By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

THE BIGGEST challenge facing the GAA in the year ahead is increasing the number of people trying out the games for the first time, according to the chairman of the National Games Development Committee, Christy Cooney.

Speaking to club representatives in Ulster recently, the GAA presidential hopeful outlined his aspirations for the year ahead, and paid glowing tribute to the volunteers and coaches who work at grassroots level.

He said, "Standing still doesn't do any good for anybody, and we're never going to change the entire world on any single occasion. If we move things little steps along the way, then that change will gather momentum over time and will give us the success we need in developing our games throughout the province and throughout the nation.

"The work we do could not be accomplished without the great work of the coaching committees in counties, and especially the people doing the work in the clubs, the coaches on the ground who are making it all happen.

"We can never repay or realise the work that goes on at grassroots level, and in a lot of cases we take it for granted; sometimes we expect it, sometimes we demand it, but we should never take people for granted. And I can assure you that at Croke Park we would never take for granted the work that is done on the Saturday mornings and at other times on pitches across our land."

With the numbers of non-nationals moving into communities across Ireland constantly on the increase, Cooney feels that this is the next big challenge facing the GAA, as it strives to make itself a viable and appealing option for the 'New Irish' population.

"The key message from the National Coaching and Games Development Committee for the coming year is about participation. We want more and more kids and adults participating in our games. We want more kids being given the opportunity to partake in our games and to enjoy our games.

"I was asked recently what really ambitious thing I would like to see happen within the Association in the next five or ten years. My reply was simple; To see every single kid in this country of ours participating and trying out our games. Every child, everywhere. It might be ambitious, but why can it not be achieved? They're our games, they're the best games, and we should leave no stone unturned in making sure that every family, every kid and every adult participate in our games and that they help us with what we're doing.

"Our games have so much to offer people. They're good for their health, they're good for mixing socially, creating character and helping make you a better person. We have an outstanding community organisation, and it's up to us to tell everyone about them."

Cooney was also keen to highlight the work done in the northern province in terms of forging strong club-school links, and admits that the GAA at a national level are aiming to emulate what has been achieved here.

"I think that Ulster leads the way and is very strong in terms of club-school links, and I know that the coaches who are going into the schools are doing tremendous work. But it's up to the club. It's up to them to take in the school as part of their community and I would encourage them very strongly to strengthen their liaisons with schools. Our schools also need to see that we are the standard-bearers within the community, and that our games and our culture is what this country of ours is all about."

The Cork man is wholly confident that despite the recent difficulties the GAA has experienced with controversies such as player strikes and pay-for-play, the Association remains strong and ready for the challenges ahead.

"We are a strong Association, a vibrant Association, with no fear that we can achieve the aims of our Association. We as individuals in our own roles can make a massive and positive impact on our Association and on our communities. We must grasp that now and continue to grow, fostering our young people and showing them that our way is the best way," he concluded.