Donegal GAA Chairman Michael McGrath has called on every club in the county to adhere to all Covid-19 restrictions and avoid another lockdown.
The call asked Gaels to ‘refocus’ on the negativity and frustrations that Covid has brought to communities and not to ignore advice on social gatherings.
Mr McGrath said there is a danger that Donegal will get differential treatment due to the spike in cases and could endure “specific lockdown restrictions, including a halt to all sports activities, as the rest of Ireland opens up.”
Mr McGrath said the Donegal GAA will be leading the challenge to help improve the health situation in Donegal in the coming weeks.
A statement was issued to every club, saying: “In recent days and weeks the Government and the GAA have commenced on an easing of regulations which will assist our many youth members return to outdoor training. Our adult members are also aware of their Return to Play roadmap.
“With the continued increase of the distribution of vaccines we must all face the challenge of defeating the spread of this virus in a uniformed way. Unfortunately Donegal has continued to maintain a figure of unacceptable new cases, due to a careless attitude by the minority. The true strength of local sport in our community was really identified when we didn’t have it available over the months of 2020.
“I am appealing and pleading through the many connections within the Donegal GAA Clubs and families to refocus on the negativity and frustrations that Covid has brought to our society, and please refrain from ignoring the advise on social gatherings.
“We have an obligation to assist the Government, the leaders of our Country, and the Front Line workers into fighting the Covid in a more sincere way, and let’s show the rest of the country that we can reduce the numbers in Donegal. The Donegal GAA will lead the challenge by encouraging all its members to refocus the regulations, the awareness, and the well advertised prevention methods. This will allow our county to become a summer destination for visitors, and introduce much needed employment for our many club members, and assist a part of normality to return to our county. Your county needs you.
“In addition to the importance from a health and welfare perspective there is also the danger that differential treatment of our county because of a substantial variation in Covid cases per 100,000 could see Donegal, once again, enduring specific lockdown restrictions, including a halt to all sports activities, as the rest of Ireland opens up.”
