Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
AN EX local newspaper editor, a Gaelic Games development manager and a third level coaching officer are among those vying to become the new Clare GAA Head of Operations.
Interviews commenced on Thursday (today). The deadline for submitting applications was October 24th.
At a meeting of the Clare GAA Executive, officers were told that a total of twelve applicants had expressed an interest. This has been reduced to a shortlist of six who begin their first round of interviews this week.
A three-person interview committee are tasked with questioning aspiring candidates on their vision for Clare GAA. The committee is comprised of representatives of Croke Park, the Munster Council and two-time All-Ireland winner Seán McMahon on behalf of Clare GAA.
The Clare Echo understands that those in the mix include a Games Development Officer working for the GAA, a sports officer with a third level institute and a member of the media. All three are natives of Clare and currently reside in the county while maintaining an active involvement in the GAA. They have played for and represented their respective clubs with one of the trio having captained his county at underage level.
No sitting officers of Clare GAA have applied for the post. Éire Óg’s Niall O’Connor who initially proposed a strategic plan for the Association which resulted in the five-year strategic plan ‘Saffron & Blue’ launched in late 2021 had been linked with the job but it is understood that he did not seek to be considered for the role. Reports linking this writer to the vacancy are also wide of the mark.
At the beginning of October, Deirdre Murphy announced that she was stepping down as Head of Operations following County Convention in December. She took on the role in October 2022 and will leave for a role in the private sector. Her successor will be in place in early 2026, Chairman Kieran Keating previously outlined.
