NDC Chairman steps down. 14/7/03
Owen Kelly has been a member of the NDC (NCDC) since 1999, initially as the Munster delegate and then for the last two years as Chairman. Owen was also ITTA PRO from 2000-2002 and has been Chairman of Munster, Cork and West Cork table tennis associations and has filled a number of roles as a coach, Tutor and NPC at National and local levels and is currently Head Coach for Munster Special Olympics.

"I first got involved with the administration side of things as a way of trying to find out what was actually going on. Living in rural Ireland (West Cork) I found it very difficult to actually find out anything. I was sent the occasional entry form for local regional tournaments but with very little information on how to access any coaching or any other support for clubs and players it was very frustrating. I was coaching in around 7 different schools/clubs and looked after over 200 players.

I hope that in my relatively short stint at administration outside of my local area, (7 years this time) I have helped address some of the difficulties I faced myself when trying to get involved at a national level, I hope my TTIreland site has certainly helped in this regard. It was surprisingly easy to get involved on committee levels as there are so few that are prepared to work on the admin side of things. I hope that I used my time constructively and that I leave with things a little better than they were. Unfortunately there are a few things, ideas and people that I just wasn't able to change at present and that would be a major source of frustration and simply it has become too much for me.

As PRO and as a member of the NDC I have had a great opportunity to travel round the country and learn more about Irish table tennis. I have also taken the opportunity to visit a number of other countries and learn from their structures and experience and share my experiences through the website. We need strong and disciplined management. I also believe we need officers with a vision and ambition to match those that we encourage in our players. Unfortunately we have too few who will get involved and we don't have the organisation to support and retain those who do.

The National Strategic Development Plan must be nearing the end of the 4 year "draft" stage and this document hopes to increase participation by developing table tennis through re-organising the existing structure. The plan is dependent on encouraging a greater number of personnel to become involved within the administration. The NDC will be dissolved and its remit divided into various sub-committees. This will be an even more difficult period for the development as these committees start up and organise themselves. Until we see some real change I intend to spend more of my time coaching and playing."

Connacht one step closer to a Tutor
As outlined in Connacht's Development Strategy the identification and training of a Connacht based Tutor was an essential part of their strategy. Eamon Nealon took the first step towards that goal by attending the first part (5 day) of his NCDP Tutor course in Limerick. the course builds on the existing knowledge of the coach and instructs them on adult education principles, syllabus presentations, and up to date coaching techniques. Eamon faces another two weekends at the NCTC later this year. So by 2004 Connacht should have their first official ITTA/NCDP Table Tennis Tutor.

Sligo Go Level 1
The first Level 1 Coaching Course took place in Sligo. This is the second Coaching Course to be held in Connacht as part of their Provincial Development Strategy. The course was supported by the local LSP and 13 student coaches took part.

NDC Visits Connacht
The NDC Chairman Owen Kelly visited the Connacht Branch in Galway on 20th March. There was a very productive discussion on the future development strategies for Connacht as well as the NDC strategy and development modules. The importance of developing a coaching structure and the qualification of prospective level 1 candidates as well as identifying a suitable Tutor for the Connacht region was discussed. It is hoped that a more detailed future strategy will be drawn up by the Branch in accordance with ISC and NDC criteria and this will form the basis of the future development of the Branch.

On a personal note I would like to thank the Branch for their hospitality and for the opportunity to play a couple of matches at the Commercial Boat Club. This was my first visit to the club and I am sure I will take the next opportunity I have to return.

Junior Umpiring 24-05-02
The NDC are reviewing the current state of umpiring in Irish Table Tennis and ways of encouraging more umpires and raising the standard at tournaments. Junior Umpire Schemes from other Associations are being researched in order to design and launch one here in Ireland. If you have any views or experience concerning umpires please email the NDC

Community Games Project 28-04-02
The Goleen and District Team finished 3rd at the Cork Finals, are you interested in Community Games? Check out how they did it at Community Games Diary.

Community Games Project 28-03-02
The Goleen and District Team have organised a new training venue, a sponsor and the Community Council has paid for their entry.

Club Development - 27-03-02
Ballincollig Table Tennis club became the fourth new club to be opened under the Munster Club Development Scheme. The first night was only 2x1 hr session with six tables in use. the club has already attracted players from 4 secondary schools and Scoil Eoin National School. The club is supported by a number of Level 1 Coaches as well as parents and teachers.

Club Development - 6-03-02 The Dunmanway Club opened its doors for the first time today, with 6 tables in use and room for another 8 (14 in all) this club has huge potential. Players from Schull, Clonakilty, Rossmore, Goleen, Enniskeane, Ballineen, Bantry and Drimoleague have already benefitted from the club. A Club Team Challenge in two divisions to be played at the new club it is being organised to encourage other clubs to become involved and to allow some of the players who were unable to play at the schools cup. The club has two resident Level 1 Coaches and will be running a Summer Training Camp for anyone who would like to attend

Bumper Pack in Munster - 16-01-02
Interest in the new ITTA Bumper Pack is beginning to increase as members become more aware of the quality of the product. The Munster Branch recently awarded Bumper Packs to Linda Mountjoy and Bertie Levinge at a reception at Cork City Hall by the Mayor. Linda has been Irish No.1 for well over a year now and continues to set a high standard for the rest of Munster. Bertie Levinge is the only Irish player to win a European Tile with his recent win at the European Vets in the Mens +75 Doubles. Bertie has also reached the World final and continues to play at a very high standard.

Munster has seen a number of promotions within local schools and clubs where there is great interest in the pack.

1-12-01 County Umpire Course - Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey

17-11-01
Press Launch of ITTA Bumper Pack at Irish Junior Ranking in Dublin.

It was a major weekend for the Irish Table Tennis Association, which launched the new Members’ Bumper Pack over the weekend at the STIGA Irish Junior Ranking at the IWA, Clontarf. The great and the good including ITTA President Alex Thackaberry, ITTA Secretary Tony Martin, Irish Senior Captain Con Higgins, Irish Junior Captains John O’Donoghue & Arthur Brett and ITTA Sponsors STIGA representative Tommy Fitzgerald from "main stream" table tennis. Representatives from both the Special Olympics, Lola Cooke (Leinster) & Owen Kelly (Munster) and the Community Games Chairman Brian Macmanus and Secretary Maureen Quinlan were treated to an exhibition of top class table tennis by eight times Paralympian Michael Cunningham and current Irish Junior No.1’s Sabrina Conway & Sean Brady.

The Bumper Pack is the initiative of the new ITTA National Development Committee and PRO and is available to all ITTA members nation-wide, through the ITTA Regional Development Officers. The pack contains a number of promotional items including an ITTA Car Sticker and Sew on Badge, displaying the new logo that is being launched at the same time. (For more on Bumper Pack click INFO) Members will also receive an Irish Newsletter with interviews with all the top players as well as the new National Coach Colum Slevin.

ITTA PRO Owen Kelly who has been working on the project for two years was delighted to see the new pack launched.
"I was delighted to see representatives from a number of organisations that are involved with table tennis in Ireland. Table Tennis encompasses a very broad family delivering the benefits of the sport to such a varied range of groups. The sport is very active within the Community Games and we hope to encourage a greater participation within this important community organisation. Closer ties have already been established within Special Olympics and a number of new unified initiatives have already taken place. We sometimes forget just how many are involved with out sport. My father always used to tell me you can play table tennis from the cradle to the grave."

The guests also had the opportunity to see the top juniors in action as the second Irish Junior Ranking took place in the hall next door.

Back Row: C.Higgins Irish Cpt. J.O'Donoghue Irish Cpt. T.Martin ITTA Sec. T.Fitzgerald STIGA. I.Shorten Munster Dev. Officer. B.Macmanus Chair Community Games. A.Thackaberry ITTA President. A.Brett Irish Cpt. Leinster Dev. Officer.
Front Row: M.Cunningham Paralympian. Lola Cooke Special Olympics. Kitty Thackaberry. Maureen Quinlan Sec. Community Games. O.Kelly ITTA PRO, Special Olympics Munster.
Floor: Sabrina Conway No.1 U17. Sean Brady U17 No.1

14-11-01
National Development Committee publish information on the TTIreland website

10/11-11-01
NDC Representative attend Special Olympic Regional Sports Conference. To identify and develop closer relations with Special Olympics Ireland.

4-11-01
NDC Publish Conference Report

2/3-11-01
National Sports Development Conference - City West Dublin

29-09-01
Provisional NDC Report made to ITTA Management.