Important notice*
A Chara
Many of you will have received the following communication from Croke Park today :
Club Operations
Please be advised that, in line with recent government announcements, these measures and closures are now extended to Sunday April 19 inclusive, at which stage arrangements will be reviewed.
In addition, we are now instructing GAA Clubs to close their facilities completely.
This is to include the use of all pitches and property for recreational purposes, including walking, casual games or gatherings.
Where it is not possible to restrict access please erect signage to the effect that all GAA facilities are closed and all activity suspended.
In order to facilitate an orderly resumption of activities when circumstances permit, Clubs are encouraged to proceed as normal with their membership registration process where practical. Clubs of course should be mindful of the possible changed financial circumstances of members.
Similarly, club lottos may proceed if they are run on an online basis and do not involve wholesale engagement with the public.
Clubs are also advised to refrain from undertaking new capital projects while support funding for this type of work is suspended.
Community Support
As a national / international organisation, we have a part to play in emphasising the need to practice social distancing, as outlined by the authorities.
It is imperative that we exercise extreme caution keeping two metres between people when taking physical exercise while encouraging people to consider using off-peak times when they are less likely to meet others.
Attached is the latest messaging from the HSE covering guidelines around volunteering which we advise our clubs to consider as they involve themselves in community-based volunteer efforts.
Individual volunteers are asked to register with Volunteer Ireland (26 Counties) and Volunteer Now (Six Counties).
We would like to thank everyone who has helped the GAA adhere to government guidelines up to this point.
We would also like to assure you that we, and the wider GAA team across our counties and provinces, are working hard to ensure that we are in the best possible position to return to our games when that time comes.
In the meantime, please stay safe, look out for one another and continue to adhere to the instructions of the Government and the Health Authorities at this most challenging time.
From a Down GAA perspective we also would like to inform you of the following decisions :
The Down Football and Hurling Leagues at Adult and Juvenile levels have been suspended until April 30th at least.
Down GAA have also taken the decision to suspend the collection of Club Fees for the months of April and May.
We do however have to state that Clubs still must meet their commitment in full in regard to their Public Liability Insurance. We need to ensure that your property is protected at this time and in that regard Diarmuid and myself will be in contact with all Clubs who have outstanding Public Liability accounts tomorrow to agree a mechanism for payment.
We thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation, as Croke Park have now outlined all of our GAA Facilities are now closed, to be absolutely clear and succinct this means that no one can have any access to our grounds for any activity, Walking Trails are now closed, any thoughts of carrying out maintenance work should be dismissed.
From now until the 19th of April all of our facilities are closed.
We in Down GAA are here for you all if you have any queries please contact me at any stage. We hope that you and your families are staying strong and keeping well, look after yourselves and remember please God there are better days ahead.
Go raibh maith agaibh,
Seán Óg Mac an tSaoir
Seán Óg McAteer
Runaí Coiste Chontae an Dúin
46-48 Main Street
Castlewellan
County Down
