GAA to provide 200 internships for scheme

THE GAA has pledged to provide up to 200 internships through the Government’s JobBridge initiative.

The association said it was initially offering 126 such posts through its JobBridge internship scheme, with 13 people already engaged with the initiative and more vacancies planned.

JobBridge is a new national scheme that will enable organisations to provide unemployed individuals with work experience placements for a six- or nine-month period. Among the internships are games development administration assistant and co-ordinator positions at county, club and second and third level.

Interested parties can apply for a placement with a department in Croke Park at provincial council and county board levels.

There are also a number of administration internships available in the areas of IT, marketing and promotions, and fixtures programming.

The GAA has expressed concern at the number of club players emigrating as those of playing age are most likely to be affected by the economic downturn.

Pat Daly of the GAA’s JobBridge steering committee said it was “vital that young people get an opportunity to enhance their training and development by experiencing the practical realities of a work environment”.