GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 15 - December 5, 2014 | Page 17

have them recognised by national,
regional and local statutory bodies.
Then there is the issue of finance, it
takes some finance (although not a
huge amount) to get a club up and
running and buy equipment. We
also need to localise (translate and
distribute administrative and coaching materials) and we need more
coaches in across the continent to
support start-ups. Finally, you need
enthusiasm - it only takes a few people to get a club up and running but
it takes a lot more to keep it going
and they need more supports.
10.

HAVE CLUBS COME TO
YOU FOR ADVICE IN

STARTING A CLUB AND ON ONGOING
ISSUES?
Yes, all the time! Indeed, this is an area where I hope to
contribute in the future. There is a huge difference between
Irish people starting a club and locals – they think differently, have different visions and, of course, local knowledge. As clubs develop, they have all sorts of queries and
as they get more competitive their queries tend to change
too! The more established clubs are into transfers, registrations, rules and structures whilst the newer ones are more
focused on just fielding teams and basic administration.
The Board Secretary is usually one of the first ports of call
– especially when they have been around for a decade –
but that is no different than in Ireland.
11.

WHAT DOES AFFILIATION TO
EUROPEAN GAA MEAN FOR A CLUB?

It means being part of the Gaelic games family, access
to competitions, coaching supports, advice and some
administration, registration and other administrative
overheads – in other words, both give and take

12.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO HOLD A
EUROPEAN FINALS TOURNAMENT
AT MAASTRICHT, HOLLAND?

First of all it’s a tremendous privilege and but very
quickly it becomes a major logistical challenge, finding
hotels for 400+ VIPs, players and officials, setting up and
marking 6-8 pitches according to GAA specifications including goalposts, Public Address and communications
systems, assisting clubs with transportation arrangements, preparing 450 lunch packs and water, ensuring
first aid arrangements, looking after VIPs, 10+ referees,
finding a venue and organising dinner for 450, the list is
almost endless and each time the bar is raised!
13.
HOW DID MAASTRICHT BECOME THE

‘HEADQUARTERS’ FOR EUROPEAN
GAA?
Obviously the GAA needed to have a dependable, accessible and weather proof facility given the travel issues for
our clubs. In 2009, the city council [of Maastricht] decided
to reduce the number of sports facilities and develop a

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