Ulster GAA Community Relations

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Ulster GAACommunity Relations

• Maura Kelly
• Community Development Officer

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What is the GAA?

• Sporting
• Cultural
• Community-based
• Amateur
• Volunteer-driven
• Club-focused

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The GAA Club

• Club is the grassroots of the GAA
• Clubs boundaries were based on the Churchs
  Parish structures
• Pride of place
• Family focused
• Great tradition
• Serving the Community...
• ...the entire Community?

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Where has the GAA come from?

• Established 1884
• To preserve Irish Identity through
• - culture
• - sport, past-times
• - music, dance
• - language
• To in-still Irish confidence in being Irish
• a GAA for the preservation and cultivation of
  National pastimes (Michael Cusack, a founding
  member of the GAA)

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Has the GAA been successful?

• Gaelic Games are played in all corners of
  Ireland, and beyond
• Irish culture, song, dance, language very active
  in Irish life
• Predominantly Irish, Catholic, Nationalist
  membership
• Responsive to an Irish identity across 32 counties

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Irelands Legacy

• Rule 21 (1918) banned members of the British
  Occupational forces and RUC from being a member
  of the GAA
• Abolished in 2001
• Rule 42 prevents any sports other than Gaelic
  Games being played in GAA pitches
• Still exists

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• Since 2009 the GAA has changed its Mission
  Statement from being a non-sectarian and
  non-racist organisation to become an anti-racist
  and anti-sectarian organisation

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The GAA Mission Statement

• We are dedicated to ensuring that our family of
  games, and the values we live, enrich the lives
  of our members, families, and the communities we
  serve...we reach out to and include all members
  of our society.

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What does this mean for the GAA?

• ... self-examination
• ... many challenges
• ... change
• ... staying true to its purpose
• ... serving our Communities
• Community Outreach

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Community Outreach why should the GAA bother?

• Large captive audience
• Strong volunteer base
• Vast infrastructure and resources base
• Access to high-profile personalities
• Membership from cradle to grave
• A history of pride of place
• A history of serving the community
• It is the right thing to do Now is the Time

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• Ulster GAA Community Outreach Projects

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S.A.R.I

• Sport Against Racism Ireland
• Ulster GAA co-ordinated high-profile GAA players
  and managers to take part in DVD
• Promotes unity through sport regardless of
  nationality, race, religion, political opinion,
  age, gender, sexual preference, ability, class
  and so on

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Unite Against Hate

• Office of First Deputy First Minister Equality
  Commission Community Relations Council and
  P.S.N.I
• Ulster GAA and I.F.A sporting partners in this
  anti-hate campaign
• High-profile GAA players ambassadors for the
  campaign
• High-profile GAA games used to promote the
  campaign

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Game of Three Halves

• Ulster GAA, I.F.A and Ulster Rugby three largest
  participation sports in Ulster / N.Ireland
• Brings kids together in a cross-community event
  to give all sports a try
• Kids learn new skills while playing with kids
  they would normally never interact with

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Cúchulainn Cup

• Ulster GAAs flagship Community Outreach project
• Cross-community schools project for non-GAA
  participants
• Controlled, Maintained and Integrated sectors
• 6 8 weeks of coaching
• Annual Cúchulainn Cup Blitz
• One team selected to travel to the Continental
  Youth Competition each year

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Other Projects

• Club Cultural Officer
• Have a Go Days
• GAA For All
• Rural Community Network
• Integrated Schools Competitions
• Youthcom Crossing The Bridges
• Stormont Playball Event
• Shinty-Hurling competitions

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Ulster GAA Community Development

• A committed Community Development Unit
• Ryan Feeney - Head of Community Development,
  Public Affairs and Strategy
• Maura Kelly Community Development Officer
• maura.kelly.ulster_at_gaa.ie
• 028 378 17180

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• Go raibh maith agat