A chara,

As you are aware, the Government has confirmed a further relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions to take effect from Monday, June 7.

In terms of Gaelic Games, the impact of this for various activities is outlined below.

Games/Attendances From June 7^th, competitive and challenge games at all levels of club and inter-county are permitted to take place. However, it is essential that we continue to proceed with caution and that the Return to Play Protocols continue to be followed.

In terms of attendances, 100 spectators will be permitted to attend GAA games (club and inter-county) in the 26 Counties from Monday, June 7. This number is in addition to players, team personnel, stewards, or media attendees. Where a ground has a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000, a maximum of 200 spectators can attend.

It is likely that from July 5, up to 200 spectators may be permitted to attend games, and up to 500 may be permitted in grounds with a minimum capacity of 5,000. However this will depend on progress in broader society – if these increases are to be permitted, we will advise in advance of July 5.

Where attendances are permitted at games, the advice in the attached document, prepared by the National Health and Safety Committee needs to be followed. For underage games, where parents are attending in a child-protection capacity, they will count as part of the 100 spectators permitted to attend.

All grounds should have appropriate dispersion measures in place at all entrances and exits and parents/guardians should be advised that congregation in large groups on or outside club grounds is not permitted.

Dressing Rooms For club games, Dressing rooms must remain closed. This is to ensure the risk of players or backroom personnel being classified as Close contacts is minimised. As in the Summer of 2020, players should arrive ready to warm-up and play and leave the ground once the relevant game is over.

Use of Gyms In broader society, the use of Gyms for individual training will be permitted from June 7^th. However, we are advising that club or county-owned gyms should remain closed for the moment unless being used on an individual basis by players on a county panel. Again, this is being advised on the basis of ensuring the risk of an outbreak in a club among your players is minimized.

From July 5 in broader society, it is likely that indoor training will be allowed to recommence in pods of up to 6 people. We will review the position on the use of gyms at that point and provide further advice for clubs and counties in advance of July 5.

Club Bars From June 7, club bars will be permitted to serve food and alcohol outdoors and in line with general guidance for the sector.

From July 5 and subject to maintaining progress with the virus, indoor services in bars and restaurants may be allowed to resume.

Drive in events From June 7, Drive-in cinema and drive-in bingo events may take place.

Family fun days and other fundraising events It is permitted to hold family fun days or other fundraising events from June 7, provided the numbers involved do not exceed 100 persons. It is possible that this number may increase to 200 from July 5^th – again we will confirm in advance of that date if this is to be permitted or not.

Indoor meetings All Club and county meetings should continue to be held remotely until further notice.

It is worth noting however that the Government has made provisions for indoor events to be allowed to return from July 5. However, these will be subject to a maximum of 50 attendees, in groups of up to 6 people and with arrangements in place to ensure no intermingling of groups. Again we will advise further in this context in advance of July 5.

Message from Rebel Óg regarding U17 championships:

A chara,

As we have now received dates for the inter-county minor programme for 2021, Rebel Óg have met with the Cork minor managers and representatives of the Cork senior board.

Arising from this meeting and due to the congested nature of the minor inter-county fixture programme in July, it is necessary to move the commencement of the U17 championship to June, as follows:

U17 football championship round 1 will be played on June 23, instead of the scheduled U18 hurling preseason game.

Likewise, the first round of the U17 hurling championship will be played on June 30, instead of the scheduled U18 football preseason game.

Round two of the U17 hurling championship will be played on July 7, with the following exception – fixtures in this round involving members of the Cork minor hurling panel will be played on the weekend of July 3rd/4th.

Round two of the U17 football championship will be played in and around the weekend of July 30 to August 1.

Further details of the games programme at U18 will follow in the next few days.

A chara,

The Rebel Óg fixtures for June 2021 are now live on the website. The Championship fixtures will follow shortly.

The Preseason Games for Fé18 & Fé15

Two preseason games in both codes from the 7^th of June have been organised to facilitate the return to play of all players many of whom have not played since last summer. This was initiated on the request of clubs to give teams a chance to see who is available to play and to build up a level of match fitness before competitive games start this year.

Due to Covid and the inevitable time constraints that follow at Fé18 & Fé15 it may not be possible to play a league competition. It is hoped that clubs will use these games to get players back playing and to prepare for Championship We are asking mentors not to put pressure on the leaving cert students to play in these games.

Fé13 and Fé12 competitions

This year the Fé13 & Fé12 competitions will be played in 2 phases, with the first phase beginning the week of the 7^th of June starting with hurling then football every other week. Each team will have 3 games in each code.

When the teams have played their 3 games in each code the CCC will look at the groups and divide into larger groups for the rest of the year. There will be finals in phase 2, with cup and shield trophies at the end of the season.

Fé16 & Fé14

Fé16 and Fé14 league competitions will begin on the 7^th of June.

Fé15 C3 league.

Rebel Óg will be running this competition in 2 phases with each team having 3 games in each code in phase 1. The CCC will then look at the groups for phase 2 which will run to the end of the season.

Information for Clubs

Adult and Underage Training: From Monday, May 10^th, both adult and underage training are permitted on a full contact basis in pods of 15 for all Gaelic Games teams in the 26 Counties. Games (including challenge games) will not be permitted until June 7^th.

In the 6 Counties, full contact training for panels is permitted without any reference to pods; games are also currently permitted.

GAA Injury Benefit Fund cover remains in place until May 31st, 2021 based on 2020 team registrations as previously communicated. Details on the 2021 GAA Injury Benefit Fund cover/registration will issue in due course.

Indoor use of facilities: We wish to remind all clubs that the use of indoor facilities for GAA activity is not permitted.

Gym facilities must remain closed (exception: A player on an inter-county panel may use their relevant Club Gym for individual training as long as they are following the advice in the Inter-County Return to Training and Play document)

The only instances where indoor facilities for non-GAA activities can be used are where:

1. agreement was in place prior to March 2020.

2. relevant insurance is in place and

3. The activity is one permitted at a given point in time under the Government’s “Resilience and Recovery – the Path Ahead” or in line with Executive protocols in the North.

Use by State bodies (e.g., HSE/Dept of Health/Dept of Education) is also permitted.

In the 6 Counties, Social Clubs/Bars serving both alcohol and food are permitted to open (serving outdoors only) in line with Executive protocols and subject to compliance with the relevant licensing laws.

Membership: Please note that May 31 is the date by which members must be registered and paid by in order to have voting rights at the next club AGM. All playing members must be registered in advance of returning to play/train on Foireann in order for Injury Fund cover to be in place.

Officer Training: All Officer Training should continue to be delivered online. Outdoor coaching education courses may be held but are subject to a 15-person maximum.

Information for Counties:

Use of Buses for travel: The capacity limits for bus travel have increased from 25% of capacity to 50% of capacity from  Monday, May 10.

Training Camps: A reminder to all Counties that Training Camps involving overnight stays are not permitted in 2021.

Minor/U20 Challenge Games: Challenge matches at Minor and U20 inter-county levels cannot take place until June 7 under Government regulations.

Training for Talent Academy Squads: Training for Talent Academy squads can take place from June 5^th – a full policy in this regard, including relevant dates for games, will be circulated in the coming days.