Offaly GAA is in Some State

A forum to air your views on Offaly GAA matters and beyond.
Offalys Future
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Offalys Future »

Four months on from the meeting in Birr and what has been achieved?
(3 coaching sessions by Martin Fogarty apart)

where is our blue print on going forward?
where is our strategic plan?
Where is Offaly's pathway to success?
What resources are been put in place to achieve success?
Where is the player developmental programmes?
Where is the coach developmental plan?
Where is the plan to get Offaly schools winning senior colleges All-Irelands?
Where is the support for clubs?

All talk and no action. From what I heard the committee were working off the same template that Limerick GAA have used. Offaly isn't Limerick and are not working with same resources.

Why do we do everything half arsed in Offaly?
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "

Chris
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Chris »

Here here Offaly's Future . ....although i think that was probably jjust talk to get the funding from Leinster council......

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Slieve Bloom Man
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Slieve Bloom Man »

Offalys Future wrote:Four months on from the meeting in Birr and what has been achieved?
(3 coaching sessions by Martin Fogarty apart)

where is our blue print on going forward?
where is our strategic plan?
Where is Offaly's pathway to success?
What resources are been put in place to achieve success?
Where is the player developmental programmes?
Where is the coach developmental plan?
Where is the plan to get Offaly schools winning senior colleges All-Irelands?
Where is the support for clubs?

All talk and no action. From what I heard the committee were working off the same template that Limerick GAA have used. Offaly isn't Limerick and are not working with same resources.

Why do we do everything half arsed in Offaly?

Some really good points here Offaly's Future! However as stated on another discussion form on this site. Why haven't you put your name forward to be on the County Board to effect change? Enough shite talk from loads of lads on this website - time to walk the walk!

Offalys Future
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Offalys Future »

Does anybody care anymore?

Five months on from the meeting in Birr and what has been achieved?
(3 coaching sessions by Martin Fogarty apart)

where is our blue print on going forward?
where is our strategic plan?
Where is Offaly's pathway to success?
What resources are been put in place to achieve success?
Where is the player developmental programmes?
Where is the coach developmental plan?
Where is the plan to get Offaly schools winning senior colleges All-Irelands?
Where is the support for clubs?

All talk and no action. From what I heard the committee were working off the same template that Limerick GAA have used. Offaly isn't Limerick and are not working with same resources.

Why do we do everything half arsed in Offaly?
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "

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townman
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by townman »

if you don't mind me asking who's your club, i think your just a WUM from outside the county and only on to stir the shit here i'd say maybe a tipp or leix man :oops:

Offalys Future
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Offalys Future »

Where's is the hurling plan?
This is disgraceful what is happening to hurling in Offaly at the moment.

The only way forward for Offaly hurling is if there is full transparency. Is there a plan in progress?
I really hope so and I really hope that people that are interested are given the opportunity to apply for positions instead of the clicks that have become ever familiar in Offaly hurling sorting their friends out. WE NEED LEADERSHIP
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "

manfromdelmonte
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by manfromdelmonte »

the problem with opening up debate on the future for GAA games in Offaly is that it lays bare all the stuff that is not being done.

if they bothered to engage with clubs properly, got a few review committees in place and just focussed on improving one or two areas each year going forward then in 5 years time you'd have a lot done.
I don't like comparing us with other counties, but if we look around us most other counties seem to have developed plans and have targets in place for improvements over a number of years.
only the best...

private joker
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by private joker »

What came from the open forum that was held late 2014?.
I heard it was well attended but the running of it not so good.Was it an " open forum"?
From reading the midland tribune, the people speaking are all good, well intended men. But in my opinion, the wrong people. In Kilkenny hurling is the only sport and is a "Brand" in the county. Ofaly play both codes. The other speakers are rich in hurling knowledge but not rich in the knowledge in getting from where Offaly is and how to get Offaly to where it needs to be.
The cause of Offaly decline needs to be clearly stated. No one should be left in any doubt of where it has gone wrong. Then a solution can be brought about.
The professional people within the county are very good, if im honest, they are wasted In Offaly. The county games manager and the GPO are real solid men, who are undermanned, under funded and I dare say not listened to.
Numerous times people on this site have asked for the removal of county board officials, club puts forward a man/women to fill the role.That person needs to work with the professionals and facilitate what they introduce. People on here, if they are serious about getting Offaly G.A.A back to some sort of decent level need to act.
One of the most important and vital roles is the coaching officer. The professionals within the county need that role filled by a similar thinking person.

