GAA Handball Ireland have launched the new 2013 National Official Calendar of Events and Competitions. The new style Clár will offer a guide for all National Events and competitions for the ensuing twelve month period with planned provincial competitions also listed.

In line with the new 'Strategic Vision' of the Association, there will also be a number of key items of note in the year ahead. Following the immense and successful rise in the number of 'Club organised Tournaments' around the country, these will be listed in future under the new 'Tournament' tab button at the top of the Official GAA Handball National website (CLICK HERE). Official application to host a tournament must still be sought using the official form on the downloads literature section of the website, to ensure insurance cover for all players and officials in relation to the event. Ranking events must also be applied for and to date the following will be officially sanctioned tournaments in 2013: The Golden Gloves 40x20 four wall tournament, the John Gaffney Memorial Tournament in Ballaghadereen and the Mount Talbot One Wall Open Tournament. Other applications in One Wall can still be accepted up until 31st December 2012.

GAA Handball Ireland will continue to work diligently in terms of promotion and development and a full end of year review on all aspects of this will be issued before Christmas highlighting all such planning. The New Year will also bring the 2012 GAA Handball National All-Star Awards Banquet, scheduled for Saturday 9th February 2013, and this eagerly awaited event, which had over 500 guests in 2011, will now take up this new position on the first Saturday in February every year. Full forms and information in relation to the All Star Awards will be issued in full by this weekend with a reminder that all nominations must be made through County Committees directly to your provincial council to decide the provincial winners and nominees in each national category. There will also be some new 'President's Special Awards' presented on the night at the Awards Banquet from National level, with emphasis on the 'volunteer' ethos of the Association while of course there will be key focus looking back at the 2012 World Handball Championships.

GAA Handball National Congress will take place in 2013 on the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March with a National Advisory Committee Meeting from 6pm on Saturday 2nd, Strategic Vision Planning Workshop following that and full Congress on Sunday 3rd March. The 2013 Congress will also be a very significant year, taking place in The Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, with the vote for the next GAA Handball President taking place while this will also be a 'Rules and Regulations' voting year for Congress.

On the playing front there will be major games of course down for decision and changes have been made to ensure a smoother running of our National Games, while also providing important windows for 'breaks' and club and county focus. The new-look Club Championship 'trial format'has also formed part of this planning and while greater knowledge will be gained from the upcoming club championships in Galway, ultimately this planning is geared towards ensuring greater participation in the club arena. 

The new She's Ace initiative, sponsored by Tour America, will now have very key focus and planning with special days centering around the All Ireland Senior Open Ladies finals in particular, linking in as Ladies Days and development and full release of this programme will be launched soon.