Games Development Officer

As a Games Development Officer, you work to grow participation in Gaelic games — including GAA football, hurling, camogie, and handball — across clubs, schools, and community settings. You design and deliver coaching programmes, organise blitzes and festivals, and liaise with local clubs, county boards, and schools to encourage young people and adults to take part. Much of your day involves visiting schools and clubs, supporting coaches, and building relationships with teachers, community groups, and local authorities. You track participation figures, write reports for county board committees, and apply for funding to sustain and expand programmes. You may work under a county board, a provincial council such as Leinster or Munster GAA, or alongside organisations like Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

A Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Sports Science, Sports Development, Physical Education, or a related discipline is the typical minimum route into this role. Relevant courses are offered at institutions such as UL, DCU, ATU, TU Dublin, and IT Carlow programmes now under SETU. Leaving Certificate subjects such as Physical Education, Biology, and Irish are beneficial, and strong performance across Higher Level subjects supports a competitive CAO application. Some candidates enter via a Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor degree in Sports Management or Recreation and gain a Level 8 through progression routes. A QQI Level 5 or 6 PLC in Sport and Recreation can serve as an alternative entry pathway into a degree programme. Professional coaching qualifications from the GAA's own coach education framework are expected alongside academic qualifications, and experience volunteering or coaching within a GAA club is highly valued by employers.