Chairperson / Cathaoirleach

The Qualities of an Cathaoirleach
An Cathaoirleach is a leader and a Manager. He/She must have:

– Dedication – the G.A.A. and the Club must come high in his/her priorities
– Knowledge – He/She must prepare by knowing what the G.A.A. is all about. He/she must become familiar with ‘An Treoraí Oifigiúil

– Power of Persuasion – He/she is not a dictator. He/she must be able to motivate and handle people.
– Integrity – He/she is the symbol of the Club and has a good standing in the community.

 

We will not always get the ideal Cathaoirleach. We may even find it difficult sometimes to get one at all!

But we should do our best to get someone.
– who has time to do the job
– who is a genuine interest in the Association and the necessary background knowledge
– who has a good standing in the community
– who has leadership qualities.

 

General Duties

The duties of an Cathaoirleach may be summed up as follows:
– To uphold the constitution of the Association. This of course means that he/she must know it thoroughly. He/she
– To act as Cathaoirleach at certain committee and other meetings.
– To strive continuously to improve the club; this involves full co-operation with the other office holders.
– To represent the club at various functions
– To act on behalf of the club in the interval between meetings.

Meetings
We will now move on to the role of the Cathaoirleach at meetings. This begins in advance of the meeting when an Cathaoirleach should prepare or obtain an agenda; certainly he/she should know what will be on the agenda for the meeting (very often he/she will draft the agenda with the Club Secretary). He/she will decide what the priorities of the meeting are with the intention of getting those matters finalised, leaving unimportant matters to be decided at a later date if necessary. He/she ensures to be at the venue of the meeting before the appointed time so that he/she and the Secretary can discuss the agenda.

The Cathaoirleach role at the meeting is by far the most important of his/her functions. Most of the essentials are referred to in the Club Manual.

The efficient transaction of committee business calls for set procedures. The extent to which these are put into force varies a good deal. Generally, the contributions of individual members are limited by rules which are interpreted and applied by the Cathaoirleach. These rules of procedure are designed to help keep order and to enable sound and acceptable decisions to be reached quickly and with least effort.

Broadly speaking. the rules of procedure will ensure:
– That, for practical purposes, the majority decision is the right one
– That at a committee meeting the majority vote will represent the committees opinion
– That the minority will agree with the majority ruling

 

A Few Important Points:
– The Cathaoirleach has more authority than any other member of the committee; An Cathaoirleach should ensure that the meeting is effective. He/she must guide but not lead.

– The responsibility for seeing that the meeting achieves its purpose rests with the Cathaoirleach. He/she must decide priorities to see that the important things are dealt with.

– He/she must keep to the point and see that others do likewise. He/she must not allow talkative members to dominate the meeting.

– He/she must close discussion on a subject when it has gone on long enough: summarise the points made and make sure that members understand the decision/s they are taking.

– He/she should see that all speakers address the Chair and do not engage in cross-talk with each other. This formality should be followed even at small committee meetings.

– He/she should be tolerant to reasonable interjections but prevent excess heckling.

– He/she should adopt a neutral attitude and remain impartial especially where a matter is contentious.

 

 

 

30-Dec-07 by PJ Meehan – Development Officer

PRO ( Club Public Relations Officer )

Person holding this position is responsible for the quality of publicity given to the Club and the GAA as an organisation. He/She is the link with the general public on behalf of the Club.

Duties include
1. Make sure to have a weekly club column published
2. Submit an article and a fixtures list on a weekly basis by the local paper deadline
3. Submit results weekly
4. Submit articles on GAA activities re social events, presentations, features on ongoing club activities, features on individual players both club and inter-county, colleges and interfirms etc..
5. Submit quality photographs for publication
6. Report on Club AGM
7. Publicise material on matters such as fund-raising activities, special development projects, co-operation with other organisations in community projects
8. Prepare an Annual Report and present it to the Club AGM

Publications covering the general club/community area
Arrange with editors of local publications ( local paper notes, chuch bulletins,local radio etc ) to include articles of interest. Arrange with local radio to have club events included in sports programmes on a regular basis.

