*Wolfe Tones GAA club in Shannon will be one of the GAA facilities to reopen. Photograph: John Mangan
GAA pitches are to reopen for adult training from this Wednesday (June 24th).
A meeting of the GAA’s COVID-19 Advisory Committee who put forward a number of recommendations that have been approved by the GAA, the Camogie Association and the LGFA.
From Wednesday, adult teams will have access to GAA grounds for training while all underage teams can resume training at club grounds from Saturday (June 27th). This is approved on the basis that it is non-contact training and that all players and personnel involved have completed the eLearning module.
The reopening occurs five days earlier than initially planned.
In counties such as Clare, a maximum of fifteen players will be allowed to train in a designated area of the field, the figure is reduced to ten players in Northern Ireland. Dressing rooms will remain off limits until July 20th.
Contact training and challenge games are allowed from Monday June 29th for all counties in the Republic of Ireland. GAA officials are awaiting clarification “on what will constitute a close contact versus a casual contacts”. Restrictions on the amount of personnel that can attend a training session are to be relaxed from this date.
No changes have been identified for inter-county dates, they can resume collective training on September 14th and competitions on October 17th.
Club fixtures can get underway from Friday July 17th. The Advisory Committee is considering its position on GAA buildings such as club bars serving food, gyms and handball alleys, guidance will be provided before June 29th, a spokesperson confirmed.
