CONTENT

  • Introduction
  • Message from Club President
  • Message from Club Chairman
  • Message from CEO, Dublin GAA
  • Message from Garda Commissioner

Methodology

The Spring of 1922, Our Heritage

The Spring of 2004, New Beginnings

The Spring of 2014, Pursuit of Success

Mission, Vision, Values

Creating an environment where our members can be the best they can be

What gets measured gets done

Seven themes to the Strategic Plan 2015-2018

1. Club Structure

2. Membership

3. Finance

4. Communications

5. Athlete Development

6. Club, Culture and Community

7. Facilities

Volunteerism

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Along with the entire country the GAA at provincial and club level in Dublin are experiencing the impact of the economic environment and the significant changing demographic of our population.

The Garda GAA Club is unique in that it has a mix of police & civilian members and we no longer can rely on the Garda College Templemore which was for years our primary source of new members. Even with the success of our juvenile section, Westmanstown Gaels, a clear lack of a pathway for these players to transition from juvenile to adult sections was evident and this placed significant demands upon us and forced a fundamental rethink of the position by the Executive of our Club.

It is critical for the future growth and development of the club that we respond to this problem and develop a strategic plan that will ensure a continuous flow of new players and members into our club, create an environment where our juvenile players grow their potential to be the best they can be and re-forge our position as a leading GAA Club in Dublin.

For the past number of months a steering committee established by the club Chairman and representing all levels and sections of the club have been working on a Strategic Plan. In developing this plan the brief from the Chairman was clear, that this plan needed to be developed by and reflect the views of all the membership.

This plan would be developed using the underlying set of guiding principles the club are synonymous for. It should be both clear and transparent and contain a coherent set of actions that when implemented, would ensure the sustainability and growth of the club. While looking to the future it should not forget the significant history and successes of the past. It will honestly acknowledge the challenges facing the club today and provide an appropriate approach to respond to and overcome them.

There was significant engagement and consultation with members, players and committees at all levels within the club and considerable engagement with other clubs and specific external expertise. To ensure that our plan was aligned with both the Cumann Lúthchleas Strategic Action Plan 2009-2015 and ‘Unleashing the Blue Wave’, a Strategy for Dublin GAA we sought the support and guidance at the highest level within the GAA.

A pluralistic approach was used for the research and strategic consultation which consisted of a number of phases including, in-depth interviews with members, players and committees from all sections within the club, focus groups on areas of specific interest, executive meetings and a questionnaire culminating in two well attended workshops where key issues identified during the previous stages were discussed further.

This extensive research and consultation identified a series of challenges facing our club and key areas for focused improvements and change. In developing this strategy we wanted to make sure that the thoughts and views of all our members were the influencers and drivers for the change needed to ensure both the appropriate development and future success.The outputs for each of the phases were re-engineered and collated into a draft plan that went through a number of iterations until the final version was agreed by the Steering Committee and presented to the Club Executive.

The document proposes elements of organisational restructuring which will make fundamental changes to the day to day management of our club, and that although contentious are thought completely necessary to align ourselves with GAA strategy and deliver the strategic plan and ultimately the One Club Model. Seven key areas for improvement have been identified which are both challenging and ambitious but we believe are achievable. Together we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the club achieves its full potential and becomes the best it can be.

We would like to thank all those who took the time out to contribute to the content and development of this plan and believe it will deliver a structured pathway for our ‘pursuit of success’.

Teachtaireacht ó Uachtarán an Chlub

Ar an ócáid seo agus mé ag ceiliúradh 50 bliain mar bhall den Chlub, is iorónta é, go bhfuil muid ag lainseáil ár gcéad Plean Straitéiseach ag súil le rath ár gClub.

Message from the Club President

It is somewhat ironic that as I celebrate my 50th year as a memberof the Club that we are launching our first ever Strategic Plan in our pursuit of success.The club originally known as the Civic Guards GAA Club came into existence in the spring of 1922. It was the start of a very unique and long association between An Garda Síochaná and An Cumann Lúthchleas Gael which has endured to the present day. As well as our club there is scarcely a club in the state that doesn't have Gardaí involved at some level be it playing, coaching or administration.Many changes have taken place down through the years with the buying and developing of the grounds at Westmanstown Sports Centre, the opening up of membership to civilians, the formation of the Ladies section in 1997 and the formation of our juvenile section, Westmanstown Gaels in 2004 which has seen unprecedented growth.

