Covid-19 Information Page

The GAA has produced a Club Education site which can be accessed here and is regularly updated with the latest updates, e-learnings and webinars for all members of our community.

We are delighted to announce a safe return to Gaelic Games from 26th April, from academy to minor level. These age groups will be returning safely to training in pods of 15. There are a number of requirements that club members and parents are requested to do before return to play they are as follows:

1. Register via club registration 

2. Complete return to play https://returntoplay.gaa.ie

3. Complete https://learning.gaa.ie/covid19learning

Latest Update - April 2021

GAA senior inter-county teams can return to collective inter-county training from 19 April after approval from Cabinet. Meanwhile, children's non-contact training for outdoor sports can resume in pods of less than 15 from 26 April as the Government unveiled some minimal easing of restrictions amid the Covid-19 Level 5 lockdown.



We are delighted to announce a safe return to Gaelic Games from 26th April, from academy to minor level. These age groups will be returning safely to training in pods of 15. There are a number of requirements that club members and parents are requested to do before return to play they are as follows:

1. Register via club registration 

2. Complete return to play https://returntoplay.gaa.ie

3. Complete https://learning.gaa.ie/covid19learning

January 2021

Advice to Clubs and Counties – for activities post Dec 31^st

CLUB SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 

1.     Club Games and Training

In level 5 and under the current restrictions in the North, individual training only is permitted – neither adult nor underage teams may train collectively. 

GAA club grounds must stay closed. 

Club games are not permitted 

2.     Use of Indoor Team Facilities

Dressing rooms, showers and all other indoor training facilities should remain closed for club activities.

Club Gyms must remain closed until further notice. 

3.     Committee Meetings

No indoor meetings can be held. 

4.     Officer Training 

All officer Training must be delivered online. Outdoor coaching education courses are not permitted.

5.     Club Bars

Club Bars must remain closed until the current restrictions are lifter. 

6.     Indoor Events on GAA Property

No organised indoor gatherings can take place under the current restrictions. 

Commercial use of indoor halls (for example by state bodies – e.g. HSE/Schools is permitted where agreement was in place prior to March and relevant insurance are in place.   These are the only instances in which indoor activity is permitted on GAA Club property.

7.     Outdoor Events on GAA Property

No outdoor gatherings on GAA property are permitted. 

Exception: Walkways may stay open for use by the community with social distancing in place. 

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December 4th

1. Club games 

Under the new Level 3 restrictions announced by Government and which take effect from December 1st, Club games are not permitted – only approved inter-county games can take place.

2. Club training 

In Level 3, underage and adult training can take place, but must be on a non-contact basis in pods of up to 15.

All clubs and players are reminded that health questionnaires and all other relevant control measures must continue to be followed.

No training of any kind is permitted at club level in the Six Counties, either outdoors or indoors, until midnight on Thursday, December 10th at the earliest. Further advice will issue from Ulster GAA once it is available. 

3. Use of indoor team facilities 

Dressing rooms, showers, and all other indoor training facilities should remain closed for club activities.

Club gyms in the 26 Counties may be opened for use by individuals only, with protective measures in place. Players/Teams must not train in groups.

Further advice on protective measures for club gyms has been issued. The GAA will continue to monitor the situation and if the GAA's Covid Advisory Group are not happy that the advice for use of gyms is being properly adhered to, it may lead to their closure again.

4. Committee meetings 

No indoor meetings can be held.

5. Officer training 

All officer training must be delivered online. Outdoor coaching education courses may be held but are subject to a 15-person maximum.

6. Club bars 

Club bars that do not serve food must remain closed until further notice from Friday, December 4th. Club bars that are operating as restaurants (i.e. serving a substantial meal) can open for indoor dining with additional restrictions, including a requirement for meals to be prepared on-site, inside the premises, and with a maximum of six people per table.

Club bars must follow all the relevant protocols for the sector.

All club bars in the six counties must remain closed or in the case of those offering restaurant services, continue offering takeaway food only until midnight of Thursday, December 10th, at the earliest. Further advice will issue from Ulster GAA when it is available.

7. Indoor events on GAA property 

Commercial use of indoor halls continues to be permitted where agreement was in place prior to March and relevant insurance are in place. Use by State bodies e.g. HSE/schools is also permitted. These are the only instances in which indoor activity is permitted on GAA club property.

8. Outdoor events on GAA property 

Gatherings of up to 15 people only are permitted. As such, fundraisers such as fittest family, couch to 5k, etc., should not be organised.

