The GAA President Jarlath Burns presented the Down senior footballers with their Tailteann Cup medals at a special dinner at the Canal Court Hotel on 23 October.

Having lost out in the decider last year, Down went one better to win a first senior football title in Croke Park since 1994 and secure a place in the All-Ireland Championship next season. A narrow defeat to the eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh resulted in participation in the Tailteann Cup for the third year in a row, but this time an unbeaten run brought success and the security of playing Division 2 football next year with chmpionship status secured.

The campaign started with easy victories over Limerick and London, and late goals overcame Offaly in a dead rubber at Breffni Park. The home advantage was crucial for the quarter final stage, as Down defeated Wicklow before edging out Sligo after extra time ina nail-biting semi final at headquarters.

Despite conceding goals in each half, and a nervy finish, Down completed the job with a final win over Laois by 0-14 to 2-6.

The presentation of medals also featured an address from the Uachtarán and the team captain Pierce Laverty.

The Scór na nÓg 2024 County Final is taking place on Sunday 10th November.

The final will take place in Atticall Community Centre commencing at 1pm.

A range of clubs accross Down are taking place in many different acts.

The Ulster Scór na nÓg Semi Final will take place on Sunday 17th November in Stradone, Co. Cavan alongside the winners from Cavan, Fermanagh & Monaghan.

Best of luck to all taking part.

€15.4m PEACEPLUS Investment Awarded for Iconic Project at Ballykinlar - Centre for Participation, Wellbeing and Shared Learning Hub

Down Gaelic Athletic Association (Down GAA) are delighted with today’s announcement of €15,383,951.00 funding from the PEACEPLUS Programme for the development of the Ballykinlar Centre of Participation, Wellbeing and Shared Learning Hub.

The project will be developed by Down GAA as lead partner, with the support of our main project delivery partners Co-operation Ireland and County Down Rural Community Network (CDRCN).

This project supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

The provision of funding through the PEACEPLUS Re-imaging Communities Programme will bring an historic project to reality. The proposed 30-acre development will include:

• 4 full size GAA grass pitches (3 of which are floodlit)
• A covered spectator seating area
• Indoor Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)
• Walking Trail
• Gym/Fitness Suite
• Heritage Museum/Interpretive Centre
• Administrative Block and Community facilities 

The project has evolved from an historic agreement between Down GAA and the Ministry of Defence, which has led to a lease for Down GAA to develop part of the Ballykinlar estate.

This iconic project will mark significant change in the local landscape and provide an inclusive shared space for local sporting, community, heritage, peacebuilding and capacity building activities and programmes. Drawing on the knowledge, skills and experience of our main partner organisations, the project will also help to address a deficit in social and community infrastructure, contributing to rural regeneration, improved health and wellbeing and helping to build a more cohesive society.

In welcoming confirmation of the successful bid for PEACEPLUS funding, Down GAA Chairperson John Devaney said;

“The confirmation of funding from the PEACEPLUS Programme is a significant step in our plans to develop what will be an iconic project at Ballykinlar. The success of our application is down to the hard work and support of a number of people within our team and our project partners Cooperation Ireland and the County Down Rural Community Network. We are excited at the prospect that our plan will finally come to fruition.  This is an iconic project that has the potential to be transformational for those involved and those who will benefit. We are grateful for the support of officials within the Ministry of Defence, the Ballykinlar GAA club, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and our public representatives. The progress so far and the success of our funding application can be attributed to the outstanding work of the Project Advisory Board chaired by Feargal McCormack, the team of County Officers, Steven Trainor (Grants Officer) and Ciaran Rafferty (Legal Advisor), and to the ongoing support, advice and encouragement from Ulster and Central GAA and the wider family of Gaelic sports.  Ballykinlar and its history provides a fascinating backdrop. This is a place where parts of our local and national history intertwine, and we have an opportunity to reflect past, present and future in what we build and develop. Working alongside our project partners, we will provide a facility that will cater for community, sporting and cultural needs.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “There was a huge response to this funding call which really demonstrated the public’s appetite and need for shared spaces within our communities. We have seen from previous PEACE programmes how shared civic spaces can act as beacons of hope within a community, real catalysts for change and enhanced socio-economic environments. I am delighted that through PEACEPLUS we will be delivering transformed and repurposed facilities for people right across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. These new facilities will provide places where people can come together, collaborate and engage with one another in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment. They are crucial for peacebuilding and reconciliation. Their impact transcends the bricks and mortar required for their construction, penetrating much further into the local community through the changes in both attitudes and behaviours, resulting in a reduction in segregation and contributing to sustained peace and prosperity.”

The nominations for the Down GAA Club of the Year have been announced:

• Carryduff
• Dromara
• Kilcoo
• Portaferry

The winners will be announced at the O'Neills Down GAA County Dinner at The Canal Court on Saturday 16th November.

The nominations for the Down GAA Club Player of The Championship were announced.

Each championship has three nominees:

Senior Football

Paddy Burns (Burren)     Ryan McEvoy     (Kilcoo)     Anthony Morgan     (Kilcoo)

Senior Hurling

Tom McGrattan (Portaferry)     John McManus (Ballygalget)     Caolan Taggart (Portaferry)

Intermediate Football

Ryan Hillen (Drumgath)      Pearse McPolin (Drumgath)      Donal Scullion (Clann na Banna)

Intermediate Hurling

Conor Cassidy (Carryduff)     Donal Hughes (Bredagh)      Niall McFarland (Bredagh)

Junior Football

Eoin McEvoy (Dromara)      Brendan McVey (Dromara)      Ben Ogle (Aughlisnafin)

Junior Hurling

Tiernan Connolly (Castlewellan)     Malachy Magee (Ballela)     Johnny McCusker (Ballela)

The winners will be announced at the O'Neills Down GAA County Dinner at The Canal Court on Saturday 16th November.