Over the last twenty years, concern has been expressed at county board level about the lack of Gaelic games participation in the four main towns of Wexford. A recent study on population versus participation rates in Wexford town has highlighted that the participation rates have dropped since a similar study in 2011. In 2011 the average participation for 5-18 year olds in Gaelic Football was 35% while it is now 28%. In hurling the 2011 participation rate was 24% while in 2017 it is 17%.
Research conducted by Wexford GAA show that the urban population is growing with approximately one child, in every three, living in one of our four main towns but only an average of 21.5% of these children are participating in Gaelic games. Further research shows that general participation in all sports is extremely low and is a growing trend in modern urban society.
Since January 2017, Wexford GAA has held a series of meetings with Croke Park, Leinster Council and Wexford County Council with a view to addressing the statistics highlighted above. We are delighted to announce that phase 1 of the project will commence next week through partnership with these agencies and with five clubs (Clonard, Geraldine O Hanrahans, Faythe Harriers, Rapparees-Starlights and Tara Rocks).
Our new Games Promotion Officers will aim to help achieve specific participation targets in each town through a variety of programmes and these will be reviewed by the Wexford GAA Games Development Steering Committee and Leinster Council on an annual basis.
Games Promotion Officers have been employed in Dublin since early 2000`s and have had a significant impact on participation levels (especially in RAPID/Disadvantaged areas).
Wexford GAA welcome Frank Devereux, Ray Harris and Aoife Murphy as our new Games Promotion Officers and hope to announce phase two of the project in 2018
