What other people think of our site.

Article take from the Wexford vs Meath match programme.

http://www.shelmaliers.ie/

Shelmaliers Wexford
Siol Maolúir Loch Garman

The GAA has some great names amongst the 2,000 plus clubs that are dotted around the country but do any compare to the glorious title of Shelmaliers and all it conjures up in relation to the 1798 rebellion and the county of Wexford?

Probably not.

The catch phrase, ‘Follow me, Who dares?’ as inscribed to the bottom of their club crest epitomises the

However far from being stuck in the past suffocated by a famous name the Wexford Town club are working hard to cater for the promotion of Gaelic Games in their part of the county and if their club website is a reliable indicator it’s a job they are taking to with gusto.

Effective GAA websites – whether they be at club level or any other – don’t have to be all singing all dancing productions once the basic requirements of accessibility, clarity and regular maintenance are
evident.

This is the case Shelmaliers’ home portal.

Not surprisingly given the week that’s in it, the club’s bright and breezy home page carried a good luck message for county panellists and clubman David Murphy and Brian Malone in the run up today’s game and it was from here that the various different avenues of the
site could be explored.

While the predominant background colours of black and amber confirmed that these were the club colours visitors can’t help but notice that two other jerseys sit proudly along side the banner head on the top of the home page prompting a query as to who owns these colours of blue and white and blue and red?

The answer is straight forward as the ladies football and camogie (St Ibar’s/Shelmalier) sections of the club have their own designated home pages linked to the main page. Handball is not ignored either. 

In that regard it’s three home pages for the price of one and it’s hard not to imagine that must clubs would be happy with the one.

Getting back to the home page of the main site and it’s clear to see that the club are engaged in the host of busy activities that keep the majority of our clubs busy.

In addition to flagging the sale and distribution for tickets for county games there are also updates on matches and fundraising initiatives.

Other basic requirements include the ever handy area map that often prove useful to visitors, contact details for those who need to get in touch and links – both local and national – for members and visitors and members alike who prowl the web.

However one feature that is not common to all clubs is the handy magnifying glass tool that presents itself to visitors in the photo gallery section.

The tool allows guests to focus in on faces and specific areas of photos and is a most useful addition – one not commonly found on club websites.

Not surprisingly on such an impressive website a history section is also included which provides a thorough account of where the club has come from and how it has got to where it finds itself today.

However as stated earlier it’s not all about what’s gone before and a quick glance at the Development Plan heading confirms this.

The club intends to honour the county’s first All-Ireland hurling winners (1910) – most of who came from the Castlebridge area – by upgrading its existing facilities at Hollymount.

It’s an impressive plan that’s well thought out and clearly broken down – reflecting the sort of approach the club have taken with the development of their website.

Not content with catering for coverage and promotion of their games and teams, the site also acts as a community forum with updates on many aspects of life in the area far outside the remit of Gaelic games.

All in all, a fine template for a club based website and other units contemplating establishing their own site in the weeks and months ahead could do worse and pay a visit.