Munster Council Meeting – April 19th 2012

The promotion of the upcoming Munster Senior Championships was the main item on the agenda for the meeting of the Munster GAA Council held on Thursday night at Limerick. Delegates were informed of the packages being put in place for the upcoming championships with the focus on club discount packages and family packages. Tickets will also be available for purchase across the 50+ Centra and Supervalu stores in Munster. Full details of all tickets promotions and prices will be communicated to clubs and counties in the coming weeks while the launch of the Munster Senior Hurling and Senior Football Championships will take place on Monday May 14th at the Mallow GAA Complex.

Deputy CEO Enda McGuane confirmed that a 33% discount was made available for advance purchase through clubs, the Munster GAA web site and via Centra and Supervalu for last weeks Cadburys Munster Under 21 Football Final. 564 adults purchased tickets in advance at €10 for the extra time thriller between Kerry and Cork, a €5 discount on the headline price. McGuane also confirmed that the Council recorded an increase on attendance for the Munster Under 21 Football Championship for the fourth consecutive year.

Delegates made enquires about eligibility criteria for Under 16s being granted free admission at non-ticketed Munster GAA games. Chairman Sean Walsh confirmed that the National GAA policy for a number of years has been that free admission is given to those who are Under 16 on the day of the match. This is line with the criteria for other bodies such as Irish Rail and Bus Eireann. Deputy CEO Enda McGuane confirmed that the attendance of 5,318 at the recent Cadburys Munster Under 21 Football Final included the free admission of 1,150 Under 16s. Delegates felt that the GAA did not get enough credit for allowing Under 16s free admission to numerous games, a practice not offered in many competing sports.

The meeting heard that the new Munster GAA Headquarters in Limerick was progressing well. Chairman Sean Walsh invited all delegates to inspect the premises at the June meeting of the Council. It is hoped to move in to the new HQ following the completion of the Munster Championships in July with an official opening to follow in the autumn.

Chairman Sean Walsh paid tribute to all those involved with the North American County Board (NACB) on the launch of their strategic plan at Annual Congress last Friday. Munster GAA are partnered with the NACB and have worked closely together to produce an impressive document. The Chairman paid particular tribute to the input of Joey Carton to the strategic plan.

The Chairman also paid tribute to the Cork Under 21 Footballers (on their victory over Kerry in the Munster Final), to former Chairman of the Munster Council Jimmy O’Gorman (on being elected as GAA representative of Congress – formally known as Trustee) and to all the winners in the recent Munster Scor Sinsear Final held at Templemore.