Our members play an influential role in Irish society that extends far beyond the fundamental aim of promoting Gaelic games. Throughout the history of the Club we have always reflected the society in which we operate. Our role as members of An Garda Síochaná and GAA members in Irish society has changed in many ways during that time.

From our formative years we played a key role with the GAA as it developed into a key social and cultural institution. We continue to provide leadership within the community, serve and improve the lives of those we come into contact with.

The main objective of this Strategic Plan is to ensure our continued growth and development as a leading GAA club in Dublin and to create an environment where all our members can perform to the best of their ability both on and off the field and be the best they can be.

I believe this plan offers a blueprint for our future and addresses the key issues facing the Club over the next three years and we are meeting these challenges with a new way of thinking. We are turning these challenges into opportunities for the Club with our players of all ages and abilities being our main priority.

Throughout the planning process we focused on the best interests of players and members with our Mission, Vision and Values underpinning and guiding us and the proud heritage of our club, the honesty in our performance and the significant opportunities for our clubs future.

I want to pay tribute to John Kissane, Club Chairman who made the plan his priority having spent three years as Chairman listening to the members. Many hours of hard work and consultation with our members and key influencers have led us to this point. We hope we have listened well and taken on board, in the proper manner, the many contributions you have made over the last year.

We have always shown ourselves to be willing and prepared to adapt to change. I urge and encourage you to give due consideration to the vision for the future that we describe in this strategy.

I sincerely believe that successfully implementing this plan is in the overall best interest of the Club. It will allow us to provide a better Club not only for the current generation but for those yet to come.

Ar aghaidh linn le chéile

Jim Murphy, Uachtaráin

Teachtaireacht ó Cathaoirleach an Chlub

Is ócáid stairiúl don Chlub lainseáil an Phlean Straitéiseach seo le rath an Chlub a chur chun cinn 2015-2018 mar a leanann muid ar aghaidh le chéile mar Chlub amháin sa ré íontach seo.

Message from Club Chairman

A Chairde, since I became Chairman of the Club, I have been hugely impressed by the breadth and depth of the clubs work. At every level, from the Nursery to the preparation of our adult teams, I have been struck by the ability and commitment of everyone working on behalf of our club. Theydedicate their time and enthusiasm each week and demonstrate that Gaelic Games is often about more than the game on the pitch. It is about bringing communities together, providing young people with opportunities and role models and, sometimes in the smallest ways, providing a platform for positive change in society.

Delivering this plan will require the hard work of our entire membership. This Plan is not intended to be a grand mission statement or a far sighted vision for Gaelic Games in our club. It is a Plan that will enable us to focus our work to ensure the Club upholds its responsibility to all of our members and is based on three key goals. The first is to give everyone who wants to participate in our games the opportunity do so in a safe and welcoming environment. The second is to ensure that across the Club we are collectively doing everything possible to build successful teams to be the best they can be, at every age and ability. The third will be governance, the Club must be responsible for governance, making the right decisions and working together with all our members.

To deliver all of this it is important that we operate effectively and efficiently. To me that means building strong relationships across the club, listening to our members, making our club the best we can be. At our Westmanstown facilities I want our players to receive some of the best training and coaching in Dublin. It is our coaches who play the most important role in the development of our players, and it is our aspiration that the coaches we provide will shape the athletic, technical and sporting abilities of the next generation of young Dublin players.

If we deliver the goals set out in this plan, we will have better players at all levels of the game,better coaches operating in the club, better teams, better facilities and better decision making in the clubs governance. In short, we will have laid the foundations for a healthy future for Garda Westmanstown Gaels GAA Club by 2018.

In developing, progressing and finalising our plan, we have been fortunate to have the help and guidance of some respected persons, who deserve our greatest gratitude. To Maureen King and Chris O Brien, thank you. Your professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to the project have motivated us all.

On a personal note, I have always believed that confident organisations deliver the best results. With this plan in place and the right governance structures supporting a committed and talented team, I am confident that 2015 to 2018 will be a period to be proud of for Garda Westmanstown Gaels GAA Club.

