Óraid an Uachtaran 2026 Uinsionn Ó Nearaigh

Óraid an Uachtaran 2026 Uinsionn Ó Nearaigh

Ba Mhaith liom fáilte a chuir roimh gach daoine anseo anocht.

You are all very welcome to our Connacht Convention here tonight.

I would like to begin by congratulating all our winners from the year just gone by. 2025 started with an All-Ireland title for Crossmolina Deel Rovers in the Intermediate club final, and a Junior title captured by An Ceathrú Rua. We had new provincial club winners this year where Kiltimagh, Strokestown and St. Brigid’s are junior, Intermediate and Senior Club football champions. While in hurling Easkey retained their junior title and Tooreen are the intermediate champions. I will have to give special mention to both Easkey and Tooreen who performed heroically in their All-Ireland finals last weekend and unfortunately both lost out narrowly. Tooreen only lost out after extra time while Easkey were only beaten at the death. They can be so proud of their efforts against Munster opposition and must be commended on their brilliant displays.

We wish both St. Brigid’s and Loughrea the very best on Sunday next in the Senior club finals where they can do their Parish, County and Province proud in Croke Park. Best wishes too, to our Scor na nOg representatives in the All-Ireland finals in Killarney next week.

At intercounty level Galway, Mayo and Roscommon are Senior, U-20 and U-17 Connacht champions. There was national success for the senior hurlers of Roscommon (Nickey Rackard winners) and Mayo League Division 3 winners.

We welcome back our preseason FBD Connacht league this year. This competition is of significant value to our Province, as it gives counties the opportunity to view players at senior level in a competitive environment. It is also reassuring to hear the overwhelming endorsement by all managers during the week. It also gives our provincial referees committee an opportunity to blood new and upcoming referees into an intercounty environment.

Thanks to our sponsors FBD who have continued to stay with us despite the break last year. FBD have been very good to us down through the years, and this year they have given the competition great publicity by having an official launch at their offices in Galway. The new format this year means each county will get three games and this weekend will see the completion of the competition where all three finals will be played.

The loss of the Dome at the beginning of the year was a huge blow. Its loss was immense not alone to Connacht but to the country and indeed beyond. Thanks to the massive work behind the scenes during the summer by John Prenty and the staff we can now look forward to a new Dome being erected later this year.

Any organisation, if it is to grow and expand must adopt change and fuse the old and the new to move forward and the GAA are no different. There are a few immediate challenges facing us now. The big issues are Integration, The Demographic shift and recruitment of volunteers.

Integration is on the horizon as 2027 is the deadline. Lots of work has already been done to date and although next year has been earmarked as the year for it all to happen, I think that it will take many years for the integration of all three organisations to fully come to fruition. We at Provincial level will keep it at the top of our agenda, but there are still many complications to be ironed out. The process should begin at club level first and work its way up the line from there. There are different issues for all clubs, as many GAA clubs do not have a full LGFA club as there may be several clubs involved in the one LGFA club and the same applies to Camogie. The use and upgrading of existing facilities will take time to sort out as will the whole governance structures. While all these issues have been explored by the National committee and guidelines laid out, it will still take a long time for the whole process to be completed.

The National Demographics Committee under its chair Benny Hurl have put together a magnificent document on the GAA’s response to Ireland’s Demographic shift. This should be read and studied by all units of the association. It has a major relevance to us all here in Connacht, as we have huge population growth in cities and towns while rural clubs in many cases are struggling to survive. We have got to make sure that we provide for the sustainable development of our games in all communities across the province. This may mean changes to our rules that will assist clubs in whatever way possible. The GAA will need help from outside agencies to meet all needs. There is need to engage with Local Authorities in terms of planning in rural aeras and the provision of additional green space in our cities and large town to accommodate growing numbers in these regions. We have got to enable as many as possible to participate in our Gaelic Games and maintain our stronghold in every community in Ireland.

The recruitment of volunteers into our clubs and counties continues to be a challenge. Maybe this is because we are asking too much off them. County officer workload is ever increasing, and this is evident as I see that one of our counties has advertised a full time staff position to help in its operations. Unfortunately, in a changing Ireland Garda Vetting, Child protection courses are necessary as well as further training if you are to coach a team. These requirements may make it difficult for clubs to recruit, but in any event, clubs need to protect themselves and cannot take any chances.

The GAA is still in a strong place where facilities are always been upgraded to make it more comfortable for players and supporters and I congratulate all clubs who throughout the past year who have expanded or upgraded their facilities in these challenging times. Huge numbers are still coming to our games, which means that our product is still a big attraction We here in the council are always available through our full-time staff to assist club in grant applications.

John Prenty in his report has delt with all aspects of the GAA here in Connacht. I congratulate him on another fine report. I thank him and the rest of my fellow officers for all their help during the year as I do the staff and all the volunteers around the province for the courtesy, they have shown me since taking up this role. I thank all the council members and representatives as well as all sub committees for their ongoing work during the year. I thank all who have submitted excellent reports to this convention to outline all the magnificent work being done at Council level for the members right across the province.

You will see from those reports the success of our Scor participants, our referees our Health and Wellbeing group, our Schools at all levels our fixtures and hearings committees as well as all the other work that is going on . Adrian Hassett as always does trojan work on the planning and physical side of the house, and Brian Mangan manages our media very well. Cathal Cregg and his staff are continuing their great work in the whole area of coaching with Damien Curley covering the hurling side.

I thank all our sponsors, our accountant and auditors the media the staff in Croke Park and the county officers here in Connacht for their continued support. I know that recent times have not been easy for County Officers but again thanks for all you are doing for the Association.

As our PRO Hugh Lynn has completed his term. I thank him for all his help to me personally and for the contribution he has made to the council. Other delegates have completed their term as representatives, so I thank on behalf of the council Paul Cunnane, Mayo, John Carty Roscommon, Padraig Clancy Sligo for their contributions to Connacht Council over the years and hope that they have enjoyed their time here. They have represented their counties well during their time. Sean McGolderick takes over the PRO role Sean is no stranger to us having served on the council for the past few years. I wish you well Sean and I know you will have no bother. I welcome the new delegates to the council from Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.

Many families have suffered bereavements during the year and John has mentioned them in his report. I offer my sympathies to all and especially to the families of former President of the council Gerry McGovern and current member of our coaching staff Padraig O Conaire. May they Rest In Peace.

Finally, I would simply like to thank each one of you gathered here tonight for your contributions to the GAA. Happy new year and good luck for the year ahead.

Go Raibh agaibh.

Uinsionn