News story courtesy of Irish Echo

Gaelic games in Sydney will be played at a new ground in 2012. The only problem is that no one knows where.

Last week, the NSW GAA announced that after 25 years in the Auburn Council area, the association would be looking for a new home.

While the move has been painted as a mutual agreement, it increases pressure on the NSW GAA to secure playing facilities.

Efforts to find new facilities in the eastern suburbs have been unsuccessful to date after Randwick Council recently rejected an application for a ground in Malabar.

A sub-committee, encharged with the task of finding a new ground, is understood to be exploring new avenues but the pressure is mounting.

Adding to the NSW GAA's woes is the news that the facility granted to them for this season at Mona Park is smaller than a regulation GAA pitch.

The Irish Echo understands that the field is different from the one used last year at Mona Park and that it is 30m shorter than the standard 130m.

In a NSW GAA statement, secretary Mark McGuinness said: "After ongoing discussions between the NSW GAA and Auburn Council both parties agreed that the 2011 season will be the final season in which Gaelic games are played at council sporting facilities.

"This will bring to a close a 25-year period which saw Gaelic codes being played in the west Sydney suburb. During that year participant numbers have seen significant growth and the NSW GAA continues to lead the Australasian territory in membership numbers."

On the quest to find new playing facilities, Mr McGuinness said that "2010 saw the formation of a sub-committee to specifically targeting underage development and playing facility opportunities.

"With respect to the search for new playing facilities significant effort was put into forming relationships with the NSW Government and eastern suburb councils to seek out short- and long-term opportunities.

"Unfortunately an application to Randwick Council to use one of their playing facilities for the 2011 was unsuccessful.

"The NSW GAA committee and the playing facilities sub-committee will continue to work tirelessly in the year ahead to source a new home for Gaelic games in Sydney.

"Work on identifying possible opportunities around Sydney has continued since the Randwick Council setback and the search will not be limited to the eastern suburbs, although it remains our area of preference.

"As with all voluntary organisations, any help that the great Irish community in Sydney can give would always be gratefully accepted. If anyone has locations that they believe would be worth investigating they can send an email to secretary@gaansw.org.au."

Meanwhile, the 2011 season will start on April 10, with games played every Sunday at Mona Park in Auburn.

The final fixture list for the league and championship competitions will be published in the next edition of the Irish Echo.

As the NSW GAA embarks on a new season, it has also unveiled a new logo.

Mr McGuinness said the rebranding was timely.

"In anticipation of the major changes that the association will be managing over the season and years ahead it was decided that it was time to rebrand.

"While the association faces challenges… there are also major positives that we will be building on.

The underage development initiatives in 2010 were very successful and we will continue to build on them in the year ahead."

An underage development programme and schedule is due to be published in the next four weeks.

The NSW GAA anticipates that membership numbers for the season ahead will break the 800 mark which will be, they say, a first for any territory within Australasia.

"Within that membership the numbers of players with sponsorship and permanent visas is expected to be at an all-time high, which will aid our efforts to secure the playing future for the gaelic codes and their development in Sydney," Mr McGuinness said.

A new NSW GAA website will also be launched next month, he said.

Meanwhile, as Young Irelands Gaelic Football Club enters its 42nd season, it has announced the formation of a new women's football team.

A club spokesman said Young Irelands were responding to demand in the community.

"The club had considered this in the past and it never materialised but 2011 seemed like the right time to take the next step."

Club stalwarts Noirin Kelly (Galway), Suzanne Toomey (Wicklow) and Mary Cosgrove (Dublin) will set the wheels in motion and get the team together.

If you are interested in playing please contact Noirin on 0414 082 189, Suzanne on 0405 023 177, Mary on 0431 639 820 or alternatively email the club for more details at youngirelands@gmail.com