The GAA are set to sign off on plans for a new shortened season that will see no pre-season, provincial hurling round-robin games or football Super 8s in 2021.

RTE Sport reports that the GAA will see a February return next year with the Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues and the All-Ireland championships set to be pencilled in between the months of April and July.

It is understood that the qualifiers in both championships will go ahead, with a secondary Tailteann Cup competition still set to take place in football.

It is planned that the inter-county season will be completed by the third week in July, after which club competitions will see an uninterrupted flow of games.

The drafted plan by the Central Competitions Control Committee is set to be examined by Central Council this weekend.

This Saturday marks 100 years since the killings in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday. We have a schedule of commemorative events running over the coming days that we hope you will engage with. 

B100dy Sunday - A Candle at Dusk

As we cannot gather to commemorate the lives lost on Bloody Sunday, we are calling on the GAA Community to do so from afar. We are asking all our Units, members, and supporters to light a candle at dusk this Saturday evening, 21 November. Attached to this mail is a video explaining this small but poignant request. We would ask you to share the video on social media, with your wider Club membership lists, and through your own direct messaging channels. 

You can also tag your commemorative moments and actions in the coming days with #B100dySunday.

Croke Park Commemoration

On Saturday evening the GAA will stage a special remembrance ceremony to honour the 14 victims killed at Croke Park by Crown Forces on Bloody Sunday, November 21, 1920. They will be remembered in a ceremony that will coincide with the lighting of 14 flames in a dedicated area of Hill 16 and a corresponding pillar of light dedicated to each of those who died.     

Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan and Uachtarán CLG John Horan will lay wreaths on the spot where Tipperary corner back Michael Hogan was fatally shot that day, an area of the field in front of Gate 43 at the northern end of the stadium. They will be joined by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. 

Colm Mac Con Iomaire will perform live his specially commissioned piece of music, More Than A Game. 

The ceremony will be broadcast live by RTÉ from 6pm, ahead of the Leinster GAA Football Final. A commemorative programme can be purchased here.

14 Voices from the Bloodied Field

To commemorate the centenary of Bloody Sunday, we have partnered with the Abbey Theatre on 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field. 14 Voices is a series of 14 new theatrical works, one for each of the victims, that will be performed live from Croke Park on Friday 20th November at 7pm. It will be streamed live on the Abbey Theatre and GAA social channels. See https://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats-on/14-voices-from-the-bloodied-field/ for more.

GAA.ie/BloodySunday

More information on Bloody Sunday and its victims can be found on GAA.ie/BloodySunday

Ulster GAA have this evening confirmed the cessation of club training from U16 level up across all units in the province.

Last week, the GAA's Management Committee decided to suspend club matches ​at all levels with immediate effect but training was still allowed. However, with new coronavirus restrictions coming into effect in Northern Ireland tomorrow and Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan moving to Level 4 under Ireland's Plan for Living with Covid-19 from midnight tonight, all Ulster clubs must cease activity and only 'elite' inter-county level is permitted to continue.

Ulster GAA chief executive Brian McAvoy said in a statement: "Following the announcements made yesterday on the measures being introduced by the NI Executive for the next four weeks and subsequent decision by the Irish Government to place Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in Level 4 restrictions I felt it was important to set out our understanding of what it means for our units.

"Essentially all our nine counties are now in a significantly increased level of restriction in an attempt by Governments to curb the spread of Covid-19.

"With that in mind and with effect from Friday 16th October all club activity, including training sessions that have been taking place since the Association’s directive on Monday 5th October 2020 should cease for all GAA units in Ulster.

"The only activity that is exempt from this cessation across both jurisdictions is elite level Inter County activity.

"For the purposes of clarity this includes Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football from U16 level up as recognised by both Governments.

"We appreciate this this is a difficult time for all citizens including our membership but we ask you all to continue to act responsibly and collectively to protect our communities and their health.

"This news will come as a disappointment for our Counties and Clubs who have unfinished competitions and who may have been hoping for a return to activity in the short term. We will continue to monitor the situation and update you on developments as they happen over the next four weeks taking account of the indicative dates from both Governments.

"I would also remind all Clubs of the following regulations that remain in place during this time:

• Club Gyms remain closed.
• GAA Social Clubs remain closed.

"These continue to be challenging times for all of us, however, we have demonstrated from the beginning of this pandemic our absolute resolve to work together for the greater good at all times. I want to thank you all for your continued resolve and understanding."