General work methods:
Operate a system whereby the club PRO or Runai supplies the County PRO with information on a regular basis.
Provide the National PRO with information on a regular basis.
Work as a team with other Club Officers
All information for publication should come through the PRO.

Presentation:
Encourage the Club to have a high standard in its presentation of games, functions and other events.
Present Cumann Luthlhleas Gael in the best possible light.
Use AnÓgaeilge when possible.

Those are a few of the general ongoings for a Club PRO and a more detailed job spec will be made available at the upcoming training for club officers.

 

 

30-Dec-07 by PJ Meehan – Development Officer

An Cisteoir – ( Club Treasurer )

Looking after the Club funds is his/her main responsibility. Managing the day to day accounts, dealing with financial institutions on behalf of the club. The post carries with it the portrayal of a good image of the GAA at community level.

Duties of the Club Treasurer.
– Receive money on behalf of the club
– Lodge all monies to the club accounts
– Pay money out on behalf of the club
– Keep a record of all transactions
– Enter transactions in Income and Expenditure Books
– Give receipts for money received and get receipts for money paid out
– Keep receipts on file, make all payments by cheque
– Keep all bank statements, cheque stubs, and lodgement records
– Collect all fees due to club and forward all relevant fees through An Runai to appropriate bodies
– Present an up-to-date financial statement to each club meeting
– Prepare Annual Financial Statement and Balance Sheet for Club AGM.

Ideally the Treasurer should chair the club finance committee and be aware of club?s financial situation especially if funds are getting low. Reporting to club executive committee the treasurer is seen as the Club Planner, Organiser, Controller, Recorder and Reporter.
This is above all a position of trust and the careful selection of people for the job goes without saying.

This is a guide to some of the main roles of the treasurer.

 

 

30-Dec-07 by PJ Meehan – Development Officer

Club Secretary

The post of Secretary is one of the vital links in any organisation and this is true of the GAA Club Secretary also. His/her duties are many and varied and call for a high degree of dedication.

Working closely with the Cathaoirleach, the Secretary has more to do with the practical running of the Club than any other member and should be carefully chosen for this position.

The post of Secretary is one of the vital links in any organisation and this is true of the GAA Secretary also. His/Her duties are many and varied and call for a high degree of dedication. These duties dovetail with those of the Cathaoirleach and it is essential that they work as a team of which the Secretary will very often be the more active one.

The Secretary has more to do with the practical running of the Club than any other member; he/she must therefore be carefully chosen.

He/she should be a good organiser, tidy and methodical, tactful and friendly and
above all reliable.

A good Club Secretary means there is good management of administration of the Club. Club management is not an end in itself. Our job is to enable people to enjoy and play our games, to develop the games and to further the social and community aims of the Association. The level of administration should therefore be the minimum to achieve
these aims.

The great difference in size and range of activities of Clubs, and between rural and urban areas make it impossible to impose standard methods; that would not be desirable in any event. Flexibility in the local situation is important.

These notes may not always be relevant to your situation but the general principles will apply no matter what the size
of your Club.

Even in amateur organisations, the members and the general public now demand professional standards of administration by voluntary officials.

– Meetings: Work before, during and arising out of meetings, including the Annual General Meeting.
– Records: Keeping records and files of Club activities, including membership
– Correspondence: Match notices, letters, filling in forms etc

Meetings
A Club should hold regular committee meetings even if at times there appears to be little to be done. Coming together may spark off some needed activity ! It is helpful to specify a night say, last Thursday of the month or Thursday of each week.

At the first Club meeting of the season, all should agree on a time and meetings should begin at that time. Punctuality is merely a habit. Meetings should also close formally so that everyone, including the Secretary, is quite clear when the business is concluded. Essential business should be transacted first. A good deal can usually be left over for the "chat" after the meeting. This enables those who want to leave to do so.

