Birth rate decline a concern for future club and county growth

By Shane Brophy

The report of the Association’s National Demographic Committee launched by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns at Croke Park last week sets out the scale of the challenges facing both rural and urban clubs in an Ireland with Tipperary not immune to the changes that are “not a future threat; it is a present reality””

The population of Ireland (North & South) is more than 7 million people, which is its largest since 1851, and one that is concentrated in cities and towns.

Tipperary’s population is 167,895 with slightly more females than males but of concern is the declining birth rate with the number of 12-17 year-olds at the last census of just over 14,000 to under 12,000 of children aged 3-5 year-olds.

“Clonmel is significantly larger than all other urban areas in Tipperary and has been identified as the strongest population growth area for the future,” says Tipperary’s demographics officer Laurenz Egan in his report to next Sunday’s County Convention.

“Particularly attention needs to be given to ensuring facilities keep pace with the current and expected future growth.

“Urban growth is also focused around Nenagh, Thurles, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary Town, Roscrea as all have populations of approximately 5,000 or more.

“The area of Newport is also noteworthy as its population has more than doubled in the past twenty years from 887 in 2002 to 2,183 in 2022.”

In his report, Egan poses:

- Are the large urban areas doing enough to offer every child a meaningful opportunity to participate in Gaelic Games as participation rates are lowest in urban areas

- Are our clubs with the smallest memberships in the most rural of areas able to survive given rural depopulation

- Do we have the required facilities in the required areas to meet expected growth in the years ahead?

According to the GAA’s own membership figures from 2024, the largest club in Tipperary had 801 members between adult, juvenile and non-playing members, to the smallest having just 51.

National Overview

The GAA’s response to Ireland’s demographic shift is based on several years of analysis which shows how population trends, mapping rural decline and issues such as the mass migration of people to east Leinster means that many rural GAA clubs are struggling to field as many teams as before, while in urban areas, clubs are trying to cope with huge numbers which places burdens on their volunteers and specifically access to playing and training facilities.

Some of the key findings of the report include:

• There are one in three people living in Dublin or within one hour of Dublin in satellite towns. There are only 18 per cent of the GAA’s clubs located in this area prompting the need for new clubs and the rejuvenation of existing units.

• 25.5 percent of all 0-5 year-olds in Ireland are concentrated across just 50 clubs.

• 52% of 0-5 year-olds are to be found in Dublin, Belfast, Down, Kildare, Galway and Cork.

• 78 per cent of GAA clubs are in rural areas with declining populations.

• Declining birth rates in Ireland since 2010 has accelerated rural decline and impacts participation numbers in rural clubs.

• Urban clubs suffer overcrowding leading to stretched resources, limited access to facilities and a reduction in player retention.

• The GAA risks losing potential players in growing urban areas if it does not provide accessible clubs and facilities.

The report proposes a multi-tiered approach of internal and external actions to futureproof GAA clubs and participation rates. Among its recommendations are:

• Assist clubs who have challenges fielding adult teams and retaining their official club status

• Targeted growth of new and existing clubs

• Pilot initiatives in Kerry and Kildare focusing on urban centres and rural areas with declining populations in both counties and launch targeted interventions focused on increasing participation, improving integration, influencing planning policies, and creating sustainable club structures

• Support modified games programmes where clubs struggle to field 15 players by having more blitzes or 11 aside or 9 aside competition, and regional competitions with clubs pooling resources

• Develop and implement a National GAA Facilities Strategy with strategic priorities set for safeguarding, targeting and investing in facilities

• Develop bye-laws to assist participation such as permit urban players to join rural clubs, enable transfers based on familial links, restrict transfers into high-population urban clubs, explore dual eligibility for players with ties to urban and rural clubs

• Establish a new Club Support Unit at national and provincial level to ensure growth, management and viability of clubs

• Engagement with state bodies and local authorities in the North and South to advocate for the GAA based on its proven positive impact on physical and mental health and its social and economic impact, and develop an All-Island Sporting Facilities Framework

Congress next year will consider a motion that proposes a rule change which the committee believe makes it easier for clubs to be maintained, retained, and grown.

A second motion deals with playing championship at fewer than 15-aside, to provide opportunities for counties to provide championships for demographically challenged clubs who are unable to field at 15-aside.

Both of these motions enable other actions around competition structure and format, as well as for growing new and maintaining existing clubs and the committee will continue to monitor trends and advise on future initiatives.