Donegal PRO Sinead Breen delivers her first report ahead of Convention 

The first officer’s report ahead of Donegal GAA Convention 2024 has been released by PRO Sinead Breen. 

The Setanta club member was elected to the role last December when she succeeded Fiona Siels.  

This year’s Convention will be hosted by the Pettigo GAA Club at the Termon Centre in Pettigo. 

And Monaghan native Breen faces competition on the night to hold onto the PRO portfolio from Na Rossa’s Packie McDyre. 

Breen has also been nominated for the roles of Secretary, Delegate to Ulster Convention and Delegate to National Congress. 

Her first annual report reads as follows: 

It’s hard to believe that 11 months have passed since my appointment as PRO. It was no secret on the night that I was both honoured and ecstatic to have this opportunity. 

I wholeheartedly believed and promised that I would give 100% for this county and I hope that you concur that I have. 

My main aims were, firstly, to provide a website which gave access to fixtures and results that our followers found accessible and, secondly, to provide information on all aspects of our association. 

I’m aware that in former years there was an element of negativity across all social media platforms and this is something I admit I was apprehensive about. 

I am delighted to say that this has been an extremely rare occurrence in my experience. On the contrary, I am pleased to say that the overwhelming consensus seems to be that the public just want the basics to be easily accessible without having to search endlessly. 

I have experienced positivity from all quarters of our units and from the general public. I also had the support of the relevant key people on executive, on county committee and the media.

The launching of our new website on March 23rd was an essential component to this. To follow up with an official Donegal GAA App was something which I felt was essential, given that 83% of people viewing our website did so from a mobile phone. 

I have absolutely loved my year as PRO and I’ve lost count of the number of times I have described it as living my best life.

To everybody who has contributed to this in any way, be it big or small, I am forever grateful. I am not a huge believer in endless reports; I am of the mindset that continuous content on our platforms and promotion of our activities is more appropriate for the role of a pro-active PRO. 

In my reports to county committee I have outlined the activities of said period and thanked those who contributed to such. 

As PRO, I am also a member of the CCC, I wish to thank chairman David McLoone and secretary Mary Kelly for their endless work, as well as all our colleagues on this committee. 

This in itself is a demanding responsibility, but one which is vital to the promotion of all our club activities. 

As alluded to in my overview, our new website was launched on March 23rd. Now, it's fair to say I was proud of this achievement, but nowhere near as relieved as I was when it launched with absolute perfection.

I have to express my huge thanks to Kristina, Kate, Niall and Michael of Laird Design / Club & County. 

Firstly, for facilitating me in the minute timeframe they did, but also for their determination to find a way to bring to reality what I was hoping to achieve. There are new elements which I will be working on over the next couple of weeks and I look forward to publishing these. 

The end of the season is the only realistic time to do so as I am constantly covering activities otherwise. 

I am excited to add more features and expand the capabilities of our site and your experience of it. My thanks to Austin Daly who contributed a large portion of the money to fund this new site. 

I must also thank our phenomenal treasurer Grace Boyle. It is widely known that Grace is profusely prudent with the finances of our county, to her eternal credit and a fact reflected in our annual accounts. 

However, Grace was cognisant that investment was required in our online presence and provided the budget to do so. 

For her support, advice and honest opinions, I thank Grace in abundance. A section in the social media analytics booklet I have produced provides some statistics. 

Hot on the heels of our new website came our first Donegal GAA APP. For those who have not as yet done so, it is available to download in both Apple and Android stores. 

Just search ‘Donegal GAA’ and download. This can be used to pay your annual membership, view all fixtures and results, enter the Donegal GAA 50/50 and order merch from the O’Neill’s Donegal GAA Shop. 

It can also be used to stream content on Donegal GAA TV. If you wish to receive notifications to all posts, just go to ‘settings - apps – notifications – Donegal GAA, then ‘allow’. 

I encourage you all to try! You can access our fixtures, results and streamed games via this too.

Donegal GAA TV streamed 24 games, a huge increase on last season and something I felt strongly needed to be pushed. Jim McGuinness often speaks of how “Up here it’s different”. 

It undoubtedly is, and as PRO, I owe it to Donegal people at home and abroad to promote us and bring our games to a wider audience. 

