The newly established group tasked with establishing a five year strategic plan for Clare GAA has formally addressed Clare club delegates for the first time.
The nine-person group was ratified at March’s meeting and their first progress report was presented at last night’s virtual meeting.
Now the focus of much local and national attention, last night saw Clarecastle’s Mark O’Connell update Clare club delegates on the plans of the newly formed committee.
Comprising of eight Clare business people and the Vice Chair of the Clare County Board, the group have met weekly since being appointed and are engaged in an ongoing initial consultation period which is currently surveying the County’s clubs.
The first phase of the group’s five-phase plan also includes engagement with players and past players, Development Squad Coaches, Games Development Officers, Referees and the wider Clare GAA public.
The subsequent stages will see a review of the feedback before moving to consultations with interested parties and then on to the fourth phase which will see the key areas of focus being identified. The final stage will be the development of a five year plan for Clare GAA.
Separate to that, the development of the Caherlohan centre of excellence was raised, with calls from the Wolfe Tones delegate that no money be spent on it until the committee has returned it’s strategic plan. Chairman Jack Chaplin disagreed as maintenance of the grounds would need to continue in the meantime.
Eire Og’s delegate raised the request from the Tulla delegate at the March meeting for an Independent audit of the funds raised by the Clare Hurling Supporters Club between 2012 and 2015. Mr Chaplin committed to respond to delegates on the matter.
A decision on the structure of a Club Championship was again deferred as COVID-19 restrictions continue to cast uncertainty on the holding of competitions. Central Council Officer Simon Moroney also reminded clubs not to engage in group training yet, in light of recent breaches at county level in other parts of the country.