COVID-19 Update - 7th May

A chairde,

We hope you and your families are well during these unusual and challenging times for the country.

We would like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of so many of our clubs and members in community assistance projects with as many as 90% confirming in our Club Survey that they have been active in one way or another over the last eight weeks in helping those who need it most.

On the games front, the GAA has confirmed that no official on-field activity will resume before July 20 and our facilities will remain closed until that date. We do not expect any inter-county championship games before October 1.

The GAA will issue detailed advice before any return to play, outlining the steps we have to take to facilitate the re-commencement of our training and games, both in terms of physical engagement and around the use of our facilities.

As previously stated, the GAA Player Injury Scheme will remain closed until an official return to activity is confirmed.

In the weeks ahead our County Committees will be devising revised competition schedules for each county for games and activities at all levels and grades and that information will be shared when those arrangements are finalised and we have clarity around the government timelines.

Clubs are reminded that membership and public liability will need to be in place for the return of our activities and are advised to process same in the weeks ahead.

Allowing for the complexities associated with the current situation, the GAA continues to plan for the staging of this year's Kellogg's Cúl Camps and will communicate any changes to this approach with our clubs if they arise.

The maintenance of facilities can continue while adhering to the guidelines and as of May 18 construction work on our grounds is also permitted and clubs should liaise with their County Committees on this issue.

The Association has also been asked to urge our club units to promote best practice when it comes to social distancing at funerals while the current restrictions are in place.

In keeping with our approach to date, the Association will continue to liaise with government officials and experts, both north and south, and study their guidelines and advice regarding the resumption of sport.

Finally, our clubs and counties have played an important role in the effort against the pandemic and we thank all of our members for their work in this regard.

We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.

Your role in this process, and that of your members, is as important as ever.

Go raibh maith agaibh.


Seán Ó hÓráin                     Tomás Ó Riain

Uachtarán                             Ard Stiúrthóir


GAA Statement 6th May 2020
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The GAA notes and welcomes the plans published by the government last Friday and some of the dates included relating to the possible return of sporting activity, including Gaelic games.

The Association will attempt to seek clarity around some of the issues that have arisen in internal discussions since last Friday including the challenge of social distancing in contact sport.

GAA facilities are to remain closed as part of efforts to prevent gatherings which breach the restrictions.

We are instructing our clubs and counties to continue to adhere to the restrictions and to refrain from organising on-field activity. These measures are expected to remain in place until July 20 .

We will continue to monitor the dates and timelines as revealed by the Government and our arrangements will remain under constant review.

Our units are reminded that the Player Injury scheme is suspended and will remain so until an official return to action protocol is confirmed.

The GAA still firmly hopes to be able to play county and club competitions this year, subject of course to public health guidance. We can confirm however that no inter-county games are expected to take place before October.

Counties are asked, in the interest of players, to suspend all inter-county training until further notice. There will be a phased resumption of training at both club and county level to allow players to prepare appropriately for playing games.

While not categorically ruling out the possible staging of games behind closed doors later in the year, there appears to be a lack of appetite for this type of fixture-scheduling at the current time across the wider Association.

The GAA can also confirm the appointment of a dedicated Covid-19 Advisory Group which will advise the Association on matters relating to return to play protocols and other similar issues.

The members of this group are as follows:
 

• Shay Bannon (Chairman) - existing Chairman of Health and Safety group
• Dick Clerkin (existing Chairman of Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee)
• Dr Pat O’Neill (Dublin)
• Dr Kevin Moran (Donegal)
• Dr Jim O’Donovan (Limerick)
• Dr Seán Moffatt (Chair of Gaelic Medical Association and Mayo team doctor)
• Paul Flynn (CEO Gaelic Players Association)
• Stephen Mc Geehan (Head of Operations, Ulster GAA)
• Tony Mc Guinness (Events and Safety Manager, Croke Park)
• Sinéad McNulty (CEO An Cumann Camógaíochta)
• Helen O’Rourke (CEO Ladies Gaelic Football Association)
• John Horan (Uachtarán CLG)
• Tom Ryan (Ard Stiúrthóir CLG)
• Feargal Mc Gill (Director of Player, Club and Games Administration)

 
The outcome of this group’s work will be a graduated approach, informed and guided by the recently published Government Roadmap and by Government policy from Stormont.

Our units have played an important role in the community effort against the pandemic and we thank all of our members for their role in this to date.

We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.