Games can be viewed though both the website and the app. All games being streamed were repeatedly advertised on all our social media platforms. 

My thanks to all our commentators for giving up their time free of charge, a huge gesture of goodwill towards the efforts to promote our club games and giving up their time to add to the enjoyment of viewers. 

To our streaming teams all under the directorship of Bradas Video Productions, I thank each one of you profusely for your work. 

Each and everyone of you gave 100% to make every production the best it could be. Thanks to our platform providers Wiistream for their support. 

We secured a tier one sponsor in O’Neills Sportswear for our streaming platform, a relationship which they wish to keep going for next year. 

This was undoubtedly a great support to our advertising abilities. We now have over 7,700 subscribers to our Donegal GAA TV platform, it is my intention to keep building strongly on these numbers. 

Below are some stats: *No of Games Broadcast – 24 *Avg Bundle Purchase per game – 205 (4911 in total for 24 games) *Highlight Games -Senior County Final – 1,124 Bundles, -Naoimh Conaill Vs St Eunans – 504 Bundles, -Gaoth Dobhair Vs St Eunans – 411 Bundles *International Viewers – 20% - 25% per game. 

Approx 1650 of registered emails DONEGAL GAA 50/50: Donegal GAA launched our 50/50 this year and it has been a great source of revenue to our county. 

It would be remiss of me to not give thanks and credit to Cieran Kelly, not only for this initiative but for everything he has done to drive it. 

He consistently provided graphics and assets for ease of promotion and this made my job easier. Thank you to everyone who has entered, these are vital funds as the proceeds go towards the costs of running all our teams and academy. 

Thank you also to the clubs who have shared the posts on their social media platforms. I understand that clubs also have their own fundraising to do and We appreciate all their help with ours. 

The same must be said for our ‘Squares’ promotion which also netted considerable income. Hurling as I have previously said, I was adamant that all codes and activities in our association should be promoted and publicised to my utmost ability. 

One of the highlights of my year was our senior hurlers winning the Nickey Rackard Cup, I was beyond delighted and immensely proud of every single one of them. 

Huge congratulations to the players, Mickey McCann and his backroom team on a phenomenal year which has also seen us promoted to Division 2 for the first time ever. 

Our underage structures at academy, minor and under 20 grades are also pushing to ensure the success of our seniors is replicated in future teams. 

I have loved working with all of our panels and management teams to promote the oldest of all our codes. 

I wish to thank Marty McGrath and hurling officer Cormac Hartnett for all their efforts to help me in my work. I sincerely hope We have the opportunity to build on this foundation. 

Hurling PRO Lorena McGrory, I can only say I have found a friend for life in Lorena. Although her role is to promote hurling, she has been an invaluable help to meet throughout both hurling and football leagues and championships. 

Her passion for hurling is palpable and she is a pleasure to work alongside. The fact that she makes the most delicious cupcakes was not lost on me either. 

It was a phenomenal year for our senior footballers under the management of Jim McGuinness and his backroom team. Winning promotion, winning the Division 2 league title and the Anglo Celt. 

It still feels somewhat surreal, however there is no mistaking the air of positivity, hope and delight that our spectators experienced from our exploits in both league and championship. 

To say that the season is hectic would be a massive understatement. As a PRO it is a constant cycle of promotion, programmes, travel, etc., but one which I have absolutely embraced. 

I wish to thank our players, Jim, his backroom team, I was able to bring our supporters footage of players arriving for example that hadn't been done before. 

There are two people I must single out for thanks, praise and the utmost respect: Kieran Espey and Sean Dunnion. 

Although We are volunteers, their professionalism and support at all times was nothing short of incredible. 

You both made my role much easier. Working with the management teams for our academy teams, our county minors and our under 20's, whilst demanding with all teams playing simultaneously, was hugely rewarding and enjoyable. 

Again, I see it as a vital part of the role who work with these structures to promote their activities. I wish all the best of luck for 2025.

I am resolutely steadfast in my belief that school football is an essential stepping stone to producing senior players. 

I believe that We need to get boys playing and keep them playing. The GAA is community, schools are a vital part of communities. 

I feel there needs to be a connect between schools and our county. I am currently attending as many of these games as I can and will continue to do so should I be re-elected. 

