Returns for the 2021 Clubs Draw are growing week on week and it is great to see the efforts being made by Burren, Bredagh, Bright, Castlewellan and St Pauls to name but a few, with so much uncertainty around fundraising in the Year ahead and with many sources of income for our Clubs closed at present, the Clubs Draw is a great mechanism for guaranteeing income in 2021.

Remember too there is also the opportunity to purchase tickets online via the Down Website, there are links to each Individual Club (www.downgaa.net/clubsdraw2021) and already over 400 Tickets have been sold online, it is a great facility for clubs to encourage sales from members who have moved away from the district but who still want to have an affinity with their Home Club.

The Government has clarified to the GAA that inter-county training and matches are no longer considered 'elite sport' under the current Covid-19 restrictions while on-field activity is unlikely to be permitted until Easter at the earliest.

GAA President John Horan and Director-General Tom Ryan informed all county boards of the disappointing news this evening:

"The GAA's Covid Advisory Group met this evening to consider the outcome of a meeting between the three Gaelic Games governing bodies (GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association) and representatives of the lrish Government, including the Minister of State for Sport, which took place earlier this week," a joint- statement reads.

"The meeting was held to brief the governing bodies on the short-term prospects for a return to training and playing of our games. The Government representatives clarified that inter-county Gaelic Games activity is not covered under the current Level 5 exemptions for elite sports. "As such a return to intercounty training or games is not permitted under the current restrictions. It was also clear that there will not be any change to this position post-March 5th when the restrictions currently in place are reviewed. It is the view of the GAA's Covid Advisory group that no on field activity will be permitted - training or games - until Easter at the earliest.

"ln the interim, it is expected that the Government will publish an updated "Living with Covid" plan and we expect that this will provide clarity on when clubs and counties are likely to be allowed return to training and games in 2021.

"It should also provide clarity on when other off-field club activities may be permitted to resume. It is clear that this extended delay to the planned return of the inter county season will have knock-on effects for both the inter county and club games programmes originally planned for 2027.

"As of now the GAA have made no firm decisions on what competitions may or may not be facilitated in any revised fixture programme - such decisions will be a factor of how much time is made available to us, both for an inter county season and for the broader participation levels that will be necessary for a meaningful club season.

"While we will begin to look at contingency plans for the Master Fixtures programme, we will not be able to take definitive decisions in this context until we have a clear picture of what restrictions we are likely to be operating under at various points in the year ahead. "Rest assured however, that once clarity is provided by Government and Public Health Authorities on the likely road ahead for society generally and sport in particular, the GAA will follow with its own roadmap and plan for our own activities at both inter-county and club level, that will cover whatever time is available to us for the remainder of the year.

"We know these latest developments will come as a great disappointment to all those who are anxious to resume their Gaelic Games involvement, be it on or off the field. While we remain in the midst of a deadly pandemic, there is significant cause for optimism that much better days lie ahead.

"The manner in which we have endured and overcome thus far, both as individual members and as an Association generally, has been praised by many and is a cause of great pride to us all. With your help we are certain that we will eventually have a fulfilling season at both club and county level in 2021, just as we had in 2020.

"Finally, we would again like to take this opportunity to thank our members, players, coaches, managers and officers at all levels for their patience and understanding of the current situation and for co-operating with all of the restrictions that have been put in place.

"We want to remind you all again that we will prepare a revised Master Fixture Calendar and plan for the remainder of 2021once a new Government road map for society and sport is made available."

Given the current exceptional rise in infection rates of Covid 19 and the increased risk of community transmission, the GAA has taken the decision that there will be no collective training permitted for inter-county teams for at least the remainder of the month of January.  

In addition, Club and County gyms must stay closed until further notice.  

As previously advised, and under the current Government Regulations in both jurisdictions, neither training nor games are permitted at club level currently.   

Breaches of any of the above provisions will be dealt with under Rule 7.2 (e) “Misconduct considered to have discredited the Association”. The full wording of this Rule and potential penalties are included as an Appendix 1 below.  

As you are aware, the current Level 5 restrictions in the South will run until January 31^st at which point the GAA will review the current situation and further advice in this context will be provided.  

Finally, it is important to note that outdoor gatherings on GAA property are not permitted – the only current exception to this is for walkways (which may stay open for use by the community with social distancing in place) and for clubs registered under the “Ireland Lights Up” walking initiative (see Appendix 2).  

I fully appreciate the frustrations these additional restrictions may place on our inter county players and management teams. However, the safety of everyone in the game and indeed in the broader community has to be our primary focus. It has never been more important for our players, coaches and officials to follow both the Government guidelines and our own provisions around training.  

I thank you for all you have done in this context to date and ask again for your cooperation and understanding as we battle to defeat the virus and finally return to normality.  

Is mise le meas,   

Tomás O Riain              Seán Ó hÓráin

ARD STIÚRTHÓIR       UACHTARÁN