Urban Demographic Change in Ireland: Implications for the GAA Club Structure
type: CreativeWork
description: Ireland has undergone a great deal of transformation in recent times; these have affected every fabric of our society, including that of the GAA. ‘ With the dawn o f the new millennium, we have recognised that there have been huge social, economic and demographic changes that require self examination and critical analysis ’ (Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Strategic Review, 2002; 3). With this in mind, the headquarters of the GAA requested the Leinster Council (the governing body of the GAA in Leinster), to carry out an investigation into the changing demographic nature of Leinster’s urban areas and how this will affect club structures. These changing demographics are affecting the GAA clubs in these areas, and thus, there needs to be an inquiry into the impacts, consequences and possible solutions of such changes. This is the primary focus of this thesis. As Ireland is becoming increasingly urbanised, the GAA understand that it is essential to monitor the changing situation, and to thus take the necessary action to ensure the organisation maintains its popularity nationwide. According to MacNamee, the GAA has traditionally been ‘weakest where the population is increasing’ (MacNamee Report, 1971), and thus in a rapidly urbanising society there needs to be steps need to be taken to ensure the preservation of a high standard on the playing field. The association is held very closely to many Irish hearts, and it is considered too valuable an asset in Irish life, culture and sport to be neglected. It would be a high price to pay as a consequence of our negligence to adapt, understand and examine the demographic shift that has been occurring recently and continues to transpire. The thesis will follow a series of steps, which will examine the different issues at hand, and will lastly be drawn together with some general conclusions. It will follow these steps; firstly in chapter one there will be an introduction to GAA, which will provide the background to the association and its …
abstract: Ireland has undergone a great deal of transformation in recent times; these have affected every fabric of our society, including that of the GAA. ‘ With the dawn o f the new millennium, we have recognised that there have been huge social, economic and demographic changes that require self examination and critical analysis ’ (Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Strategic Review, 2002; 3). With this in mind, the headquarters of the GAA requested the Leinster Council (the governing body of the GAA in Leinster), to carry out an investigation into the changing demographic nature of Leinster’s urban areas and how this will affect club structures. These changing demographics are affecting the GAA clubs in these areas, and thus, there needs to be an inquiry into the impacts, consequences and possible solutions of such changes. This is the primary focus of this thesis. As Ireland is becoming increasingly urbanised, the GAA understand that it is essential to monitor the changing situation, and to thus take the necessary action to ensure the organisation maintains its popularity nationwide. According to MacNamee, the GAA has traditionally been ‘weakest where the population is increasing’ (MacNamee Report, 1971), and thus in a rapidly urbanising society there needs to be steps need to be taken to ensure the preservation of a high standard on the playing field. The association is held very closely to many Irish hearts, and it is considered too valuable an asset in Irish life, culture and sport to be neglected. It would be a high price to pay as a consequence of our negligence to adapt, understand and examine the demographic shift that has been occurring recently and continues to transpire. The thesis will follow a series of steps, which will examine the different issues at hand, and will lastly be drawn together with some general conclusions. It will follow these steps; firstly in chapter one there will be an introduction to GAA, which will provide the background to the association and its …
author: Cullen, Aoife
language: en
keywords: Geography
date published: 2003
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:02:44Z
provider: National University of Ireland - Maynooth
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: National University of Ireland Maynooth