Bulletin following Management Committee Meetings on 25 November and 2 December 2021.
Chadwicks Wexford Park
Coiste Bainistí approved the business plan to proceed with the upgrade of Chadwicks Wexford Park in 2022. This plan will be presented to Clubs at convention on 13 December 2021 for approval, comment and feedback. The upgrade plan, which received planning permission in 2021, includes the installation of floodlights, the extension of dressing rooms and referee facilities, upgrade to the car parking area and the installation of a pitch irrigation system among other items.
Micheál Martin, Cathaoirleach CLG Loch Garman, emphasised that Chadwicks Wexford Park is now our strategic priority due to the likely delay to our planned developments in Halo Tiles Wexford GAA Centre of Excellence. With the introduction of the county-club split season and the earlier start of provincial championships, floodlights are now a necessity to host games on Saturday evenings – games which bring a boost to our local economy, in particular, to the hospitality sector. Micheál emphasised that it was incumbent on Wexford GAA to work in cooperation with our neighbours, in the area, during the upgrade.
The current projected cost of the upgrade is €1.8 million. This investment will be financed through specific fundraising initiatives, grants and funding from national bodies and, on the back of a very strong financial year, from Wexford GAA’s own Infrastructure Development Fund.
Micheál Martin also noted that the advancement of a full size 4G-floodlit facility is another project of strategic importance, together with the upgrade of St. Patrick’s Park, that he is aiming to advance.
The pre-Covid estimate of the four infrastructure projects was €5 million. Given the inflation in raw materials and building costs, the cost of these investments has increased since their estimates were initially compiled.
Financial Statements
The Financial Statements for 2021 were approved by Coiste Bainistí. There was an operating surplus of €1.08 million for the 11-month period ended 30 September 2021. The surplus for 2021 resulted from the unique circumstances that Wexford GAA faced because of the pandemic.
It was agreed to ring fence €1 million into an Infrastructure Development Fund for the delivery of the infrastructure projects set out in the Strategic Plan.
The full financial statements together with the Secretary’s Report will be circulated to Clubs on Monday, 6 December 2021 in advance of County Convention.
Fixtures
Coiste Bainistí ratified the creation of a Fixtures & Competitions Review Group to review our games programme based on the county-club split season. The Group will report and bring proposals to the January County Committee meeting. As part of their work, the Group were asked to liaise with and gather feedback from all stakeholders (players, referees and administrators who support the running of our games programmes) to consider:
- Balance of and timing of football and hurling championship
- Players in the 18-21 age bracket
- Appropriate league and championship structures
Michael Hennessey Cullen (County Secretary), Derek Kent (Chairperson of CCCC and Leinster Vice Chairperson), Peter Mernagh (Chairperson, Monageer-Boolavogue), Gary Laffan (County Committee Rep, Glynn-Barntown), Gabriel Wade (County Committee Rep, HWH Bunclody), Eoin Doyle (dual player with Shelmaliers), Adam Carroll (single code player with Sarsfields) and Michael Martin (single code player with Rathnure St. Anne’s) were nominated to the Group.
Micheál Martin outlined that he would work with the Group to place an emphasis on the retention of players in the 18-20 age group and that he would liaise with the relevant national committee with an aim to progress this matter.
In addition, submissions on fixtures and competitions will also be sought from Clubs for consideration at the January County Committee meeting.
County Convention and Annual Coiste na nÓg Meeting
In consideration of Croke Park’s advice in respect of Covid-19, Coiste Bainistí agreed that the County Convention and the Annual Coiste na nÓg Meeting would take place online rather than in-person as originally planned. County Convention was postponed until Monday, 13 December 2021 to allow sufficient time for a postal vote for Leinster Council Representatives to be concluded in advance of the meeting.
Upcoming Dates
8 December 2021 District AGMs
13 December 2021 County Convention