Drive-in events may be held subject to clubs requesting extension of insurance cover from Marsh Ireland or GAA Insurance section; however patrons must remain in their vehicle for the entire duration of the event with no access to club facilities including toilets. Cars attending such events should only contain people from their own pod.

Other events such as poc fada or road bowling should only be organised if they can be limited to 15 people and face coverings must be worn.

October 9th

The GAA have released new guidelines in anticipation of an increase in government restrictions to the Covid 19 pandemic. All club games at all levels and ages are suspended indefinitely with immediate effect. Training will continue to be permitted as per the guidelines outlined for Level 3 in the Government’s National Framework for Living with Covid 19. The Kilmore walking track remains open. Please note that our GAA indoor facilities including dressing rooms, club shop, social club, gyms etc. will remained CLOSED until further notice. This is in accordance with the GAA's Covid Advisory Group's guidelines. Whenever we are given the guidelines to enable us to give definitive dates of resumption of any of our activities and facilities, we will update you here and on our Clubforce app. Please adhere to government and HSE guidelines, on reducing your contacts, washing your hands, keeping your distance and abide by the current restrictions. Thanks for your patience and understanding. The club is still here to help out in our community. 

August 26th

The GAA’s Covid Advisory committee have issued updated guidance to all clubs in relation to attendance at underage games. This advice is based on updated guidelines issued on behalf of the Government by Sport Ireland:

Clubs should note that: 

• No more than 1 designated individual should attend a training session or game per child/family/group of children.
• The GAA Health Questionnaires MUST be completed by parents/guardians in advance of attendance.
• Overall numbers should be kept to a minimum and in line with the space available in the venue/facility.
• Parents are NOT permitted to be in attendance at adult games where their child (U18) is participating. However, provision can be made to allow an adult to be in close proximity (e.g. in the car park etc) in case medical or other emergency needs require their presence. 
• It has also been clarified that a parent/guardian attending an underage game in these circumstances shall not be subject to vetting as they are only the supervisor in a guardianship role for their own child and not any other child on the team.

August 19th

URGENT: IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION ON ATTENDANCES

GAA Update on Attendance at games and facilities

Dear all,

Please read the following statement from the GAA concerning the latest guideline from the Government on outdoor events and their impact on the GAA.

A Rúnaí a chara,

Following last night’s government announcement the GAA is seeking clarification on a number of issues relating to the organisation of our games and activities (26 Counties).

As soon as we get clarity on these issues we will update our units.

In the meantime, as games must now be played "behind closed doors", no more than 40 persons per team should be allowed access to games for the moment. This figure should include all players, management, coaches, ancillary backroom personnel and team officials.

The 80 team personnel (40 per team) is in addition to essential match day personnel such as Match officials (Referees, Linesmen, Umpires), Media and event officials (stewards etc.) 

While we await further clarification on the issue of parents attending juvenile games we suggest that one parent or guardian may attend a game where they consider it necessary for the welfare of their own child.

Cúl Camps and Team training should continue for the moment on the basis of no more than 15 people (including coaches) in a designated area of the field. 

As ever, the Association asks units and members do their utmost to protect public health and we are very grateful for all of your efforts in this regard.

Is Muidne,

Tomás Ó Riain

Ard Stiúrthóir

Seán Ó hÓráin

Uachtarán

August 18th

The relevant updated Government advice on Sport, issued on Tuesday August 18th 2020, is as follows:

“Sporting events and matches can continue to take place but behind closed doors with:

· strict avoidance of gatherings, including social gatherings, before or after events

· strict adherence to 2 metre physical distancing before and after events, during breaks in play, on the sidelines and avoidance of team huddles

· limits of 15 apply to groups outside including training sessions (with exception of elite/professional sports and horseracing). There should be no mixing between groups”

The additional implications of the above for Gaelic Games are as follows:

Games behind closed doors As games must now be played “behind closed doors”, this means only essential personnel should be in attendance. No more than 40 persons per team should be allowed access to games for the moment. This figure should include all players, management, coaches, ancillary backroom personnel and officials.

The 80 team personnel (40 per team) is in addition to essential match day personnel such as Match officials (Referees, Linesmen, Umpires), Media, Streaming personnel and required event officials (stewards etc.)

The restrictions on the playing of games in Kildare remain in place until Government clarify the situation.

