Urban Strategy Meeting – 17th June

Tyrone Urban Strategy
 
The O’Neill’s March …..
(Máirseáil Uí Néill)
                  
GAA Clubs face particular problems in Urban (town) areas.  Coiste Chontae Thír Eoghain recognises that fact and we have set up a sub committee to work with the Omagh, Dungannon, Strabane, Cookstown, Coalisland and Castlederg Clubs to draw up an urban strategy to increase participation in GAA activities in those areas. Together we will focus on issues to find specific solutions applicable to our urban areas. With enthusiasm and earnest endeavour we will succeed.
1. The Tyrone Urban Strategy Workshop will take place in Kelly’s, Garvaghey on Thursday 17th June at 7:30pm. The aim of this workshop is to get your views so that together we can make a difference. We need to have as many people from your Clubs as possible at this. We definitely need all Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers. We also want people involved in:
    * Youth
    * Coaching
    * Ladies football and / or camogie
    * Development
    * Scór
Our aim is to make GAA games and pass-times the activities of choice in our large towns and to make the GAA Club the real centre of these communities. 
Over the past 10 years we have seen population growth in and population movement towards urban areas. The population in Omagh has increased by 11% to 26,000, Strabane has increased by 26% to 16,000; other Tyrone towns have experienced similar population increases. While our towns have got much larger populations the membership of their GAA Clubs have remained similar to that of rural Clubs. We all recognise the contribution made by town Clubs, the success of Omagh and Cookstown last year was tremendous but could more be done for more people? The aim of this strategy will be see an increased participation in GAA activities of 20% by 2015. 
Consultation Process.
There will be an urban strategy workshop at which the views of all interested people from all GAA activities in Tyrone will be sought. We will liaise with Hurling, Scór, Handball, Camogie, Rounders etc as well as football Clubs. An urban strategy will then be developed setting targets for change.
 
The Urban Strategy Sub Committee
Chairman: Michael Mc Caughey (Trillick) e-mail michaelmccaughey1@btinternet.com, tel. 07775576895. Liam Morris (Omagh), John Gill (Dungannon), John Harpur (Castlederg), Adrian Gilmore (Cookstown), Ignatius Maguire (Strabane), Paddy Devlin (Coalisland). It is hoped to enlist the help of others in urban Clubs during the consultation and implementation processes. This strategy will be more than a glossy booklet – it will be the blueprint for better things.
Application To Rural Clubs
Although this strategy focuses on urban Clubs the lessons learned from it will apply to and benefit rural Clubs. We will investigate areas such as attracting volunteers, playing street leagues, one wall handball, non competitive football and hurling, Scór etc. etc.
…..To Be The Best
(le bheith thar barr)