Club at the Heart of our Club at the Heart of our CommunityCommunity

Patsy MorrisseyPatsy Morrissey

NewtownshandrumNewtownshandrum

Newtownshandrum GAA ClubNewtownshandrum GAA ClubFormed 1896Formed 1896

Won a county championship in every Won a county championship in every decade since the 1940’sdecade since the 1940’s

All Ireland Club Champions in 2004All Ireland Club Champions in 2004

All Ireland Club finalists in 2006All Ireland Club finalists in 2006

County & Munster Club Champions 2010County & Munster Club Champions 2010

All Ireland Club semi-finalists 2010All Ireland Club semi-finalists 2010

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

How we get everyone involvedHow we get everyone involved

Youth InvolvementYouth Involvement

From a playing point of view hurling begins From a playing point of view hurling begins in the National Schoolin the National School

Ex/senior players have a huge Ex/senior players have a huge involvement in underage coachinginvolvement in underage coaching

Role of Senior PlayersRole of Senior Players

Youth training.mpegYouth training.mpeg

Community involvementCommunity involvement

Everyone rallies around the GAA Club in Everyone rallies around the GAA Club in NewtownNewtown

Brings people together & instils a sense of Brings people together & instils a sense of communitycommunity

Hurling is at the centre of the community – Hurling is at the centre of the community – nothing to compete with hurling on the nothing to compete with hurling on the sports fieldsports field

Mrs Murphy.mpegMrs Murphy.mpeg

Involving everyoneInvolving everyone

Newtown gear available in local shops: Newtown gear available in local shops: everyone proud to show their colourseveryone proud to show their colours

Identity & pride in the local communityIdentity & pride in the local community

Homecoming.mpegHomecoming.mpeg

What the Club gives back to the What the Club gives back to the CommunityCommunity

Club house: centre point of the CommunityClub house: centre point of the Community ICA meetingsICA meetings BingoBingo Local Community Group meetingsLocal Community Group meetings DVD of matches with local commentaryDVD of matches with local commentary

County final .mpegCounty final .mpeg

What the Club gives back to What the Club gives back to the Communitythe Community

Other facilitiesOther facilities 2 Floodlit pitches & school field2 Floodlit pitches & school field Lighted public walkwayLighted public walkway Hurling alleyHurling alley Specific Community/Club Liaison OfficerSpecific Community/Club Liaison Officer

Club ExpensesClub ExpensesHuge success over the past 10 yearsHuge success over the past 10 years

Increased success = increased expensesIncreased success = increased expenses

Full financial backing of the communityFull financial backing of the community

Membership: €40 Membership: €40

DifficultiesDifficulties

Like any other club we have our difficultiesLike any other club we have our difficulties Arguments at club meetingsArguments at club meetings Members criticising the committeeMembers criticising the committee

““who do they think they are” who do they think they are”

““there gone too big for there boots” there gone too big for there boots”

““ye’ll bankrupt the club”ye’ll bankrupt the club”

DifficultiesDifficultiesSome club members are negative about Some club members are negative about everythingeverything

Try to stop the Club from advancingTry to stop the Club from advancing

But these people will be the first you’ll see But these people will be the first you’ll see stuck in everything on the big daysstuck in everything on the big days

DifficultiesDifficulties ComplacencyComplacency People take winning for grantedPeople take winning for granted Lower attendance at first round Lower attendance at first round matches because they are expected to matches because they are expected to win.win.

Overcoming difficultiesOvercoming difficulties

““Dirty linen” not washed in publicDirty linen” not washed in public

We try to solve our problems behind We try to solve our problems behind closed doorsclosed doors

Issues discussed and resolved internallyIssues discussed and resolved internally

Extended CommunityExtended CommunityNewtown Community abroadNewtown Community abroad

Jersey worn by ex-pats all over the worldJersey worn by ex-pats all over the world

New York, New Zealand New York, New Zealand

MESSAGE FROM MESSAGE FROM ABROAD.mpegABROAD.mpeg

Creating a Community without a Creating a Community without a ParishParish

University of Limerick GAA ClubUniversity of Limerick GAA Club

Living proof that a community spirit can be Living proof that a community spirit can be createdcreated

Open door policyOpen door policy

All members working towards a common All members working towards a common goalgoal

Predominantly voluntary coaches & Predominantly voluntary coaches & trainerstrainers

Creating a Community without a Creating a Community without a ParishParish

1500 members covering 4 codes – hurling, 1500 members covering 4 codes – hurling, football, camogie, ladies footballfootball, camogie, ladies football

Very little funding: all monies raised by Very little funding: all monies raised by membersmembers

Creating an identity through selling gear – Creating an identity through selling gear – common identitycommon identity

Creating a Community without a Creating a Community without a ParishParish

Team bonds are as tight as with any clubTeam bonds are as tight as with any club

Biggest Club in the “Campus Community”Biggest Club in the “Campus Community”

Best supported Club in the “Campus Best supported Club in the “Campus Community”Community”

UL GAA.mpegUL GAA.mpeg