The secretary usually calls a meeting. If held weekly, no notices are necessary unless there is something special on
the agenda. In that case, members should be told about it in advance so they can think it over. For monthly meetings,
written notices with an agenda should be issued.

There should always be an agenda for a meeting, though not necessarily distributed to all members. Unless the members are very familiar with it, the Cathaoirleach should read the agenda; this prevents members raising matters at the wrong time.The Cathaoirleach and Secretary should meet before the meeting and go through the agenda. An agenda could be on the following lines:
– Minutes
– Matters Arising
– Correspondence (for letters, etc. not relevant elsewhere on the agenda)
– Report from County Committee or Divisional Committee
– Fixtures and Transport ( to decide on …regarding fixtures , to discuss ….regarding transport)
– Finance
– Fund-Raising
– Other activities
– Other Business (only matters of minor importance to be dealt with here)

It is always helpful to members to give an indication of the exact business to be dealt with under common headings such as Fixtures, Finance and Transport etc. – this way members come to a meeting better prepared to participate. The Secretary must prepare the business for the meeting, i.e. get together any information that may be needed. He/She should also check back on the minutes of the last meeting to see that action has been taken as required. The Secretary should make all the physical arrangements for the meeting.

During the meeting, the Secretary must record the attendance of each member and apologies for absence. The Secretary takes a note of decisions reached. He/She should not try to write everything down, but should follow the sense of the discussion, listening for key points. If in doubt about decisions, the Secretary should ask for clarification.

The Secretary may have to assist the Cathaoirleach in the conduct of the meeting and ideally both officers should work together to get the meeting over quickly.

One of the problem areas at GAA Club committee meetings is that of match reports as the games tend to be played all over again! This trend must be resisted but meetings should end inÓgood time to enable "informal" discussion to take place afterwards.

After the meeting, the Secretary must write the minutes. This should be done as soon as possible. Usually minutes should only record what was dealt with and what decisions were taken. But sometimes the main points raised in a discussion may need to be recorded. Do not give a verbatim account. Minutes should be written in a proper Minute
book.

The special requirements of the Club Annual General Meeting are dealt with in the Club Manual.

Records
The Club Secretary is responsible for keeping records of matches, venues, dates and winners. He/She should also arrange for membership records, unless there is a separate Membership Secretary. Simple files about various Club activities should be kept as all such items will be sought for the compilation of a Club History or a Centenary Year
Book etc. A petty cash book is also necessary for recording payments of small cash amounts, i.e. postage, telephone calls, etc.

 

Correspondence
The Club Secretary will be the main link with the Divisional Board or County Committee. He/She should deal expeditiously with all correspondence, if necessary after consulting with the Cathaoirleach. He should use a well designed Club letter heading and keep copies of all important letters.

The Club Secretary, if he/she has a good knowledge of Irish, can do a great deal to promote it in simple ways, both oral and written. The booklet "An Sloinnteoir Gaeilge agus an t-Ainmneoir" is an essential booklet for the Club Secretary. A good source book for GAA terminology is the Report of the Commission on the GAA which was printed bilingually.

‘An Treoraí Oifigiúil

The Club Secretary must always have a current copy of the Official Guide. He/She should be familiar with the provisions dealing with Club activities.

 

 

 

30-Dec-07 by PJ Meehan – Development Officer

Id like to take the opportunity to wish all of you, our valued visitors, and the web team that make this website what it is a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Photos of recent activities will be uploaded over the festive period and well be back in full action for the first game of the new year on January 6th in the FBD league in Páirc Sean. Watch out for a few archive news items that are planned for release over the festive period. The random image section on the home page is set to display images (and associated captions) from its introduction in April and hopefully this will jog a few memories.

– Nollaig shonasach agus athbhliain shuaimhneach dhíobh go lear –

 

 

 

 

24-Dec-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

More sad news for Leitrim GAA followers with the death of Tommy ORiordan. Tommy was secretary of Coiste Contae Liatroma for approx seventeen years from 1953 to 1970. Tommy was also actively involved in coaching Leitrim County players based in Dublin for may years. Tommy not only devoted his time to Leitrim but was deeply involved in his club Ballyboden St Endas.

