of

7 7 each group across the province and impact on the coaching investment made by Munster Council GAA. The findings surpassed our expectations and it has reassured us and all who are involved in delivering our Coaching and Games Development programmes in the counties and in the clubs that not only are we achieving our goals in terms of games development and coaching we are making a huge contribution to the local community through our activities in schools and in clubs in terms of providing a healthy outlet for all the players in every age group that participates. One of the most reassuring findings of the survey is how parents value the coaching sessions we provide for their children in terms of the health benefits and social development skills associated with their involvement in our games and activities. Children s personal development through playing sport and the ability to access regular exercise were amongst highest rated responses. The interpersonal skills developed through sport was also highly rated while the lowest ranked benefit examined was surprisingly the sports skills developed by their children as a direct output of engaging in regular GAA activity. The survey also highlighted that there is a significant drop in participation in the fifteen to eighteen age groups. We were already aware of this decline and the challenge is now there for us to find a means of retaining more players in these age groups in the future.

8 8 Football Development Committee Recommendations In my Convention address last year I referred to the changes I would like to see in the rules of Gaelic Football, particularly, the mark, the tackle and the pick up from the ground. I am delighted to see that in Part 1 of their report the Football Review Committee under the chairmanship of Eugene McGee have recommended those particular changes. Last year I stated that straight pick up off the ground from the standing position, as allowed by the AFL and Ladies Games, would reduce fouls and speed up play. The operation of the mark from kick outs would see our game revive one of the great skills of the game high fielding - and of course again limit the opportunity for fouls to be committed. Referring to the tackle I recommended the AFL tackle, where the player has to release the ball before the tackle or lose it, allowing again the opportunity for less fouls and quicker ball release. Cultúr Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl don Choiste Chultúra agus Coiste Scór as an obair atá ar siúl acu agus guím gach rath orthu ins an obair sin. Tá sé mar aidhm ag Cumann Lúthchleas Gael tacaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeilge agus don cultúr Gaelach. Molaim go h-ard an obair atá á déanamh ins na contaethe agus tá toradh na hoibre sin le feiscint go soileir. Administration The past two months have been very difficult for the council and at this point I am confident that we have come through those difficulties to the satisfaction of everybody concerned and with dignity. The unexpected departures within weeks of each other of our two full time administrators, Rúnaí/CEO Pat Fitzgerald and Leas

9 9 Rúnaí/Deputy CEO Enda McGuane, created an administrative vacuum at Áras Mumhan at the end of December and we were very fortunate that Simon Moroney agreed to return as Acting Rúnaí/CEO until the end of September. We were faced with a situation that required tact and sensitivity and with the support of my fellow officers and Council members I can assure you all that everybody concerned is pleased that we dealt with it in a dignified manner because it was important that we addressed this situation in the sensitive way that we did. Pat and Enda worked diligently in fulfilling their administrative duties and I thank them most sincerely for the service they gave to the Council. Pat was deeply committed to Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and devoted countless hours of service to the Association for many years and we wish him well. Enda has now begun a new career in business management and we wish him and his family every good wish for the future. With Simon Moroney at the helm at Áras Mumhan we can be assured that our administration is in very capable hands until the end of September. Retiring Members Tonight sees the departures of three county representatives from the Council. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their outstanding contributions. Pearse Murphy has served as Cork representative for the last six years and always spoke with the voice of experience. I also thank Willie O Connor and Bernie Reen of Kerry whose terms comes to an end tonight for their help and support over the last five years.

10 10 Tonight also sees the term of our Uachtarán, Rory Kiely come to an end, ending his long association with the Council where at all times he represented his county Limerick with integrity. New Council The incoming council members, Bob Ryan of Cork and Christy Killeen and Joe Crowley of Kerry bring with them a huge amount of experience from the many roles they have already served in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and I wish them every success for their term on the Council. To the incoming Chairman, Robert Frost I wish you the very best of good luck for your term as Chairman of the Council for the next three years and to thank you for all your help and support over the last three years and I give you and your wife, Margaret, one small piece of advice enjoy every minute of it. Tonight as I leave office as your Chairman it is the first time that I am not an elected officer of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael without interruption since Following my first introduction to the GAA back in 1969 as an Under 14 player for my beloved club Moyvane I recall all the roles that I have filled since, for my club, county and province and on Coiste Bainistí for the last three years. All these roles have left me with a great sense of pride and satisfaction to be part of this great Association, an Association that has contributed so much to the well-being of this country and continues to do so in these worst of economic times. It has been my honour and privilege to have been your Chairman for the last three years and I take with me lasting memories of the wonderful officers with whom I had the privilege to work. To the County Representatives and

11 11 County Board officers for your respect and courtesy over the last three years, I say Míle Buíochas. To the stiles people and stewards I have met over the last six years I also say thank you. To the officers and members of all the sub-committees, I say thank you for your time and commitment over the last three years, your work has contributed enormously to the efficient running of the Council. To Nuala and Mary at Áras Mumhan, I say a very big thank you for your courtesy and kindness at all times. In May last year Kathleen O Connell retired as a member of our office staff at Áras Mumhan, we wish her a very happy retirement and thank her most sincerely for her work in the Council office. Thanks also to my wife Patricia and my family for their support and understanding of the demands of being Chairman. Attending meetings and functions means I have less time at home with my family and I am very grateful to them for that support. Finally I wish each and everyone of you, your counties and your clubs the very best for Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.