Underage games Consistent with our advice of Wednesday, August 19th, the Government have now confirmed Parents/Guardians attending training or games in a safeguarding /supervisory capacity are not classified as spectators; however strict social distancing and public health guidelines should be adhered to at all times. In that context, one parent/guardian per child is permitted to attend at a sporting event, including a game or training session, should they consider it necessary.

Any person wishing to attend our underage training or games including coaches, parents, players and spectators shall be subject to the provisions of the Code of Behaviour (Underage).

For the purpose of clarification, it is the coaches and other responsible adults, trained and vetted to oversee our games at underage level, who are responsible, on behalf of our Clubs, for the organising of our games at this level.

Live streaming of underage games Any safeguarding concerns, if they exist, are addressed by the parental consent form and by permission from the County Board and consent from both participating Clubs.

The Government have undertaken to provide further protocols in this context which will be issued in the coming days.

Training/Cúl Camps Team training and Cúl Camps can continue on the basis of no more than 15 people (including coaches) in a designated area of the field once sufficient space is available and public health protocols are followed.

Training in Counties Laois, Kildare and Offaly should continue on a non-contact basis, in groups of no more than 15 people (including coaches) in a designated area of the field, until Government restrictions specific to those Counties are relaxed.

(Note: Underage groups must be comprised in accordance with the ratios provided for by the Code of Behaviour Underage).

Meetings Indoor club or committee meetings should be avoided where possible but when they must take place, should involve no more than 6 people and should adhere to the guidelines outlined previously by the GAA’s Health and Safety Committee, including the need for 2m social distancing

Control Measures All Clubs are reminded of the need to adhere to the following control measures in the interest of the health and safety of our members and broader society:

· Continue to follow general Public Health guidelines

· Practice good hygiene by washing hands and using sneezing and coughing etiquette

· Observe 2 metre physical distancing off the field, before and after events, during breaks in play and on the sidelines

· Follow GAA protocols by not using changing rooms or other enclosed spaces

· Gyms on GAA property must remain closed

· Travel to training / matches with members of own household only

· Continue to submit Health Questionnaires ahead of training and games

· Do not attend training or games if feeling unwell

· Continue to record attendances at training to facilitate contact tracing

· Members who arrive back in Ireland from a country not on the government’s green travel list should follow Government advice in this context (i.e. restrict their movements for 14 days) and are not permitted to present for Gaelic games activities until the 14 days has elapsed.

June 28th

Our gates opened on Wednesday, June 24th and our adults have been out training. From Saturday 27th June our minors and juveniles can train at our facilities. Please keep in mind the following;

1. The indoor buildings remain closed.

2. Please use the outdoor set of toilets

3. Only outdoor facilities can be used

4. Only people that are training are allowed on the pitch.

"GET IN, TRAIN, GET OUT!"

5. Please remember the 3 C's - Avoid Crowds, Avoid Closed Spaces, Avoid Close Contact

Update - June 21st

The following changes to the return to activity guidelines are being made after recommendations made by the Covid-19 Advisory Committee. These changes were subsequently endorsed by the GAA, the Camogie Association and the LGFA.

This week:

• Open pitches for Adult training on Wednesday, June 24th.
• Open for Minor and below from Saturday, June 27th.
• Both of the above on a non-contact basis and on the understanding that players and all participants have completed the eLearning module and are following the control measures in place (health questionnaire etc).
• On the basis of a maximum of 15 players in a designated area of the field (26 Counties) and 10 players in a designated area of the field (6 Counties).

Coaching numbers for underage teams to be consistent with Code of Behaviour. Recommendations were made by the Covid-19 Advisory Committee this morning.

From June 29th:

• Allow contact training and challenge games for all from Monday, June 29th (26 Counties).
• We await guidance from the NI Executive in relation to 6 Counties – non-contact training in the numbers outlined above in the interim.
• We also await clarification on what will constitute a close contact versus a casual contact.
• Restriction on participants only attending training sessions to be relaxed from June 29th – subject to government specified maximum of 200 people in the ground.
• Allow Club Fixtures from Friday July 17th.
• No change to inter-county dates (Sept 14th for training; competitions to start on Oct 17th as planned).
• All control measures for players, coaches and other team personnel (completion of health questionnaire, eLearning education etc) is to remain in place until advised otherwise; dressing rooms to remain closed until July 20th

The Advisory Committee is considering the position in relation to other GAA buildings (such as Club bars that are serving food, Gyms, Handball alleys etc). Guidance will be provided in this context before June 29th.