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The following statement is not intended to be negative. It is intended to be honest, realistic and reflective of where exactly our club is at today, and more importantly, where it will be in the not too distant future.
This message is being posted on Facebook (a public forum) because, despite every effort to engage the people of the parish through meetings, messages etc we continue to be greatly lacking in volunteers to assist us in running our club and helping us to ensure its continued development.
Everyone is more than well aware of rural depopulation and its consequences, and everyone is also more than well aware this depopulation has been in the main caused by a lack of development in the national broadband service which would help bring employment, and the lack of rural planning for those wishing to live in the parish and make a contribution to the population and the economy.
But we are where we are, and we need to come together and make the very best of what we have before it is too late. It is said that God helps those that help themselves.
A GAA club in any community is at the centre of that community. We as adults (particularly parents) have an obligation to provide the very best for the generation of tomorrow (the children of today).
In our club we have a financial committee, a park committe, and a bord na nog committe. These committes do the leg work on a day to day basis, and currently these committees are made up of those on the executive committee.
We also require in excess of 25 coaches at underage every year, from nursery to U17.
It is past time for parents and senior players, male and female, to get actively involved and do their bit. We are hearing the usual excuses. “I would be no good at that” and “Oh I just don’t have the time” and yet everyone appears to know how those of us that do volunteer should do our jobs.
When we look at the 4G development and the wonderful work Junior Hazlette is doing, and the grant allocation we received two weeks ago for our huge dressing room development, we would be forgiven for thinking we are surging ahead. This is not the case. We are looking down the barrel of our club struggling to continue to stand alone. It could very well be that some day in the not too distant future we will have fantastic club facilities for rent/lease.
We would request that you, yes you, do not let that happen. Answer the call and get involved in our club and understand that personal grudges and thoughts of “its beneath me”, etc, have no place in a healthy club.
Please contact our club secretary (Margaret) and she will be more than happy to get you up and running and in doing so help the few of us that are battling on your behalf to keep our proud club in existence.
Drumkeerin GAA Executive.