L-R Barry Dunne (Waterford GDC), Gavin Whelan (Waterford GDC), James Lacey (Waterofod GDC), Maurice Dee (Waterford Bord na nÓg), Conor Prendergast (Waterford GDC) and Conor Mulhall (Waterford GAA Coaching Officer) Photo: Seán Byrne.
“When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
The above quote sums up a central theme behind a new volunteering initiative being launched by Waterford GAA and Déise Óg ahead of the 2025 season. The main aim of the ‘My Volunteer Story’ programme is to ask people to spare some of their precious time to help their local GAA clubs and communities and write their own volunteer story in 2025.
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways you can spend your free time. Being part of a club and helping to contribute to its success is a really satisfying feeling which is hard to replicate elsewhere. Working with others towards a common goal and seeing hard work paying off over time is infectious and addictive.
Over the next few months, Waterford GAA and Déise Óg will be promoting the benefits of volunteering to people as well as encouraging clubs to put the recruitment of volunteers front and centre as they plan for the 2025 season.
Waterford GAA Planning and Training Officer, MacDara MacDonncha, believes the ‘My Volunteer Story’ initiative could be a great springboard for clubs to attract new volunteers for 2025.
“I have travelled throughout the county visiting different clubs and have seen the great work being carried out by a few," said MacDonncha.
"Think of the good that a few more could and would do! To existing club committee members, think of this- ‘ask and task.’ Ask new people onto your committee but give them specific tasks - you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.
"And for those who haven’t been asked yet and may fear a long-term commitment with no escape? No! It’s your chance to get in, help out, and ease away after a while. ‘Ní neart go cur le Chéile’ mar a deireann an seanfhocal.”
"At the heart of GAA it's volunteers. Without volunteers there wouldn't be your local club in the local community."
— Déise Óg Waterford (@WaterfordGAACG) April 18, 2025
Stephen Whelan of @StSavioursGAA speaks brilliantly on how fulfilling it is when people put their hand up and get involved in their club.https://t.co/5rQZWMhSk1
Over the coming year, Waterford GAA and Déise Óg are asking people to give a few hours each month to their local GAA club – even 30 minutes to an hour a week would go a huge way to helping out. There is a role for absolutely everyone in the GAA and no experience is necessary. Clubs will be only too happy to provide training and, in most cases, will cover the cost of any upskilling or training.
Help is needed in many areas - coaching, club administration, running social initiatives, groundskeeping and maintenance, finance and fundraising and many other areas besides. Clubs need people with different skillsets - all it takes is for you to offer to help and begin writing your own volunteer story.
Speaking ahead of the roll out of the ‘My Volunteer Story’ initiative, Barry Dunne, Déise Óg GDC and programme coordinator highlighted the importance of getting additional people involved.
“I think this initiative could be the most important project that is rolled out by Déise Óg/Waterford GAA in 2025," said Dunne.
"We know from talking to clubs that they are struggling hugely for help. Across the county, hardworking volunteers are giving up their time and energy to assist with coaching and administration in their local GAA clubs.
"These people are doing a fantastic job and the vital roles these volunteers play in the successful running of their clubs often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. But those people need help. Put simply, too few people are doing too much of the work on the ground and there are some clubs that would struggle to keep going without the work that 4 or 5 people are putting in.
“Everyone has a volunteer story in them and a reason why they get involved. From my own point of view I initially got involved with my own club in Clashmore/Kinsalebeg as I wanted to give back a bit to the club. There was always someone there to take any underage teams I played with and I was conscious of that. I drifted away from volunteering a little bit in recent years and it took the passing of an old college friend of mine from WIT a couple of years ago to remind me of the importance of giving back to club and community.
"I attended his funeral in Wicklow and was amazed at how many different local bodies and groups were represented – GAA, soccer, rugby, schools, Tidy Towns etc. Speaking to someone at the funeral, they said that although my friend had only moved to the area a few years previously, his willingness to help out and volunteer as much as possible was a huge help to others and drove those groups on. That left a huge impression on me and it is still a huge motivating factor for me to volunteer today.”
L-R Barry Dunne (West Waterford GDC), Helen Murphy (Cois Bhríde GAA Club) and Stuart Barry (Cois Bhríde GAA Club). Photo: Seán Byrne.
Waterford GAA will be sharing six brilliant volunteer stories from people across the county over the coming weeks on their social media channels and offering club members the opportunity to nominate volunteers from within their own clubs that deserve recognition. Keep an eye on the Waterford GAA and Déise Óg Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube accounts for more info.
If you are looking to volunteer with your local GAA club please visit the Volunteer section of the Waterford GAA (www.waterfordgaa.ie) website for more information. You can also contact anyone from your local club committee or a club member. Your local GAA Games Development Coordinator will also point you in the right direction.