GAA Development Within Armagh

[Big Jim]

I was searching t'internet after I was asked a question about Armagh GAA and games that I hadn't a clue about and came across the strategic plan from 2008.

It makes interesting reading more than 10 years on and in particular the aims that have been "missed" in some cases quite spectacularly.

Have a read and make your own minds up, but the piece that sticks out most to me is the development of secondary county grounds in Lurgan and Crossmaglen. They were to be completed and active by 2011.

Now to be fair Crossmaglen have a great set up and Davitt Park has a great new changing and room facility, but these are down to the clubs and not primarily the county as far as I'm aware. A new terrace/(stand??) was started in Lurgan, but I'd describe it as abandoned. I have no idea who funded the lights but assume the County although someone from the club might be able to clarify.

My point being that we had a great fanfare about the new "centre of excellence" being built in Portadown and it's now beginning to be overgrown with weeds again. Is this to be another waste of money (spent so far) like the terrace in Lurgan?

We debate daft things on forums etc, but never get our club delegates (the county board) to hold our management to task over these things and it's treated with great secrecy when any question is asked. The attachment describes the openness required to bring the members along with the county. Maybe it's time in 2019 for that openness especially now that the senior footballers are regaining confidence. Add to that our Hurlers development, World handball champions and competitors, Ladies football playing at a high level and Camogie still relatively strong within the county. A joined up approach could get us the three further top class facilities we deserve.

In the past I have been accused of being supportive of the County management and I still would be, but in terms of politics I would still question why or why not.

MAKE ARMAGH GREAT AGAIN

Vote County And Leading Management 1st 2019

Vote early and vote often!!
Calm1
http://www.ulstergaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/armagh-strategy-2008-2012.pdf

 

[never in the house]

I was searching t'internet after I was asked a question about Armagh GAA and games that I hadn't a clue about and came across the strategic plan from 2008.

It makes interesting reading more than 10 years on and in particular the aims that have been "missed" in some cases quite spectacularly.

Have a read and make your own minds up, but the piece that sticks out most to me is the development of secondary county grounds in Lurgan and Crossmaglen. They were to be completed and active by 2011.

Now to be fair Crossmaglen have a great set up and Davitt Park has a great new changing and room facility, but these are down to the clubs and not primarily the county as far as I'm aware. A new terrace/(stand??) was started in Lurgan, but I'd describe it as abandoned. I have no idea who funded the lights but assume the County although someone from the club might be able to clarify.

My point being that we had a great fanfare about the new "centre of excellence" being built in Portadown and it's now beginning to be overgrown with weeds again. Is this to be another waste of money (spent so far) like the terrace in Lurgan?

We debate daft things on forums etc, but never get our club delegates (the county board) to hold our management to task over these things and it's treated with great secrecy when any question is asked. The attachment describes the openness required to bring the members along with the county. Maybe it's time in 2019 for that openness especially now that the senior footballers are regaining confidence. Add to that our Hurlers development, World handball champions and competitors, Ladies football playing at a high level and Camogie still relatively strong within the county. A joined up approach could get us the three further top class facilities we deserve.

In the past I have been accused of being supportive of the County management and I still would be, but in terms of politics I would still question why or why not.

MAKE ARMAGH GREAT AGAIN

Vote County And Leading Management 1st 2019

Vote early and vote often!!
Calm1
http://www.ulstergaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/armagh-strategy-2008-2012.pdf

Reading through the document I genuinely thought it was referring to a different county...
I know any plans are hard to implement and factoring in the economic climate some if not most of what was planned would have been unfeasible.

 

[Big Jim]

Reading through the document I genuinely thought it was referring to a different county...
I know any plans are hard to implement and factoring in the economic climate some if not most of what was planned would have been unfeasible.

Yeah you're right. Disappointing isn't it.

The facilities we'd have by now would be the envy of country. I'm making the point more in the hope we can generate a momentum behind questioning where we really are, what has been done and what we can do to see it through and not just what is feasible. If we need a new 30 year mortgage from Croke Park to build this infrastructure then so be it. We need that ambition re-ignited. We need what as a county we deserve. There is land available beside Davitt Park and the old St. Paul's school will be closing when St. Ronan's new campus is developed. We could negotiate as a first preference now to have that as the centre of excellence and let the (rumoured extortion) that is Portadown go. That and sell off Calanbridge and properly agree a use in Crossmaglen spreading the load and give all teams and levels within the whole county the very best we can. Monaghan have done it, even Louth have a showpiece. Cavan are developing and tyrone have garvaghey. Derry's Owenbeg facility is magnificent and down have, have, have eh...whatever they have. You get the picture.

 

[PatMustard]

I’m disappointed with Davitt Park more so. It’s handier to get to than Cross for me. It was the scene of many great league games when I was a youngster and we always seemed to do well there.

All 3 grounds could share games like Monaghan do successfully. Give all ends of the county a lift and get the local kids seeing the team.

 

[Big Jim]

I’m disappointed with Davitt Park more so. It’s handier to get to than Cross for me. It was the scene of many great league games when I was a youngster and we always seemed to do well there.

All 3 grounds could share games like Monaghan do successfully. Give all ends of the county a lift and get the local kids seeing the team.

That last bit is where I'm coming from I guess. Plus less congestion for teams like ladies football looking a facility. Wouldn't it be great to see a joined up approach including them and Camogie so there'd be no more "them and us" and accusations of them not contributing to upkeep etc??