Minister Praises GAA's Work In The Community

The Minister made the closing remarks at the GAA's annual Club and Community Development Conference in the Europa Hotel last week.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said: "The GAA is an organisation which not only inspires and motivates people to take part in sports, but also to tackle wider social issues and volunteer in the community. A major part of all volunteering in Ireland comes from the GAA and that is something to be congratulated.

"Within the North we run the Curriculum Sports Programme which provides GAA and IFA coaches in primary schools. We now have 28 IFA and 32 GAA coaches working in over 400 primary schools with pupils aged four to eight.

"The coaches work closely with teachers so the programme supports the curriculum and provides a fun and exciting way for children to be more active and learn basic physical literacy skills."

The Minister continued: "This conference highlights the invaluable and extensive work the GAA does across the sporting community and for people at grassroots level.

"The GAA works hard to address the issues of community development and cohesion and strives to get as many young people involved in sport as possible."