Meet our new GPO - Gordon Mac an Bhaird

Skerries Harps are delighted to introduce Gordon Mac an Bhaird as their new GPO (Games Promotion Officer) for the club. Gordon comes to Skerries Harps with a huge amount of experience having previously worked with Dublin GAA as a GPO for 10 years in St. Peregrines.

Gordon also worked with Leinster GAA in Navan Co. Meath, spent 3 years as head Strength and conditioning Coach with Wexford football and has extensive club coaching experience across Kildare, Meath and Dublin in football, hurling, camogie and ladies' football. His coaching extends across all levels and he also coached the Sigerson Cup team in DIT (TUD). It’s not the only experience Gordons brings to the club - he also holds a Level 2 GAA Tutor qualification, one of the highest levels of coach developer qualification within the GAA. We are very privileged to have this experience and skill within our club.

Gordons Home club is St. Kevins and Coill Dubh in Kildare but also played for a number of years with Erin's Isle.

‘This is an extremely important role within Skerries Harps...we’ve benefited hugely in the past from our participation and from support from the GAA Games Promotion Office and we have been appointed a great asset to the club. On behalf of the club I welcome Gordon as our GPO, and I wish him every success in the role’ . Paul Donnolly, Chairman.

A very special mention this week, at our Juvinelle meeting to our Chairman for his relentless work in securing a GPO for our club through the GAA development programme at a very challenging and difficult time for GAA recruitment.

‘Gordon is a great fit for the club, hugely qualified and will bring great energy to our efforts.... Gordon brings huge experience to the role of GPO with Skerries Harps. He understands what’s needed to foster children’s love of sport and to grow participation in football, hurling and camogie through Skerries Harps' links with local schools. He also has a strong reputation in developing and improving playing and coaching standards within a GAA club’. Mickey Joe Geoghegan, Juvenile Chairman.

While we filled this very important role we have had a gap over the past few months and would like to take this opportunity to thank the club executive, academy coaches and volunteers who ensured our high standards were maintained while this vital recruitment process was completed. Special thanks to Anthony Weldon, Sean Geoghegan, Aaron Rock & Ellen Gilmore.

A little about the GAA Games Development Programme and the role the GPO plays for the club as part of that.

With the assistance of funding from Sport Ireland (formerly known as the Irish Sports Council), the Association employs over 300 Games Development Personnel nationwide, who are responsible for the implementation of activities under the Grassroots to National Programme.

Games Promotion Officers (GPOs) are responsible for the implementation of a specific number of Games Development projects, are assigned to clubs and report to the County Games Development Manager. They ensure the club gets highly qualified personnel with continuous support from the GAA in supporting the club.