This is what i was trying to get across. We could do a poll before the start off the season and pick one or two away games and try to get the most over seas crowd to a game. The clan do the research for hotel's and b&b and try get good value and try to get a deal off them. Lets say 20supports = 20% off the price for a night and when numbers are there then the clan could buy the tickets again for the same spot for us all and also im sure some % would be off if 20+ was required. And company would be glad to talk to any offichal supports club and make a deal with them with price etc.
1 make poll before next season for an overseas away game
2 spread the word
3 clan do research for best prices etc
4 we book
5 we pay
6 we travel
7 we have good time and we win

These things are tricky to organise and market well, but swift4prez makes some excellent points. For me, the key is to pick an away fixture (or fixtures) early, and then push it hard so we get the numbers required to make it good value for everyone. For example, say we want to go to an Edinburgh away game, then we should look to charter a plane (from aer arann?), and fill it. The pricing should be on a sliding scale, based on numbers - that way, the people who want to go will be more inclined to spread the word and get some of their friends going. Bottom line though is it needs to work out as cheap (or cheaper) than the cheapest independent (ryanair from wherever) route, otherwise people won't sign up. Finally (and this is a personal preference), I think if the game in question is on a Saturday afternoon, then we should fly early Saturday morning - this would reduce the overall cost by limiting it to one night.

For me the Clan should be primarily focusing on gathering and disseminating information and connectivity, researching destinations, making contacts, finding venues for Connacht Supporters to hook up pre match. Locate businesses that want our business basically in Galway and at away locations and that are prepared to give something back for that business.

This is what i was trying to get across. We could do a poll before the start off the season and pick one or two away games and try to get the most over seas crowd to a game. The clan do the research for hotel's and b&b and try get good value and try to get a deal off them. Lets say 20supports = 20% off the price for a night and when numbers are there then the clan could buy the tickets again for the same spot for us all and also im sure some % would be off if 20+ was required. And company would be glad to talk to any offichal supports club and make a deal with them with price etc.
1 make poll before next season for an overseas away game
2 spread the word
3 clan do research for best prices etc
4 we book
5 we pay
6 we travel
7 we have good time and we win

I don't know if it's lack of people travelling up to Belfast / Dublin for these games. I think most westerners have family in Dublin and so head up with the intention of overnighting anyway, others will splash out stay in rental accomodation and make a weekend of it. Belfast is a different kettle of fish, usally only small numbers travel and usually a mix of our north west supporters and our east coast based support as they can get trains direct or motorway handy enough....

Most people are used to independent travel nowadays especially in straightened times saving a few euro is important...

For me the Clan should be primarily focusing on gathering and disseminating information and connectivity, researching destinations, making contacts, finding venues for Connacht Supporters to hook up pre match. Locate businesses that want our business basically in Galway and at away locations and that are prepared to give something back for that business.

next year the clan should try to get a very big crowd to scotland or wales for two or three games. Not to charge anyone just say what hotel and get block tickets and pub crawls etc. Then it would be well planned by the clan and each person pays there bit. Also i could work cheaper if there was a lot booking the same hotel or b and b. Discount to on match tickets. Clan getting no money but gives us a plan to how to spend the weekend there.

The Clan doesn't make any money at all off organised trips. We've lost money on the two so far.

next year the clan should try to get a very big crowd to scotland or wales for two or three games. Not to charge anyone just say what hotel and get block tickets and pub crawls etc. Then it would be well planned by the clan and each person pays there bit. Also i could work cheaper if there was a lot booking the same hotel or b and b. Discount to on match tickets. Clan getting no money but gives us a plan to how to spend the weekend there.

The "Green Mile" is an area that will be party central for the Toulouse game (probably College Road?) and it will be top to tail in green. Buntings flags etc... We have another meeting at the branch [strike]on Thursday[/strike] next Wednesday to discuss exact details so will let ye know.

It's a pity about the Quins match. Fergus feels really bad about it, but the large group that dropped out forced him into it. In fact the whole thing has prompted a re-think of how to approach ALL of these types of issues... next year we will have an event list ready to go before the start of the season and we will be promoting it a lot differently.

not suprised the quinn's game trip was cancelled. Cheaper to fly. Also what is this green mile. First i heard off it

Hi all,

As part of our re-doubled efforts to be transparent and encourage participation we will be publishing details of our meetings to allow you guys to pick over it and see what is planned etc...
Please feel free to comment.

I would like to add that in addition to above three other major items have been progressing:

1) Online purchasing of Connacht Clan gear is very close... We just need to get items weighed for postal costs.
2) The Connacht Clan pins have been sent out with a belated welcome letter to all of our online members.
3) The Connacht Clan Newsletter is ready to go (check your inboxes in the morning... I have to do this after work and after getting back from a visit to my parents!)

[size=18pt]Connacht Clan Meeting 17/10/11[/size]

• Martin Fallon spoke on behalf of the Connacht Branch and asked the Connacht Clan to come up with a proposals on how to increase the activity of the Clan province-wide and how to make the every supporter in the province feel part of the Clan.
• He also briefed the committee on the idea of the Green Mile
• The Committee spoke about the Leinster trip and lessons were learned for future trips.
• It was decided not to run a bus to Ulster due to lack of interest and duration of journey.
• Fergus Farrell outlined that 20 people had withdrawn from the Bus to Harlequins and it was decided to cancel the trip.
• The committee agreed to help the Connacht Branch in the erection of collateral around the Green Mile
• The Clan has decided to try and organise a Player Forum for after the Ospreys game and Martin is to Liase with Tim Allnutt and the squad.
• It was also decided that the next away trip was to be to Limerick on St. Stephen's day and the Clan was to publicise this better themselves with the help of the branch.
• A Christmas party idea was proposed for after the Leinster Game on New Years Day.
• Shane Murphy also raised the idea of a possible golf outing at the end of the year.
• The next meeting will be subject to Simon Heaslip's schedule as he is to present the Green Mile to the Committee.