Newsletter Newsletter 2/2006 AA's Merge In Ireland

Pictured left to right - The new Executive Committee of the ITA - Mr. Kevin Kinsella IV Degree (Treasurer), Mr. Adrian Byrne IV Degree (Member), Mr. Stephen Cooley V Degree (Vice President), Mr. Kenneth Wheatley VI Degree (President), Mr. Stephen Ryan IV Degree (Secretary General), Mr. Adrian O'Mahoney V Degree (Member)

Pictured from left to right, Mr. Stephen Cooley V Degree, ITA Vice President, and Mr. Kenneth Wheatley VI Degree, ITA President, shake hands after uniting the AA groups in Ireland

I am delighted to inform you that following an Extraordinary General Meeting held on Saturday the 13th of May 2006 the two AA groups in Ireland have merged. The following are the main points decided by unanimous vote in the General Meeting:

1. For the AITA to accept full membership of all ITA schools, members and instructors
2. To change the name of the AITA (All Ireland Taekwon-Do Association) to the ITA (Irish Taekwon-Do Association)
3. The adoption of a new constitution and by-laws
4. Revised calendar of events for the remainder of 2006 and start of 2007
5. The voting in and approval of committee positions as follows

• Executive Committee:
  • President; Mr. Kenneth Wheatley, VI Degree
  • Vice president; Mr. Stephen Cooley, V Degree
  • Treasurer; Mr. Kevin Kinsella, IV Degree
  • Secretary General; Mr. Stephen Ryan, IV Degree
  • Member; Mr. Adrian O’Mahoney, V Degree
  • Member; Mr. Adrian Byrne, IV Degree
• Non-Executive Positions:
  • Technical Director; Mr. Kenneth Wheatley VI Degree
  • Tournament Director; Mr. Adrian Byrne, IV Degree
  • Umpire chairperson; Mr. Adrian O’Mahoney, V Degree
  • Coach; Mr. Stephen Cooley, V Degree
  • Assistant Coach; Mr. Donal O’Donoghue III Degree
  • Technical Advisor & External Examiner; Mr. Mark Hutton (Scotland), VI Degree
• Additional information following the merger:
  • Number of ITA (Irish Taekwon-Do Association) schools: 38

The ITA now has clubs spanning accross the Country of Ireland located in Counties such as: Clare, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath, Kerry.

More details of the Irish Taekwon-Do Association will soon be available at www.taekwondo.ie

We look forward to developing our association over the coming months and and continuing to promote ITF Taekwon-Do throughout Ireland. This merger has come about following many months of work and collaboration. Much time has gone into improving our structure and designing a democratic system to serve our members. We are very proud of the result.

Yours in Taekwon-Do,
Stephen Ryan IV Degree
Secretary General Irish Taekwon-Do Association (ITA)
ANA for the ITF in Ireland