Is mise,le meas,

John Kissane, Cathaoirleach

Message from CEO, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Contae Átha Cliath

A Chairde, at the time of writing, our Chairperson, Andy Kettle sadly passed away. Andy made an immense contribution to the Association over the course of his life. He had a great passion for the GAA and everything he did was focused on what was best for Dublin GAA. His dedication, enthusiasm and integrity ensured that we prospered during his reign. In the early stages of the planning of your strategy, Andy held discussions with Maureen and I am in no doubt that he encouraged and supported the development of this Plan and wished you every success. It gives me great pleasure to pen these words for what is a most important occasion for anyone with an interest in the affairs and activities of Garda Westmanstown GAA Club. Four years ago as part of the Dublin GAA’s Strategic Plan (2011-2017) we undertook the process of streamlining our activities by challenging our clubs to devise plans to mirror the one we developed for Dublin GAA. In our Plan we encouraged clubs to move towards the one club model and I am delighted to see you have implemented a new structure in your plan that promotes inclusivity in all gaelic games.

In the period since it has been hugely encouraging to note the number of clubswho have done exactly that to chart the best way forward and I sincerely hope the excellent contents of this Plan are brought to bear fully on the activities of the club. It is heartening to see the pulse of the club here and the development of your excellent playing and social facilities.

Garda Westmanstown Gaels has forged strong links in recent years with leading experts in Athlete Development, Performance Coaching and Education through its partnership with Blanchardstown Institute of Technology and I hope it continues for many years to come and that those who have put long hours and hard work into this plan see the fruits of it in the not too distant future.

Your club is fortunate to have excellent administrators who follow a number of great serving members from the Garda GAA Club such as Seán O’Mahony, Senan Connell and Paud Curran who all gave tremendous service to the Dublin County Board and like our leading administrator, Andy Kettle, they too always had the well-being and core principles of the club and Dublin GAA, at heart and did whatever they could through the power of their personalities, intelligence and common sense to safeguard the best interests of players, officials, club members and supporters.

I thought it would be a fitting tribute for your pursuit of success for Andy’s sentiments to be reflected in your plan as they were at the launch of the Unleashing the ‘Blue Wave’.

“Dublin GAA’s strategic plan (2011-2017) outlines the path the Dublin CountyCommittee (DCC) will take to achieve our vision of positioning Dublin as theleading GAA county. Achieving our goals will allow Dublin to effectively helpthe Association to confirm its position as the leading driver of sport andcommunity development in Ireland.

The continuation of the GAA’s role as the largest generator of social capital inIreland and the greatest force for equalising access to sport across the gendersis now more necessary than ever. This position isreinforced by the principle driving the games development policy of “play andstay with the GAA”. Dublin GAA is also in the best position, due to itsextensive classless club network, to create increased social inclusionconsistent with Government policy. In short it can be a vehicle for Governmentand local authorities to help redress social deficit through sport andcommunity-based funding and projects. The County Committee recognisesthat Dublin GAA must continue to broaden its base and emphasiseparticipation, health, wellbeing and community spirit.

After extensive research, analysis and stakeholder consultation we haveidentified nine strategic goals that cover all aspects of the County Committee’sactivities. These start with the many thousands of children who experienceGAA games from a very early age and who progress through underageparticipation, then participation in club activity leading to representing Dublinin the inter-county competitions right through to those volunteering and beinginvolved in all aspects of club and County Board activities.

The current county committee structure has served Dublin well but today’schallenges dictate that we cannot stand still. We must ensure that thecounty committee is itself adequately resourced and is supported by strongsub-committees such as brand and commercial development, infrastructureand finance.

In working towards our vision we will create opportunities for all Dubliners toengage with the games and other activities in a way that suits their lifestages, lifestyles and aspirations.

We will continue to monitor social and demographic trends and respondpositively to such changes while protecting and adding to our values toensure that Gaelic games will continue to be meaningful and consequentlygrow and make a positive contribution to the quality of life for people livingin Dublin.

We will provide clear pathways of excellence for our talented juveniles, bothmale and female, so that they are given every chance to achieve success inclub and inter-county competitions at the highest level of our games. DublinGAA, which is pivotal to the future wellbeing of the GAA and the DublinCounty Committee, looks forward to working with the Leinster and CentralCouncils of the Association and the people of Dublin over the coming yearsto convert our goals and aspirations into reality.