Will another open forum be held.
Was a time line and action plans put in place.
Are the development squads been operated correctly.
Is the coach education working?

Offalys Future
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Offalys Future »

It's now over 5 months since the so called open forum to "restore Offaly hurling to its place among the top hurling counties"

It's hilarious to see the same posters writing the same shite year in year out about Offaly's performances in the national league. and it was even more hilarious this week listening to the discussion on the radio. Do us a favour and the next time you get an opportunity on the air waves and speak about something productive and that will actually benefit Offaly hurling.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lBDpmGM3I)

I have heard the names that they are talking about taking over the new roles and it's a disgrace the same clicks existing in Offaly hurling.
No transparency and no opportunity for good people to get involved and steer Offaly in the right direction.

Offaly hurling will continue to decline with the same miss management and lack of leadership at county board level that has taken place over the past 10 years.

" Does anybody care anymore?

Five months on from the meeting in Birr and what has been achieved?
(3 coaching sessions by Martin Fogarty apart)

where is our blue print on going forward?
where is our strategic plan?
Who is going to implement this plan?
Is there going to be transparency and interviews for positions?
Where is Offaly's pathway to success?
What resources are been put in place to achieve success?
Where is the player developmental programmes?
Where is the coach developmental plan?
Where is the plan to get Offaly schools winning senior colleges All-Irelands?
Where is the support for clubs?
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "

kingscounty
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by kingscounty »

Looks like a bail out from croke park is on the cards , €200,000 owed on O Connor park .

Killeighman
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Killeighman »

Offaly Gaa is in a so called "financial crisis"

Kevin
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Kevin »

From Midlands Tribune

http://www.midlandtribune.ie/articles/news/44932

A little more detail here.

Croke Park To Intervene As Major Financial Crisis Looms For Offaly GAA Board

Thursday, 19 February 2015

CROKE Park has stepped in as a major financial crisis has emerged for the Offaly GAA County Board.


Rumours that the finances of the board were not in a good position have floated around in recent weeks and these were confirmed at the February meeting of the Offaly GAA County Board last week when it emerged that Croke Park have been asked to come to the county's rescue with a new loan.


Officers admitted that the county is experiencing serious cash flow problems at the moment but the problem is way deeper than that with a lengthy list of creditors owed thousands of euros.
It was revealed that players have only been paid recently for vouchers for football boots that were supposed to be paid last year.


It is understood that over €200,000 is owed by the board - while the Offaly GAA income and expenditure account showed a profit of €38,045 last year, the balance sheet showed that creditors were owed a massive €455,602.
Paying the loans for the redevelopment of O'Connor Park is also proving to be a major burden for the board. Last year, O'Connor Park showed an operating deficit of €99,405.


It was announced last week that Offaly GAA's O'Connor Park loan with Ulster Bank is being transferred to central headquarters at Croke Park while intensive negotiations have also taken part with members of the National Finance Committee in an effort to solve the current financial crisis.


A meeting between board officers and all club chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers will take place in the coming weeks where details of a package and the repayments schedule from Croke Park will be announced to them before being formally put to a full County Board meeting on March 10th.


It also emerged that the crisis may affect the board's plans to develop a new training facility at Kilcormac though chairman, Padraig Boland is very hopeful that this will still proceed as planned.


Treasurer Jimmy Hogan told delegates that cash flow is currently causing the board a major problem with all county teams now in training, a lot of invoices coming in and no revenue from club championships or other sources.
Mr Hogan stated that the Offaly GAA Finance Committee have held a number of meetings to address the problem and have submitted proposals to the National Finance Committee.


