Increased co-operation between sports clubs / organisations and more support for sports volunteers were Minister of State for Sport Michael Rings message to delegates at Mayo Sports Partnerships Club Development Seminar held recently at Breaffy GAA Centre, Castlebar.

Mayo Sports Partnership seminar ‘Building an Effective Club’ which was held in the Breaffy GAA Clubhouse , L-R; Charlie Lambert, Co-ordinator Mayo Sports Partnership, Paul Kinnane, Claremorris Rugby Club, Eddie McLoughlin, Claremorris Rugby Club, Kevin O’Malley, Claremorris Rugby Club, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring TD, Michael Tobin, Castlebar Rugby Club and Paul Ginley, HSE. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2012.

Mayo Sports Partnership seminar ‘Building an Effective Club’ which was held in the Breaffy GAA Clubhouse , Front l-r; Emma Moore, Comets Basketball Club, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring TD, Natalia Piotrowsica, Comets Basketball Club. Back l-r; Marie Fraser, Western Lakes Cycling Club, Andrea Heneghan, Western Lakes Cycling Club, Tanya Flynn, Comets Basketball Club and Deidre Conway, Comets Basketball Club . Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2012.

Mayo Sports Partnership seminar ‘Building an Effective Club’ which was held in the Breaffy GAA Clubhouse , Front l-r; Pat Naughton, Castlebar Celtic FC, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring TD and James Murray, Castlebar Celtic FC. Back l-r; Martin Fadian, Achill Rovers, Tony Broughton, Achill Rovers, Georgie McMillan, Westport Triathlon Club, Fergie McEllin, Castlebar Celtic FC and Tony Fitzgerald, Westport Triathlon Club. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2012.

Mayo Sports Partnership seminar ‘Building an Effective Club’ which was held in the Breaffy GAA Clubhouse , Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring TD addressing the large crowd who attended the seminar. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2012.

Mayo Sports Partnership seminar ‘Building an Effective Club’ which was held in the Breaffy GAA Clubhouse , Front L-R; Anne Ronayne, Mayo Sports Partnership, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring TD and Sandra Claxton, Information Officer Children First HSE West. Back l-r; Charlie Lambert, Co-ordinator Mayo Sports Partnership, Liam Horan MC,and Slinua Careers, Pat Stanton, I.L.A.M., John Durkan, Mayo League, Gerry O’Neill, South West Development Company and Padraic McHale, Mayo League. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2012.

"My department will be announcing the new sports capital grant scheme at the end of this month. The scheme will benefit minority sports in particular and will seek applications from clubs who can demonstrate that they are going to share facilities,"  Minister Ring commented.

The well attended seminar addressed issues such as child protection, better use of facilities, social media use for beginner clubs, club structures/roles and volunteer recruitment.

As a result of the very successful event Mayo Sports Partnership plans to run a series of one night workshops on some of the more popular topics such as the use of social media. A workshop will also be held on the new Sports Capital funding scheme at the end of Feburary / early March. Details of these workshops will be announced in due course and will be available on the Sports Partnership website www.mayosports.ie

Many thanks to Breaffy GAA Club for the use of their fantastic facilities, Elvery Sports, partner agencies, presenters and all the sports volunteers who attended the event. For more information contact the Partnership at 094-9047025 or email msp@mayococo.ie