Gaelic games do not function without volunteers, and a new national initiative has been created to recognise, support and strengthen the people at the heart of Clubs across the games.

The inaugural Club Summit, delivered by Amazon.ie, will take place on 7 February 2026, bringing together hundreds of volunteers from across the GAA, the LGFA and the Camogie Association.

Speaking at a media briefing in Croke Park, representatives of the three Associations said the Club Summit represents a coordinated national response to the growing pressures facing volunteers, shaped directly by engagement with Clubs around the country.

The one-day event will bring together club officers, coaches, referees and grounds staff for a programme focused squarely on practical support, learning and networking. Organisers described it as a novel national initiative that unites all strands of the Gaelic games family behind the single purpose of supporting the volunteers who underpin every Club.

Dave Denieffe, Chairperson of the GAA Planning and Training Committee, said the Summit is designed to address real challenges. “We know from our engagement and our conversations with Clubs that volunteers are under real pressure. The Club Summit is about responding to that reality with practical, meaningful support,” he said.

Practical, role-specific support

The programme is structured across five core content areas: Developing Your Games; Running Your Club; Supporting Your People; Enhancing Your Facilities; and Contributing to Your Community. Attendees will take part in role-specific workshops, peer-to-peer networking, interactive forums and more than 30 expert-led seminars.

Topics range from coach education, referee development and player welfare to governance, digital communications, AI and technology, club fundraising, facilities management, safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, and community development. The breadth of content reflects the increasingly complex demands placed on volunteers in modern Clubs.

Errigal Ciarán vice-chairperson and Tyrone All-Ireland winner Peter Canavan said the event’s emphasis on practical outcomes is key. “Being involved as a Club Officer really brings home how demanding these roles have become. Volunteers want direction, support and solutions they can actually use,” he said.

Former Limerick captain Declan Hannon added that volunteers’ efforts often go unseen. “What I really like about the Club Summit is that it’s focused on giving people practical support they can put into use, whether that’s as a coach, an officer or just someone trying to keep things moving in their Club,” he said.

Mayo LGFA legend and current Mayo Ladies senior manager Diane O’Hora highlighted the importance of clear guidance. “Volunteerism has never been more difficult and at the same time never more necessary. The Club Summit will give resources and direction that make running a Club or a team a much more manageable and positive experience,” she said.

Speaking yesterday, GAA President Jarlath Burns referenced a meeting last week of his own Club Coiste, and the nuts-and-bolts items on the agenda that struck a chord with anyone who is or ever was part of that ecosystem in their own club.

Voices from across the games

High-profile contributors from across Gaelic games will take part in Dugout discussion forums, including Conor McManus, Liam Sheedy and Association leaders such as Tom Ryan. The emphasis, organisers said, will be on open, candid discussion rather than rehearsed speeches.

The partnership with Amazon.ie has enabled enhanced supports for volunteers on the day, including substantial prizes, take-home resources and a headline prize offering a discount on 2026 Club fees of up to €10,000 for one Club. A wide range of exhibitors will also be present, covering areas such as playing equipment, teamwear, turf care, fundraising and grant funding.

In a joint statement, Association Presidents Jarlath Burns, Trina Murray and Brian Molloy said the Summit reflects a clear commitment to volunteers. “Our Clubs and Associations are powered by volunteers. The Club Summit is about recognising that reality and backing it up with real investment, real support and real engagement,” they said.

Tickets for the Club Summit cost €20 and are available via gaa.ie/clubsummit, with the closing date set for 31 January.

 

Sport for Business Perspective

The launch of the Club Summit is a significant moment in the evolution of how Gaelic games think about sustainability, governance and long-term growth.

For decades, the volunteer model has been the backbone of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association, but the scale, complexity and regulatory demands placed on Clubs today are fundamentally different from even a decade ago.

Recognising that reality and responding to it in a coordinated, national way is strategically important and will be of real value.

By focusing on practical supports across governance, digital capability, facilities, safeguarding and community engagement, the Associations are effectively professionalising volunteer roles without undermining the volunteer ethos that defines Gaelic games. That balance is critical if Clubs are to remain viable, inclusive and resilient at community level.

The collective approach taken by the three Associations is particularly noteworthy. Bringing GAA, LGFA and Camogie volunteers together under one roof reinforces the One Club model in a tangible way, reducing duplication, sharing best practice and strengthening alignment across codes. For sponsors and partners, this unified approach also creates clearer narratives, stronger impact and more meaningful engagement opportunities.

The involvement of Amazon.ie highlights how commercial partnerships can add genuine value beyond branding. Enhancing the volunteer experience, providing tangible resources and offering meaningful incentives demonstrates a mature sponsorship model aligned with purpose and impact — something increasingly expected by both communities and corporate partners.

Ultimately, the Club Summit is an investment in the operating engine of Gaelic games. If successful, it will reduce volunteer burnout, improve governance standards, enhance participation experiences and future-proof Clubs at a time when competition for time, talent and trust has never been greater. For Irish sport more broadly, it sets an important benchmark for how volunteer-led organisations can adapt to modern pressures while staying true to their core values.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Credit: Sport for Business

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