He declined to reveal figures but told Clara delegate Brian Gavin that the situation was 'very bad'.
Mr Padraig Boland revealed that the Finance Committee, chaired by James Murphy of Rhode, have been meeting almost every day on the issue. He stated that their list of creditors has increased substantially in the last twelve months while the board is now introducing a new financial management package and procedures.


'Quite an amount of money is owed to creditors,' he revealed. 'Some belong to the current period. Others are more historical, over a two to three year period. We were sufficiently concerned to raise it with the National Finance Committee. We need goodwill with creditors. The cash flow is not any worse than any other year.'


The National Finance Committee will be coming back to Offaly with their proposals before their term ends on February 27/28, Mr Boland declared.
'It is a chance to make hay out of a crisis and get all our affairs in order,' Mr Boland said.


He told Brian Gavin that O'Connor Park has been a big factor in the board's financial plight. He stressed that O'Connor Park had to be developed as Offaly had to play two 'home' championship matches away in consecutive years but that it was putting them under pressure.
In a meeting with John Brown of Leinster Council, it emerged that the repayments on O'Connor Park were the difference between Offaly and the finances of comparably sized neighbouring counties. Apart from that, Offaly compared very favourably with them, Mr Boland told delegates.


He stated that part of their financial problem was that a 'business decision' was taken in recent years to prioritise repayments on O'Connor Park over paying money owed to creditors.
He hoped that O'Connor Park could generate more revenue and avenues such as concerts, naming rights and other ventures are under consideration.


The board are now putting procedures in place where all creditors will be paid over a 30/60 day period.
Mr Boland is hopeful that the new €1.5 million county training grounds will proceed as planned in Kilcormac. He stated that they were in an awkward position as they were seeking support to pay creditors on one hand and support to develop a training ground on the other.


He promised that clubs would not be asked to finance the Kilcormac training ground but he said that they have put a strong case to Croke Park about funding for the facility.
He agreed with St Brigid's delegate Laz Molloy that smaller counties like Offaly are being left behind by the bigger counties. He said there is growing concern in Croke Park about this and staff are trying to solve it. 'Behind the scenes, there is a row about how this is done,' he said, adding that he was stunned recently when he heard that every club in Dublin pays €22,500 for a full time coach and this is matched by the Dublin County Board. He said a club like Kilmacud Crokes is bigger than Offaly.


'The playing pitch is not level. The GAA is a strange organisation. Sometimes they can't do something because everyone else will want the same but they try and help in different ways. Our case has to be fought and we will fight it,' Mr Boland commented.


Stressing that no one was being critical of anyone who has served the board in the past, he concluded by saying: 'O'Connor Park needs to be more self sustaining. It has the potential to do it. We need to be more focussed on that. We have been run like a voluntary organisation. We need to be more professional. We are not casting aspersions on anyone who has been here before. The people who were here before did very well to keep the ball in the air while playing into a gale force wind but we are where we are and my job as chairman is to lead us out of it. We will get out of it but we need help from Croke Park.'
Kevin Clancey. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Bord na Mona man »

We need to have a couple of concerts in O'Connor Park to pay the bills.
Who should we get?

Kevin
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by Kevin »

We'll unleash the Jersey Shore on ya.

The Boss and Bon Jovi to play O'Connor Park together or on separate nights.

After the show, Southside Johnny in a small hall/big bar (or warm up for the big show).

Nerds in a medium sized bar (and or warm up for Southside).

Norman Seldin and friends in a Piano Bar.

Plenty of other acts around.

Let me know what else you may need.
Kevin Clancey. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

kingscounty
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Re: Offaly GAA is in Some State

Post by kingscounty »

How about the Mount Bolus Ceili band as a warm up act to the Joyce Country Ceili band who in turn are a warm up act to the Kilfenora Ceili Band , some head banging at a concert like that !! :D

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