*Patricia O’Donnell (right) has been elected as Chairperson of Ruan GAA Club. Photograph: Rachel Lyons Photography
RUAN GAA club made history this week with the election of its first female Chairperson as Patricia O’Donnell entered the hot-seat.
Monday’s AGM of Ruan GAA Club which had an approximate thirty people in attendance, witnessed history when Patricia O’Donnell was elected as Ger Lyons’ successor becoming the first female Chairperson of the club since its formation in the 1880s.
Having been Secretary since 2019, Patricia takes on the top job with Claire McDonagh succeeding her as Runaí.
Club stalwarts like Cyril Lyons (Coaching Officer), John O’Sullivan (PRO) and Michael O’Regan (County Board Delegate) continue in their posts.
Ongoing progressive work in the club such as the opening of a 3G 60×30 astro turf and wall ball facility has shown how the GAA club can lift the entire community of Ruan, Patricia felt. “We have seen the huge drive and the development these facilities can bring to our underage section of the club and also its huge ability to drive forward and progress a small community like Ruan”.
Becoming the first female Chairperson of Ruan GAA club “is a privilege and an honour,” she told The Clare Echo. “When I was asked I was taken aback, I was wondering if my time was done as secretary because it is important that people do step away to let other people with new ideas and new energy come in. Taking on the role of Chairperson is an honour and a privilege but I’m very lucky to have great people around me, we’ve huge stalwarts like John O’Sullivan, Michael O’Regan, Frankie Lyons and Christy O’Connor all still involved, they are huge figures within the club and they are great people to have around to advise, they never lead you astray. Similarly with Ger Lyons, the previous Chairperson has always been very helpful with sharing his knowledge, I’m blessed to have been exposed to that and to these real GAA men”.
“It is a new energy, it will be a talking point but it is about being transparent, including everyone and including community in everything we do,” she stated.
Building on the ongoing work at underage level is a target for Patricia. “Underage development is huge, you can see even at County Board level with how they are looking at development squads and putting a strong emphasis on it”. Recruiting more coaches and supporting existing trainers is another focus for the new Chairperson.
A former camogie player with the club, the Dysart native said her camogie career was “years ago. I have to say I was never great at hurling or camogie, I was very bad but the community involvement is what I love, the drive and the happiness it brings to people’s lives is incredible. You could see the lift the entire county got from winning the All-Ireland last year, it put everyone in such good form”.
Growing up in the Lynch household, she recalled “Mam and Dad were great to bring us to games”. Her late uncle, Liam Ballinger served as Chairman and was in the role at the time of his death in 2009.
Workload for volunteers within the GAA is increasing, the mother of three noted. “I was secretary for five years, I took it over in 2019 just before COVID and then we were inundated with checklists, social distancing, face coverings and I was wondering was this the norm for the GAA with all the work involved, that was my first real encounter of GAA administration”.
She continued, “There is a huge workload, there isn’t a day you don’t get a call on about something in the GAA club and the longer you’re involved the more jobs you seem to inherit. Having committees and support does lighten the load. Shane Ryan came in as our Treasurer last year and he has been a breath of fresh air, he is looking after sports capital and dealing with Croke Park. There isn’t one person that is running the GAA club, we have a really strong support network in place”.
Ruan GAA Club Executive 2026:
President: Christy O Connor
Vice Presidents: Rev Pat O’Neill and Frankie Lyons
Chairperson: Patricia O’Donnell
Vice Chairperson: Conor Reeves
Secretary: Claire McDonagh
Asst Secretary: Aimee McDonagh
Treasurer: Shane Ryan
Asst Treasurer: John Bell
PRO: John O’Sullivan
Registrars: John O’Sullivan and Sandra Punch
Irish Officers: Louise McDonnell
Welfare Officer: Amy Heaver
County Board Delegate: Micheal O Regan
DLP: Donal Ó hÁiniféin
Coaching Officer: Cyril Lyons