On behalf of the Clubs and officers of Coiste Contae Liatroma we would like to extend our sincere sympathy to his family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

 

 

19-Dec-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

It is with great regret that we hear of the passing of Tony McGowan, Drumshanbo.

Tony gave a life time of service to the association at both club and County level. He served as Chairman from 1986 to 1995 and during the Leitrim glory era he was credited with the appointments of PJ Caroll and John O Mahony. One of Tonys life long ambitions was realised in 1994 when Leitrim captured the Connacht Senior Football Championship in Hyde Park when they defeated Mayo in the Connacht final.

Tony also held several key positions at administration level within his own club Allen Gaels in Drumshanbo. He was a selector on the team that put back to back senior titles together in 1996 and 1997. Tony Mc Gowan spent many years as a secondary School teacher in Drumshanbo Vocational School where he was also involved with various School teams.

Always an optimist and some one who had tremendous forward vision when it came to Gaelic games in Leitrim Tony will be someone who will be sadly missed from Gaelic matches everywhere.

On behalf of the Clubs and officers of Coiste Contae Liatroma we would like to extend our sincere sympathy to the McGowan family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

 

 

19-Dec-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

 

The Leitrim Scór na nÓg Finals will take place in Manorhamilton on Sunday 6 January starting at 3.00. As usual there will be a feast of Irish music, song and dance and much more as Leitrim clubs contest for places in the Connacht Finals.

This year, Coiste Scór Liatroma has introduced a new and novel idea with a Certificate being presented to every buachaill or cailín who takes part in the Finals. Thus some of the disappointment of not winning will be tempered by the recognition that everyone took part in a wonderful occasion, the night of the Leitrim Scór na nÓg Finals.

As soon as Christmas is over, clubs will be thinking of Scór Sinsear. The semi finals are due this year on 29 February in Bornacoola and 1 March in Drumreilly, with the Co Finals a week later in Manorhamilton.

 

 

19-Dec-07 by Sean O Suilleabhain

Congratulations to Kiltubrid on winning the Leitrim Club Grounds of the Year for 2007.

This year as ever it was a close run competition and the outright winners were chosen after Connacht Officers inspected the short list recommended by the Leitrim County committee. The runners up were Aughawillan in 2nd and Bornacoola in 3rd place.

All 3 have paid excellent attention to detail in recent years and this has culminated in the excellent quality of the grounds for both players and spectators alike.

Kiltubrid have been particularly busy with recent modifications including a new training pitch and upgrade of the car park area. The awarding of this years title is well justified and congratulations to all concerned and well done on the win. The award will be presented at the forthcoming Awards night on January 12th.

Kiltubrid will then contest the Connacht Grounds of the Year Award which will be announced at the Connacht Awards night in the New Year.

 

 

 

17-Dec-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Senior board Convention.

At last Sunday’s senior board convention, treasurer for the last six years, Mr. Jim Meehan stepped down from his position. The professional manner in which Jim carried out his duties as treasurer is a credit to him and this has been acknowledged at both provincial and National level. We would like to thank Jim for all his help and cooperation during his time as treasurer and wish him well in his new role as central council delegate.

Level One Coaching Course.

Would all coaches who completed the Level one coaching course earlier this year please return your log book to Thomas Keenan, Páirc Séan MacDiarmada, Ck-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim., on or before Wednesday 12/12/07, so that we may organise cert’s for the course before the end of the year. Please note only those who return completed log books will be issued with a cert and those who fail to return their log book will have to wait till next year to complete the course.

Fun Do Resource Pack.

Clubs and coaches are reminded that the new Fun Do packs are available from our offices in Pairc Sean, or by contacting Thomas Keenan 087-6591049. Packs are available for a limited time at the special price of €50 each.

Coaching Calendar 2008

Our coaching calendar for 2008 is now available from our office in Páirc Sean and will also be distributed at the next Coiste na nÓg and senior board meetings. This publication outline’s all our coaching projects, workshops and seminars planned for 2008 and all clubs should ensure that there coaches attend as many of these as possible.

