Press Release

Armagh All Ireland Star is appointed District Development Officer for Gaelic Games

Wednesday, 25th February

Armagh All-Ireland star Barry O’Hagan has been appointed the District Development Officer for Gaelic Games under the auspices of Derry City Council, the Ulster Council of the GAA and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland through their Invest In Sport programme.

Barry O'Hagan, who has been appointed District Development Officer for Gaelic Games with Derry City Council

The post is unique to the GAA in Ireland and is the first time the Ulster Council of the GAA has worked in partnership with a local authority in Northern Ireland in this way.

Barry O’Hagan is synonymous with Gaelic games having won three Ulster championships and the All-Ireland with Armagh during his 11-year career. Having retired from county football, he currently plays for Clan na nGael. He has been working and living in the North West for the past couple of years and is currently residing in Co. Donegal with his wife Lisa, and two year old daughter Lauren.

Barry will be based at the Council’s Recreation and Leisure Department, where he will be working to develop Gaelic games in the city.

He commented: “Obviously I am delighted at being appointed to this position. It is a great initiative for the development of Gaelic sports and I am looking forward to the challenge. Over the next couple of weeks and months I will be meeting with the local clubs and performing an audit of existing provisions in the area so I can identify what the main requirements are for the development of the sport.”

Barry will work with six designated clubs in the area including Ardmore, Doire Colmcille, Doire Trasna na Pairsaigh, Na Magha, Sean Dolan’s and Steelstown. The project aims to enhance participation in Gaelic games through promotion in schools, clubs and the community, in conjunction with the Derry County Games Promotion Officer.

Barry will also assist with club development, help to identify both personnel and infrastructure needs with an emphasis on assisting clubs to prepare a Club Development Plan as part of a wider development plan for the urban area.

All work within the project is in line with GAA’s Underage Strategic Plan and the objectives of the Ulster Council’s Strategic Plan and the objectives of the Ulster Council’s Strategy 2002-06.

Welcoming the appointment, the Programme Co-ordinator with Derry City Council, Ben Corr said he was delighted that Derry City Council is the first local authority to appoint a District Development Officer for Gaelic Games.

He commented:“This position emerged from the aspirations of the Council to develop sport in the Council area through working in partnership with governing bodies of sport such as the Ulster Council of the GAA and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The need to provide special support for clubs in urban areas was identified and when the Council approached the Ulster Council, our request was positively received and a pilot scheme was initiated which included the appointment of a District Development Officer. I am delighted that Barry O’Hagan has been appointed to this important position and I am confident he will be successful in contributing to the development of Gaelic Games in the city.”

Ends

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