*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
TWO NOMINATIONS have been submitted for the post of Clare GAA Chairperson with a contest also on the cards for the role of Vice Chairperson.
Nominations closed on Friday for the positions on the Executive of Clare GAA. Head of Operations with Clare GAA, Ann Marie Moran has since contacted all nominated individuals to ascertain if they are standing and they have until Tuesday (November 10th) to confirm their intentions. County Convention will take place on Tuesday December 15th.
Kieran Keating’s five year tenure as Chairman of Clare GAA will conclude next month. The Cross native is expected to move further up the GAA ladder and is among the contenders in the mix to become Vice Chairman of Munster GAA. It has also been suggested that he could remain on the County Executive as planning and training officer, a role currently held by Paddy Smyth but the Ennis man has served his maximum five years in the position.
Sitting Vice Chairman of Clare GAA, Michael O’Connor has been actively campaigning across the county to try secure votes and support to succeed Keating.
Challenging him for the role is former Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan who served for five years in the post.
Neil O’Brien of O’Callaghans Mills who stepped down as Coaching Officer last year but rejoined the Executive as demographics officer had been tipped as a potential candidate but confirmed he was not going forward. “I can confirm that I won’t be standing, thanks for your push on the radio, we will leave it to others to fight about it,” he remarked on Scariff Bay Community Radio to fellow clubman Pat O’Brien.
Aaron Carroll of Cratloe who has been PRO since September 2024 and has been to the fore in developing Clare GAA’s digital presence, is not seeking re-election in what will be considered a blow to the Executive. No nominees have been put forward for the post which has prompted Clare GAA to extend the window for nominations for this role to next Thursday (November 12th). The primary school teacher informed the Executive at a recent officers meeting that he would not be continuing in the role. Subsequent approaches by officers for Carroll to remain as communications officer were unsuccessful.
A native of Crusheen, O’Connor has held a lifelong involvement with the GAA. Nominated to become Chairman in 2020, he withdrew from the race which resulted in Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin getting elected. He has been Vice Chairman since December 2021, acting as PRO prior to this while previous roles include Chairman of his own club and as secretary of Bord na nÓg Iomáint. He is a former Gaelic Games Officer with the University of Galway and is currently employed by Connacht GAA where he has been responsible for organising the hosting John West Football Féile on three occasions in five years which saw 358 teams involved each year. He also works as a freelance reporter with The Clare Champion having previously covered games for The Clare People and The Clare Courier.
Miltown Malbay native Lenihan is now a member of the St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield club where he has lived for over twenty six years. During his five years as Clare LGFA Chairman, his biggest success was securing a sponsorship deal with Rengen Power which remains in place while the county secured National League success and reached the All-Ireland intermediate final in 2023. He formerly served as Chairperson of Doora/Barefield’s ladies football club. He worked with Clare County Council for twenty six years before joining Limerick City and County Council last November as Director of Economic, Tourism, Culture, Property & Corporate Buildings where he was among the top table to recently come under fire for using AI in a promotional video for Christmas.
There are three nominations for Vice Chairman. Paddy Smyth who has served the maximum five year tenure as planning and training officer is seeking to remain on the Executive but he will face opposition from Ballyea secretary Fiona Whelan and Liam O’Reilly who was a selector on the All-Ireland minor winning Clare hurling side of 2023.
Éire Óg clubman Smyth had been tasked with overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the five-year Saffron and Blue strategic plan. Smyth who was born and raised on Carmody Street was secretary of his club for five years. He was part of Paul Madden’s backroom team with the Clare senior footballers this year serving as liaison officer.
Ballyea’s Fiona is bidding to become the first female Vice Chair of Clare GAA. She has been secretary of her club for five years. where she has been involved in securing grants to develop and expand the club’s facilities. She works for Clare County Council in the property management unit and has been involved in organising the St Patrick’s Day parades in Ennis.
Corofin native Liam is now a pivotal figure with Banner GAA where he is currently PRO and has been involved with teams at all levels. He is the Director of Information Technology (CIO) at the University of Limerick (UL) and a member of the UL’s senior executive team. He has been involved on sub-committees with Clare GAA, most recently on integration.
Cathal Kilmartin, Fintan Leamy and Leah Talty who joined the Executive at last year’s Convention as Treasurer, Coaching & Games Officer and Irish/Cultural Officer respectively are all expected to return unopposed.
Also tipped to remain in their roles are Deirdre Chaplin (asst secretary), Seán Chambers (asst treasurer), John Callinan (Munster Council delegate), Joe Garry (Munster Council delegate), Robert Frost (Central Council delegate) and Neil O’Brien (demographics).
Joan Crotty who holds the appointed role of Children’s Officer will remain in situ as will Head of Operations, Ann Marie Moran.