Following a number of inquires in relation to the dates for our 2008 Vhi GAA summer camp’s, the following is the list of dates and venues. Please note new camp in Leitrim Gaels GAA grounds from Monday 21/07/08 to Friday 25/07/08.

Monday 30/06/2008 – Manorhamilton, Ck-on-Shannon, Aughawillan.

Monday 07/07/2008 – Kinlough, Drumshanbo, Mohill.

Monday 14/07/2008 – Aughavas, Gortletteragh, Dromahair.

Monday 21/07/2008 – Fenagh, Drumkeerin, Leitrim.

Christmas holidays.

As this will be our final coaching news item for 2007, I would like to thank everybody who helped us out in any way during the year, it was much appreciated and to wish everybody a very happy, peaceful and safe Christmas and best wishes for a successful 2008. Beannachtai na Nollag agus athbhliain faoi mhaise duit.

 

 

17-Dec-07 by Thomas Keenan

Coiste na nÓg AGM.

Congrats to Dan Gallogly on his election to the post of Chairman on Thursday night last. We wish Dan all the best in his new role and may we also thank out-going Chairman Jimmy Mc Nama and out-going treasurer Walter Sharpley for all their help and assistance over the past number of years.

Foundation Level Coaching Course.
A foundation level coaching course will be held on next Friday 14th and Saturday 15th December in Ck – on – Shannon. Friday nights session will take place in Pairc Sean commencing at 7.30pm, while the session on Saturday will be held in the Sports complex commencing at 10.00am. Further details can be had by contacting Thomas Keenan or Martin McGowan.

Level One Coaching Course.
Would all coaches who completed the Level one coaching course earlier this year please return your log book to Thomas Keenan, Pairc Sean Mac Diarmuida, Ck-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim., on or before Wednesday 12/12/07, so that we may organise certs for the course before the end of the year. Please note only those who return completed log books will be issued with a cert and those who fail to return their log book will have to wait till next year to complete the course.

Fun Do Resource Pack.
Clubs and coaches are reminded that the new Fun Do packs are available from our offices in Pairc Sean, or by contacting Thomas Keenan 087-6591049. Packs are available for a limited time at the special price of €50 each.

Coaching Calendar 2008
Our coaching calendar for 2008 will be available from next week. This publication will outline all our coaching projects, workshops and seminars planned for 2008 and all clubs should ensure that there coaches attend as many of these as possible.

GAA Vhi Cul Camps 2008
Following a number of inquires in relation to the dates for our 2008 Vhi GAA summer camps, the following is the list of dates and venues. Please note new camp in Leitrim Gaels GAA grounds from Monday 21/07/08 to Friday 25/07/08.

Monday 30/06/2008 – Manorhamilton, Ck-on-Shannon, Aughawillan.
Monday 07/07/2008 – Kinlough, Drumshanbo, Mohill.
Monday 14/07/2008 – Aughavas, Gortletteragh, Dromahair.
Monday 21/07/2008 – Fenagh, Drumkeerin, Leitrim.

 

 

13-Dec-07 by Thomas Keenan

Leitrim GAA are delighted to announce the following recipients of the Hurling and Handball awards for 2007:

All of the awards will be presented at the Annual Awards night held in the Bush Hotel on January 12th.

(The names of the clubs referred to are as the Committees wish them to be published.)

 

County Hurler of the Year
Niall Glancy, St. Marys

Club Hurler of the Year
Micheal Dolan, Manorhamilton

Youth Hurler of Year
Morgan Quinn, Ballinamore

Senior Handballer of Year
Tony Cullen, Drumshanbo

Junior Handballer Of Year
Dara Flynn, Drumkeerin

Juvenile Handballer of Year
AidenÓgilmartin, Drumshanbo

Ladies Handballer of Year

Shauna Clancy, Drumkeerin

 

 

 

 

 

12-Dec-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO