SETU proudly hosted the Leinster GAA Club Development Conference for 2025 on Saturday 1 March, at its Kilkenny Road campus in Carlow.
The Leinster Council within the Gaelic Athletic Association is responsible for the promotion of the GAA in more than 800 clubs across the 12 Counties of Leinster.
Sharing insights
The conference saw Leinster GAA coaches, club members and volunteers gather to enhance their knowledge of coaching and share insights with one another.
It’s great to host the GAA Club Development Conference here at SETU. Our Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management and Coaching in Gaelic Games is the only programme of its kind in Ireland and is ran in association with the GAA. There is a strong and competitive sporting environment here at SETU. Our South Sports campus provides our students with state-of-the-art training facilities and pitches. The various SETU GAA teams have competed at the highest level in colleges competition reaching Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Purcell Cup finals in recent years, so it is great to have the GAA community here, sharing ideas and further enriching the sporting community within the region.
Donal McNally Director of Sport at SETU
Keynote speakers
Throughout the day, a series of keynote addresses were delivered from industry experts. Michael Fennelly, Performance Lead with Kilkenny GAA, shared his expertise on ‘Promoting a Positive Club Culture’ within the GAA. Luke Barrett, Coach for the Donegal GAA, gave a presentation on ‘Developing Skills through Games-based Coaching’ and Colm Cummins, National Demographics Committee member and former Offaly GAA secretary, shared insights on ‘Demographics - Practical Considerations for your Club’.
The 2025 Leinster GAA Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity for clubs to gain practical insights and innovative ideas that can be implemented at every level. This year’s event is designed to address the reach challenges clubs face, providing practical solutions in areas like player development, volunteer recruitment, and fostering a positive club culture. This event is also a unique chance for club members to engage with experienced coaches, administrators, and industry experts, sharing ideas that will shape the future of our games. Whether you’re a coach, volunteer, or club officer, the knowledge and connections made at this conference will be invaluable in supporting the long-term growth and success of your club.
James Devane Provincial Coaching and Games Manager for Leinster GAA
Parallel workshops
Throughout the day, several workshops were held to provide participants the opportunity to share their thoughts and discuss topics like coaching strategies, referring and volunteer management.
Several Leinster GAA coaches ran sessions on how to maximise club exposure, how to manage burnout and stress amongst volunteers, and how to best utilise club resources.
Connecting with others
The event allowed participants to learn from some of the best in the GAA game and connect with their fellow GAA members from across Leinster.
