Vision, Mission, Values: Uachtaran ClG Christy Cooney officially launched the Strategic Vision and Action Plan produced by the Connacht GAA Council. The event which took place in the McWilliam Park Hotel was attended by Delegates and County Board members from all the Connacht Counties including a large contingent from Sligo.

The plan which will run until 2015 is, in the words of Connacht Secretary John Prenty, a living plan that can be changed and adapted to new circumstances. It follows the launch of the National plan and every County will in turn be expected to create their own plan.

Sligo County Board has yet to produce a glossy brochure with the contents of our own "Mission statement" but several initiatives have already been taken which would sit well with the GAA’s Strategic vision. The County was one of the first to use Electronic Registration, our Website has been revamped and we are committed to having our accounts audited in future in line with the objective of attaining financial excellence. The Board is currently advertising the post of Administrator thus creating a full time position which will increase the efficiency of the organisation locally. All Clubs are now using their new email addresses and County Officers are attending training days in Croke Park where ideas are shared and knowledge imparted. Tutors in Connacht were presented with their new tops in the Blue Connacht Colours at the launch of the plan. The uniform will ensure that tutors all over Connacht are instantly recognisable giving a professional look to an amateur organisation. At least members of the Easkey Club will feel at home when ever they spot one!

A common theme of the speeches made on the night of the launch was that Clubs and County should use in house training. Liam O’Neill of Croke Park was of the view that the organisation at all levels should be self sufficient as far as training was concerned with the expertise that was freely available. Paying tutors or trainers did not make a lot of sense at Club or County level was the considered view of O’Neill and other contributors; it certainly doesn’t make sense when striving to attain Financial Excellence.

Urbanisation, Communications and Financial Excellence are just three of the many themes tackled by the various plans. These themes are as challenging for Sligo as any other County.

In any plan a new emphasis on the fixtures schedule will be a priority. The demands of Club and County can make life very difficult for the fixtures Committee, however Christy Cooney has on many occasions emphasised the importance of the Club as a unit of the Organisation. An Runaí John Prenty was blunt as usual in informing his audience that there was a problem with fixtures at many levels. In the consultation process that preceded the plan this was a recurring theme.

Sligo’s fixtures Committee have consulted with all Clubs before the 2010 plan was put in place. An open night took place to hear the needs and suggestions of Clubs and various options were put in front of them before the plan was finally put in place. Clubs will also be aware in advance as to when their County players will be available to them. A fixtures plan at Provincial level is also a priority for all concerned and all fixtures will be subject to Annual reporting and review.

INFRASTRUCTURAL GRANTS

The Uachtaran also informed his audience of the revenue that would be available to the Association over the next three years. A sum of close to €100m will be channelled into development projects over the period. The normal annual allocation from Croke Park is being topped up by rental monies of €35m. accrued by the Association from leasing to the IRFU and FAI. €8m. will be earmarked for County developments which works out at €250,000 per County a significant sum from a Sligo perspective as we embark on a major development.

AN POST ON TOUR

The launch of this year’s An Post Tour of Sligo Cycling tour will take place at the Glass House Hotel this (Wed.) evening. This is the second year that the Sligo Sports Partnership has been asked to organise such an event in the County. The Partnership works closely with the GAA in Sligo supporting initiatives in Easkey in conjunction with the GAA Games Manager for instance as well as a "Gaelic for all" programme in Merville, Cranmore and Forthill.

Sligo GAA is committed to giving every assistance to the "An Post Tour of Sligo" event by providing marshals and beverage and food stops along the route at Club Grounds with partnership being the operative word!