18 July 2009
While the achievement of Antrim footballers in reaching their first Ulster football final in 39 years may not have been expected, it certainly gives the GAA in the county and particularly in Belfast a much needed morale boost and it does represent a pivotal moment for Antrim gaels.
Over the last few years we have embarked upon a process of change which was first marked by the publication of a Strategic Plan specifically for the GAA in Antrim – Lean ar Aghaidh. This provided a template for effecting change to ultimately deliver greater success for club and county. The process of implementation of the targets set out in this plan has been audited annually and this proves the progress has been made. However, the performances of the senior footballers and the obvious impact this has had particularly among supporters and in the media, is evidence that nothing has a greater impact than success on the field of play.
The scenes witnessed after the victories in Ballybofey and Clones where supporters celebrated long after the final whistle are something most Antrim supporters under the age of 50 will not have ever seen before. I believe that this outpouring of unbridled ecstasy surpassed the celebrations when the senior hurlers reached the All Ireland final in 1989 and have the potential to have a far greater impact for the GAA in Antrim than anything that has gone before.
The secret of course is to ensure that we “seize the moment”. We need to learn the lessons of the past when we failed to build on the success of 1989. I do believe that we are better equipped not to make those mistakes again. The fact that we have structures and plans in place now with full-time personnel to ensure implementation of these plans, certainly gives us a head-start compared to ’89.
There is nowhere more important for us to capitalise on the current enthusiasm for Gaelic games than in Belfast. There is little doubt that we have been playing second-fiddle to other sports particularly soccer, for many years now. We are having very little impact in working class areas in the city and the reality that many school children are not associated with any club is evidence that there is massive potential for the Association.
The recent publication of Ardu Bheal Feirste (Belfast Rising) specifically addresses the problems the GAA has in the city. Woeful under-investment for many years by various organisations including our own must be addressed. The reality that Belfast City council provide over 100 playing facilities for soccer compared to around a dozen for GAA is a prime example of this. The complete lack of any substantial facilities for playing Gaelic games in the whole of the lower Falls and North Belfast areas is scandalous.
Undoubtedly it is important for us to highlight those areas where there is clear inequality of treatment by external organisations with responsibilities to our membership. However, we must also recognise that internally there is much for us as an organisation to do as well. For far too long now there has been a reluctance for volunteers to get involved in either coaching, refereeing or in administration within their club or at county level. There is no doubt that a lack of success has been influential in this and more often than not it has been easier for many to criticise anonymously through various unaccountable and unrepresentative forums. Now though, Antrim footballers are no longer at the “bottom of the pile” in Ulster and we must welcome anyone who can contribute in even the smallest way. By becoming part of a movement to promote our games, language and culture we are contributing to society and in fact forming part of the fabric of society.
There is plenty of research and evidence to demonstrate that getting involved in a voluntary, community organisation where there is no personal financial remuneration is tremendously rewarding both individually and collectively. On a personal level, the most rewarding moments in my life have been through my involvement with the GAA. I suspect for many of our senior footballers, this weekend’s Ulster final will probably be one of their greatest moments and will live long in their memory.
However, in Antrim we must not be content to accept that reaching an Ulster football final is good enough. This weekend should be considered as another step in the right direction just as much as gaining promotion this year, or winning the Tommy Murphy Cup last year was. Of course we must acknowledge that reaching this stage is something remarkable, but we need to maintain a proper perspective on this. We have not won anything yet and that is our challenge. Antrim must be determined to be regularly competing at this stage in the Ulster championship and winning. Then we should aim to move to the next level and repeat the successes of our provincial colleagues and become All Ireland champions.
I believe we have the resources to do it and we ought to believe that we now have the potential to do it. Do we have the willingness, determination and application to deliver on this potential? If so, then surely with our combined efforts Antrim will not have to wait another 39 years to reach the Ulster football final.