The Abbey Vocational School winning both the McLarnon and Paddy Drummond Cups was an undoubted high point of my year having attended all their games since my appointment. 

That they have now stepped up to the MacRory Cup is testament to their ambition. This year We also have South West Donegal schools amalgamated in the MacRory Cup, St Eunan's in the McLarnon Cup as well as many other schools participating across many age grades. 

There is a huge amount of work going into coaching at all school levels within Donegal and within our Coaching & Games development committee. 

Damien Diver, Declan Bushell and all that work with them put in hours well beyond what many see. Cumann na mBunscoil Donegal also do fantastic work with our youth. It is imperative We as a county continue to work with all stakeholders for the betterment of our youth. 

From the outset, I was adamant that relations with the media in Donegal needed improvement. 

Quite simply, we as a county could never afford to pay for the coverage our online media, print media, radio stations, photographers and podcasts give to our activities. 

I have found our media to be beyond exceptional at this. They are at all times professional. courteous, warm-natured and respectful. 

Working with them has been an absolute pleasure. They have a job to do and they do it fairly and proportionately in my opinion and experience. I don't believe that there was any game, either in hurling or football, that wasn't reported on. 

A fantastic testament to our local media. I wish to thank every single one of them for their time and efforts. I hope they too have enjoyed the year. 

I have had the benefit of help from many volunteers this year, including members of our PR & Marketing committee. 

To Chris Doherty for help with social media for inter-county, Tanya Roberts Brown for her help with senior football inter-county updates and club notes, to the aforementioned Lorena McGrory for her relentless efforts, photographers Geraldine Diver, Kevin Gallagher and Mary Bonner Rodgers. 

Damien Carr, without whom I would be lost. Fergus McGee, I am proud to say is not only one of my best friends, but the most trusty sidekick for every single game at home, be it county or club. 

Teamwork is essential, We are all cogs in a wheel which turns for the betterment of all things Donegal GAA. 

It is not possible for one person to cover everything and so back up is required. Ideally if in the role going forward I would seek some additional help, particularly for club championship with the geographical logistics of a county the size of ours. 

A special mention must go to Christy Murray, affectionately known as Christy Bagpipes. Christy played at every single final held so far this year. 

He adds ambience, personality and culture to all events and he adds to the spectacle of finals for our players and patrons alike. I wish to acknowledge and show my utmost appreciation to the Club PRO's of our 40 units. 

This is not an easy role within a club, but each and every one have given their all to promoting their respective clubs.

To Gemma, Sam and Sammy of Impacto Print, Letterkenny, my thanks to you. Thanks to my children for their tea making skills for the media and launches, and my eldest child Aleesha Jane for her graphics and digital content. 

Congratulations to senior footballers Jamie Brennan and Eoghan Bán Gallagher on both reaching 100 games played. 

Congratulations to our senior football captain Patrick McBrearty on reaching 150 games. And further congratulations to Stephen Gillespie on reaching 100 games for Donegal senior hurlers. 

A phenomenal achievement and our thanks to each for their colossal dedication to our county and their respective codes. 

I wish to thank all sponsors of our competitions throughout the season at both County and club level. Without their financial support 

We could not operate as We do. To those who deal with their assets, social media, branding and promotions, thank you for your time and co-operation. 

I have had the most wonderful year as PRO of CLG Dhún na nGall. I wasn't born here, but I do believe I was born to be here and to give my all for this county. 

It has been an honour to do so and I am as proud to be PRO now as I was in Jackson's Hotel last December. 

Ours is a special County and this year has proven what is capable when We have like minded people working together with one common cause: the betterment of Donegal. 

To our chairperson Mary Coughlan, you are nothing short of an incredible leader. To County Secretary Declan Martin, I thank you for your support and work this year, I am sorry to see you leave us. 

To our administrator Lisa McTernan, you are fantastic to work with and I hope to have the opportunity to do so next year too. 

Thank you for all. I wish to thank Lisa's predecessor, Noreen Doherty, for the assistance prior to retirement. 

Having lost her beloved husband Aidan Doherty very recently, Noreen is in my thoughts. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. 

Finally, I wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and may We all enjoy good health to have a wonderful 2025. Beannacht Dé oraibh agus go raibh maith agaibh! 

Is mise le meas, Sinéad Uí Bhríaín