GAA President Christy Cooney, with Sean Walsh, Chairman Munster Council (left), NACB Chairman Joe Lydon, and Joe McDonagh, Chairman Overseas Committee (right) at the NACB Strategic Plan launch at the 2012 GAA Congress in the Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, Killenard, Co. Laois. (Photo Ray McManus-Sportsfile).
The North American County Board (NACB) today launched their much anticipated Five Year Action Plan for Gaelic sports in the U.S. The five year plan looks to take Gaelic sports to the next level in America and offer a viable way forward for the 53 year organization.
The plan has a broad outline with focus on structures, finance, and operations, along with communications, sponsorship and marketing, as well as player welfare, volunteerism, facilities, and games development.
At the launch, outgoing GAA President Christy Cooney, praised work being done in America and called the plan timely, “North America has traditionally been a hot bed for our games and never before has there been as much importance attached to being well organised and efficient in how we organise and promote our activities.
“Four years ago the Association at central level published a Strategic Vision Plan with the intention of streamlining our activities and realising a set of attainable and measurable goals. Since then we have encouraged our units – at all levels – to do likewise. I am delighted that so many have engaged in this process, not least boards like that in North America.”
The NACB GAA Chairman, American Joe Lydon said the initiative will lead to the advancement of Gaelic sports across the U.S.
“This Action Plan provides us with the road-map ahead. It is another milestone for our Association and we are certain that it will enhance the association at all levels in the NACB area.”
Mr. Lydon, the only American chairman since the foundation of the NACB in 1959, hopes the new initiative can surpass expectations and herald a new dawn for Gaelic sports in America while at the same time point the GAA as a more meaningful world sporting body.
“Our challenge is to not only to reach our targets and goals but to exceed them and develop our organisation to a level not envisaged when it was first set up. Truly then the GAA can boast of being an international Association underpinned by strong and vibrant units outside of Ireland.”
Along with the NACB, its working partner the Munster GAA, was also involved with the drawing up of the new strategy.
(Details of the Five Year Plan not available at the time of writing.)
NOTE: Watch out for forthcoming eBook on Hurling in the U.S. in the next two weeks.
