ULSTER GAA: Valuing our older club members

EQUALITY, diversity and inclusion will continue to play a key role in the success and sustainability of our clubs into the future.

Practices which promote EDI allow us to live out our Gaelic games values of community Identity, fairness, inclusiveness and respect, amongst others. ‘We are what we repeatedly do’ and this concept calls us, in our clubs and in our counties, to turn inward and reflect on the actions we’re implementing to ensure that Gaelic Games continues to be a place ‘Where we all belong.’

This month is positive ageing month which is an annual, month-long festival of events and activities held in October to celebrate older people, promote their wellbeing, and highlight their valuable contributions to their communities.

As part of Ulster GAA’s ‘CAIRDEAS’ series, they have been highlighting clubs such as Tattyreagh GAC and St John’s GAC or counties such as Cavan, who are making a real effort to value our older members.

Our older GAA members are mentors who pass on skills, storytellers who share our history and volunteers who give their time year after year.

Recently, Ulster GAA caught up with Barts O’Brien from Devenish GAA in county Fermanagh. Previously, Barts has received the Club Volunteer Award at the 2023 Fermanagh Club All-Stars ceremony.

Barts had a distinguished playing career, playing senior football for the club from 1981 through to the noughties. During this period he collected five Fermanagh Senior Championship and five Senior League titles. He played for Fermanagh for the best part of a decade, captaining the side in the early 1990s.

Barts became involved in coaching and management in 1998 and was part of management teams for the best part of 20 years, managing the ladies team, reserve and senior teams during this time as well as under-21 teams.

At club officer level, his first appointment was as a delegate to the county board back in 1985 and he has been a member of the club executive since 1990 and has been an ever-present since.

Barts currently serves as club groundsman and puts a huge amount of work in behind the scenes in this role to keep our grounds in immaculate condition. He also currently serves as a delegate to the county board.

Speaking about his involvement with the club, Barts stated that: “I look at it as a privilege to do the work for the club because I have had many good days.”

Barts has a clear appreciation and understanding of lifelong participation in the club and said that “it’s definitely very important when you stop playing that you keep involved with the club and take an interest in the club, whether it’s a role in the community or whatever. When you’re fit to do something for the club or put something back into the club, I think that’s the main thing.”

Similarly, keen to highlight the health benefits for himself, Barts believes that “It gets you out and about, being down at the pitch here. When you’re lining the pitch, it’s amazing the amount of walking you do and it’s good exercise.”

He also highlighted the social element to involvement in the club for all involved.

“You come out here and there’s always teams training or something, you’re chatting to people, even people from opposition teams, so I think it’s good all round for everyone,” said Barts.

Barts’ commitment to the club and county is unwavering and he continues to carry out this work in his quiet, unassuming and friendly manner.