Leinster GAA

Runaí Comhairle Laighean CLG A chairde, The challenge of this Strategic Plan was for Leinster GAA to take stock of its progress and then set new objectives on where we want to grow and develop in the years ahead. It is important that we appreciate and acknowledge all of the work that has been done to bring us to this point – and the decision to formulate a new plan is, in my view, a commitment to honour the work already done by producing a platform and pathway for this effort to continue in the years ahead. We live in an ever evolving world. And in Leinster GAA we have never been afraid of change. Indeed, we have over our history been instrumental in developing new ideas and embracing the challenges that the future brought – while all the time remaining loyal to our core values. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the Meath-Dublin four game saga that saw a preliminary round Leinster Senior Football Championship match captivate the imagination of the whole country over the course of six weeks in an unforgettable summer in 1991. It was a different time in the GAA. But those four games helped alter the landscape of the GAA forever because of the decisions and innovations that were made at that time. Being open to change and new ideas was central to the phenomenon that became known as the four game saga. The revenue generated by those matches enabled us to purchase our initial Áras Laighean offices, fund our first coaching officers, enable us to give development grants to counties and increase team expenses payments. Far from being a one off, it was to be the start point in a wave of development that has grown to the point where in 2014 there was €9.3m spent on GAA projects in Leinster. There are more than 120 full time coaches in operation in our Province working with our Clubs and also across 900 Schools. There has been more than €4m spent on Games Development every year, with 10,000 volunteers having been trained through our coaching courses since 2009 and almost 650 people awarded Third Level bursaries. The aim of our Strategic Plan is to enable us to not just sustain that level of commitment, but enhance it. It is a plan that is the result of many hours of effort on behalf of many people and I appreciate their dedication and expertise. Although there are aspirations contained within this document, it has been designed first and foremost to be a working plan and an operational document that defines the role of Leinster GAA now - as well as into the future. I look forward to seeing this plan being implemented over the coming three years which will enable us to strengthen our links with our Counties, Clubs, Education Sectors and our Volunteers. Rath Dé ar an obair Micheal MacRaghnaill Runaí Comhairle Laighean CLG FORWARD 4

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