Cairde Chorcaí recognises that access to high-quality, dedicated training facilities is essential for inter-county success. Cork lags behind its main competitors in this area. Other counties in recent times have developed centres of excellence. Cairde Chorcaí is determined that Cork teams are not hampered by a lack of suitable training grounds, in particular in the winter months. Cork County Board has agreed that Cairde Chorcaí will assume delegated responsibility with regard to a centre or centres of excellence for our county teams. We are presently researching the feasibility of purchasing and / or leasing training facilities and exploring arrangements on how operating costs can best be met. The guiding principle is that the Cork teams need a training base of the highest standard, with the most viable cost structure, that they can ultimately call home. Cairde Chorcaí has entered into discussions with University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and other land owners to understand what is realistically deliverable. Currently, two options have been identified as viable and these are now been actively explored to address the short and long term training facility requirements.

Whilst our Ladies teams have achieved unprecedented success in recent times, the men’s senior football team last won an All-Ireland in 2010 and the senior hurlers have not won the All-Ireland since 2005. Cork need to invest to ensure that our underage structures create a pathway that supports and develops all players. The fantastic successes of the U20 and minor footballers in 2019 as well as that of our underage ladies football and camogie teams needs to continue to ensure Cork adult teams can build on Cork’s GAA legacy.

This requires an immediate increase in the number of full time coaches involved in underage and schools development that will bring Cork up to par with the number of coaches in other counties, and also sees the need for the appointment of key development personnel to support Cork underage structures. Cairde Chorcaí has worked with the Cork County Board to establish a pilot approach with one full time coach now employed and part funded by Cairde Chorcaí. Approval has been granted by Croke Park and Munster Council to co-fund eight additional full-time coaching staff in Cork by early 2020. This will more than double the current coaching staff and allow far greater contact at ground level. Cairde Chorcaí will assist Cork County Board in the provision of Cork’s contribution to the cost of these coaches.

Cairde Chorcaí are part funding the appointment of a new High Performance Manager for Cork GAA. This is an important appointment and is the key first step to Cork creating a culture of high performance and high standards of strength and conditioning across all Cork teams. Cairde Chorcaí intend to work with the new High Performance Manager and the County Board to ensure that Cork not only match, but surpass what is being achieved elsewhere in terms of the coherent athletic development of our players from the underage ranks through to senior level.

Cairde Chorcaí are keen to ensure that everyone can feel part of this journey. As such a formal membership structure is currently being put in place to harness the momentum that only Cork supporters can bring. We are launching our membership package at €50, which we believe provides excellent value for those who wish to support us in making Cork successful again. Further corporate membership options are available for those who can afford to give a little more. Irrespective of any membership option that might be availed of, we are calling on all Cork supporters to get behind us, our teams and our administration to  ensure we all now pull together to redeem Cork’s GAA legacy.