‘Despite our best efforts, the situation we find ourselves in today is an unfortunate reality of life in a pandemic.’
Man O’War Gaelic Football Club have sent out a public notice stating they are ‘suspending all training and match activity effective immediately and until further notice’. The North Dublin club are the fourth in the country to take this measure.
The move follows a club member being informed of a positive test for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. Man O’War are the fourth club in the Republic of Ireland to suspend all training and match activities, in the past week, since clubs were given the green light to return under ‘Safe Return to Gaelic Games’ procedures.
During the week, Cork clubs Ballinascarthy, St Oliver Plunkett’s and Argideen Rangers all suspended GAA activities to comply with public health advice from the Health Service Executive.
On Saturday evening, Man O’War confirmed they are doing likewise. The club statement reads:
‘Man O’War GFC is suspending all training and match activity effective immediately and until further notice. This follows a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 for one of our club members in recent hours.
‘This is a precautionary measure while the individual in question awaits the commencement of the contact tracing process and further guidance from the public health authorities. Those who might be a potential ‘close contact’ are being contacted by the individual and/or the Club Executive in advance of the commencement of the contact tracing process.
‘Our primary concern is for the health, well-being and privacy of our club member and we send our support to them for a speedy recovery.
‘We wish to reassure the vast majority of our players, coaches, supporters and visitors that they do not fall into the category of a ‘close contact’ with the individual concerned. In addition, we have been following procedures for enhanced hygiene and cleaning at the club.
‘Out of concern for the health and well-being of our wider club community, we believe that a cautious approach is the best approach. Therefore we have extended this suspension of activity to all teams until we have received clarification from the public health authorities. We will update teams when we have received further guidance.’
The statement concludes with praise for club members for their high levels of ‘personal responsibility and stewardship’.
The GAA’s Covid-19 advisory group met during the week to discuss the protocols for a positive Covid test by a player but no updates have been provided to clubs as of this weekend.
More information can be found on HSE Coronavirus and on the GAA Covid Club Education hub.
