Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin has been elected as the new Chairperson of Clare GAA.
At Tuesday’s County Convention, Chaplin was announced as the successor to Joe Cooney. The current county board delegate of the Cratloe club defeated PJ McGuane in the vote. 183 votes were cast with Chaplin receiving 116 compared to the 67 obtained by the outgoing Vice Chairman.
McGuane was the first to congratulate the new Chairman and insisted he would need countywide support to prevail in the role and issued his full support. He confirmed he would not be contesting future elections but said he was delight to put his name forward.
Kieran Keating whose term as a Munster Council delegate expired was chosen by clubs as the new Vice Chairman of Clare GAA. For this post, 182 votes were submitted. The Naomh Eoin clubman got the backing of 92 delegates fending off the challenge of Neil O’Brien (62), Niall Romer (16) and Michael Maher (12).
An “honest campaign” was observed in the bid to become Vice Chairman, Keating felt. “I will pull what I can from Loop Head to Sixmilebridge to get Jack support in the county,” he pledged. Neil O’Brien believed it was refreshing to see contests, “it is great to see an interest for Clare GAA despite the negative press which I find to be very hurtful”. Maher also voiced his best wishes to the successful candidates. “Expectations are very high out there, the pressure is on people to deliver whether you are a team manager, secretary or treasurer, there is a duty on everyone with regard to performance. Clare GAA is my life, if I can be of assistance to anyone along the line I’m happy to do that”.
Ex Treasurer Bernard Keane was elected to the role of Munster Council delegate alongside John Fawl. Keane’s surplus of votes was sufficient to see Fawl defeat 1997 All-Ireland winner Niall Gilligan.
Addressing the meeting, Bernard said, “I consider it a huge honour and privilege for me to represent my county. It is even a greater honour to be selected by secret ballot and given such a strong mandate to do so. I will do my very best in Munster for Clare GAA and all the clubs in Clare”.
Clare GAA Officers:
Joint Presidents: Michael Lee (Tubber) & Naoise Jordan (Parteen)
Chairman: Jack Chaplin (Cratloe)
Vice Chairman: Kieran Keating (Naomh Eoin)
Secretary: Pat Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge)
Asst Secretary: Anne Hayes (Lissycasey)
Treasurer: Michael Gallagher (Doonbeg)
Asst Treasurer: Tony Brohan (Éire Óg)
PRO: Michael O’Connor (Crusheen)
Irish & Cultural Officer: Flann O’Reilly (Cratloe)
Games Development Officer: Sean O’Halloran (Bodyke)
Central Council Delegate: Simon Moroney (Éire Óg)
Munster Council Delegate: Bernard Keane (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
Munster Council Delegate: John Fawl (Ennistymon)
Congress Delegate: Michael O’Connor (Crusheen)
Congress Delegate: John Fawl (Ennistymon)
Congress Delegate: Gabriel Keating (Naomh Eoin)
Munster Convention Delegate: Bernard Keane (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
Munster Convention Delegate: Michael Gallagher (Doonbeg)
Munster Convention Delegate: Noel Crowe (Ennistymon)
Munster Convention Delegate: Neil O’Brien (O’Callaghans Mills)
