*Cian Burke in action for Clare against Tyrone. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare GAAโs June meeting was held at Caherlohan on Tuesday night when there was a lively debate on a number of topics.
Among those criticisms of a report that suggested members of the county senior football were prevented from travelling to Clareโs away tie versus Tyrone and whether the GAA was becoming political in supporting a statement on the ongoing war in Gaza.
Cost of footballers trip to Tyrone โwas paid for by County Board”
Referring to a recent item on social media which claimed that some members of the Clare senior football panel werenโt brought to Tyrone for the recent championship game because the board wouldnโt pay, Munster council delegate Bernard Keane who is the senior football teamโs liaison officer, told the meeting โthe football management requested that thirty players travel as per the charter.
โThirty players travelled and their accomodation and meals were paid for by the board and everybody was satisfied. I think somebody was trying to put a different slant on things and that is unhelpful to Clare GAA in either football or hurling. If somebody wanted information I am sure they could have asked any officer of Clare GAA or, indeed, asked me and I would gladly have pointed out to them that thirty players travelled and thirty players were accommodated as per the charterโ.
Chairman Kieran Keating commented, โYou see things in social media that you know are wrong but there is no point in engaging with them because you are only putting fuel on fire. My own view is you are better off letting them passโ.
Newmarket-on-Fergus delegate, Pat Keogh said, โitโs not rightโ. He stated, โFor Mr. ร Muircheartaigh to put out something like that is totally disingenuous to what we are all doing, whether it is football or hurlingโ.
Keating replied, โHe was informed that it was wrong and he didnโt take it downโ.
Have been told that 4 members of the Clare senior football extended panel were prevented by Clare County Board from being part of travelling party for Tyrone game in Omagh on Sunday until the Football Supporters Club wrote a cheque to pay their way.
โ Joe ร Muirฤeartaiฤก (@muirioch) June 3, 2024
Keogh responded, โI am aware of that as well. That makes it worseโ.
รire รg delegate, Rory Hickey clarified, โJust for the record, Joe ร Muircheartaigh is not a member of รire รgโ.
Financial matters:
Under matters arising from the minutes of the May meeting Clondegad delegate Seamus OโReilly asked if a copy of the six month financial statement read out at that meeting would be sent to the clubs.
โItโs not normal to do that, we wouldnโt normally send a copy of an unaudited report to clubsโ, Chairman Kieran Keating replied.
โWas there not an indication given that these details would be sent to the clubs,โ asked OโReilly. โI canโt see any difficulty in providing the informationโ, he added.
โIf any club has any questions get your club secretary to send in the questionโ, stated Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy.
โI donโt recall getting unaudited financial reports in the pastโ, Keating said.
The Jack Daly Cup:
For the second successive meeting the question was raised as to whether or not the Jack Daly will be presented to the senior football championship winners this year.
Raising the issue Clondegad delegate Seamus OโReilly who told the meeting that the cup was first presented in 1969 asked โif anyone has offered a replacementโ to which chairman Kieran Keating replied โa couple have offeredโ and he went on to agree with the Clondegad delegate that a nephew of the late Jack Daly had made an offer.
Cooraclareโs P.J. McGuane said he โcannot understand why there is a necessity to replaceโ and he said he would โobject vehementlyโ to any change. โI canโt see why the question of change to another cup arises at allโ.
Ruanโs Michael OโRegan noted that โit is a well-respected trophy honouring a man who gave great service. I have never heard of any suggesting changing the Sam Maguire or Liam McCarthy cupsโ before adding that he would be against any possible change from the Jack Daly cup.
โIf a proposal to change comes before the board you will have an opportunity to objectโ, chairman Kieran Keating said before refusing to โvehemently say that there will or wonโt be changeโ.
โThat answer is only fanning the rumour millโ, stated Kildysart delegate John Meade.
โWhy are we discussing this,โ asked Newmarket-on-Fergus delegate Pat Keogh.
รire รgโs Rory Hickey said, โthe question is who is going to be presented with the Jack Daly cup this yearโ leaving Cooraclareโs P.J. Mc Guane to say โit wonโt be Cooraclareโ (they are in the intermediate championship).
GAA/GPA statement on Gaza endorsed:
A call for Clare GAA to endorse a statement issued by the GAA at national level in relation to the ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza was met with some resistance at this weekโs meeting.
The proposal came from Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick who in asking for the meetingโs report read the GAA/GPA statement to the meeting.
The statement read, โthe GAA and the GPA share the deep concern expressed by many of our members about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the escalating violence in Gaza. We support the Irish Government and the calls of the international community for an immediate and sustained ceasefire which will allow aid to reach Gaza and for all hostages to be releaseโ.
โYou might say does that make any differenceโ, Fitzpatrick told the meeting โbut like anybody that has suffered a personal crisis a kind word or a word of support goes a long way to ease thatโ.
Seconding the proposal, Central Council delegate Robert Frost said โat the last Central Council meeting it was decided to make to make a contribution. There wasnโt a figure mentioned but it was left to the finance committee to decide. I expect the GAA will be making a fairly sizeable contributionโ, he said before replying to a query from รire รg delegate Rory Hickey that there were no dissenting voices to the Central council decision.
Clondegadโs Seamus OโReilly said, โI didnโt hear anything like this when 2,000 Jews were massacred by Hamas. I think we are going down a very dangerous road. I have strong views on the GPA and I think we should concentrate a bit more on issues pertaining to the GAA and I know we are a worldwide organisation. I didnโt hear any condemnation of Hamas when they butchered 2,000 Jews. We should be very careful of the road the GPA like to go down and I know they are supported by the GAA. Have we lost the run of ourselves? I have the ultimate sympathy with regard to all the deathsโ, according to OโReilly who added that โI presume we havenโt forgotten about the H Blocks and the stance the GAA took being neutral in thatโ.
Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy commented, โthe same amount of children as packed out Thurles last week have been killed. If there is a wider debate of politicising the GAA, I donโt know if this is the forum for it. The concerns that any individuals have are for written comment to be brought further and for us to send up the chainโ.
Ruanโs Michael OโRegan said his โimmediate reaction is that one of the first regulations of the GAA is โnon-political and for the promotion of our games, our language, our culture. Individuals can support but associating the GAA with this and there are so many atrocities happening all over the world. I would concur with the Clondegad delegate. I am not anti this but it is going away from the ethos of the GAA as an organisationโ.
Chairman Kieran Keating said โyes, the GAA is non-political and we shouldnโtโ get involved in politics. This is a matter of people giving in their thousands. Perhaps the original atrocity on October 7 should have been condemned and I am sure it was by individuals. Nobody can argue what has happened since then that many women and children have been killed. Itโs the opinion of most of the people here is that we endorse the statement and I am happy with thatโ.
Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick said โthe only point is itโs not political. Itโs only calling for a ceasefire and to ensure there wouldnโt be more suffering and that the hostages will be released. At the end of the day in the North after all the bloodshed they had to sits down with one another work it out. That statement is only calling for a ceasefireโ.
On a show of hands, the meeting endorsed the statement with some voting against.
Isolated player:
Permission was granted to Clondegadโs Brandon OโConnell to assist Ballyea this season.
Informing the meeting that the request had been submitted prior to the March 31 deadline, chairman Kieran Keating explained that the request could not be dealt with at the time as Brandon wasnโt a member of Clondegad as he was in Australia.
A board meeting at the time gave permission to have the request dealt with when he returned to his home club.
Stressing that he wasnโt objecting to the request, coaching officer Neil OโBrien questioned the legality of granting the request which was unanimously allowed.
Junior B and C championships:
The draws for the junior B and C championships will be made at the July board meeting and any club what will not have paid the affiliation fee for same will not be included the chairman told the meeting
Facilities update:
The renovation of the GAAโs headquarters at Clareabbey โis continuing at paceโ, Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy told this weekโs board meeting.
Chairman Kieran Keating told the meeting that โthere has been no announcement yet with regard to the Sports Capital funding. We have an application in and we are hoping to get โฌ500,000 which we need to proceed with the development of the astro pitchโ.
He appealed to all delegates to speak to all politicians seeking support in this area. Urging the clubs to seek the support of the politicians, board officer Paddy Smyth paid โtribute to the chairman and the HOO for the work they have done on this to dateโ.
Demographic committee:
The appointment of a demographic committee raised at a number of meetings earlier in the year, has almost been completed.
At this weekโs meeting, the chairman put forward the names of six people to act on that committee with one more still to be appointed. Those appointed are Frances OโSullivan (Cratloe), Keith McNamara (Clondegad), Andrew Monahan (Tubber) and all three were members of the outgoing clubs committee which no longer exists.
They are joined by David OโShea (Kilrush), Sean OโHalloran (Bodyke) and Munster Council delegate Bernard Keane.
Informing the delegates that there is one more to be appointed the chairman said โwe need to find one with the skillset requiredโ.
Cooraclareโs P.J. McGuane who had stressed at a number of previous meetings that representatives from all sections of the county needed to be included said โI am not too disappointed that my volunteering to be on the committee was not accepted. The object was to make sure that the membership was representative of the county geographically and the inclusion of David OโShea and Sean OโHalloran has seen to thatโ. He proposed the appointment of the committee.
Marketing committee:
A personnel change was agreed to the make-up of the boardโs marketing committee. Chairman Kieran Keating informed the meeting that โbecause of pressure of workโ Peter OโConnell (Shannon Gaels) has stepped down. He is being replaced by Margaret OโBrien who has been working with the Chamber of Commerce as CEO of Ennis Chamber.
Robert disappointed:
Informing this weekโs meeting that there hadnโt been a Central Council meeting since Clareโs May board meeting, Robert Frost said he was โdisappointed to read in the media that ticket prices for the All-Ireland final had been increased when we hadnโt discussed itโ.
Referring to the football development committee he said โa lot of work has been done and there is still time to make submissions if any club wants to do soโ.
Bernard Keane told the delegates that Munster Council had a meeting with the football development committee. โThey are a very pro-active committee. Two clubs from Clare did make submissionsโ, he said.
He went on to remind delegates that applications for club development grants will be invited shortly and โif clubs in Clare donโt apply and have their details in order, clubs in other counties willโ.
Schoolโs fixture schedule:
Coaching officer Neil OโBrien informed the meeting that โthe schools calendar for next year has been finalised and the under 17 hurling and football competitions will be played at the start of the year, beginning in September. They are being moved forward to avoid clashing with the county minor teams competitions. That means that the under 15 competitions in both hurling and football will be after Christmasโ.
He went on to day that โMunster GAA has set up a committee to review the development squads systemโ.
Primary schools skills winners:
Neil OโBrien congratulated OโCallaghans Mills on winning the Munster primary schools competition
Ennistymon tournament:
Ennistymon hurling club was granted permission to run a junior hurling tournament in memory of the late John Hynes. โHe was a driving force and a founding member of our clubโ, Kieran Harvey told the meeting. The tournament will involve Ennistymon, Clonbony, Kilkee/Bealaha and Inagh/Kilnamona
Naming rights:
Clondegad delegate Seamus OโReilly enquired if Clare GAA had any plans to name areas of Cusack Park after former star players. โWe have plenty of people we could name them after such as Jimmy Smyth, Tull Considine and many moreโ.
Ruanโs Michael OโRegan reminded all that โJimmy Smyth was honoured in his native Ruan back in 2006โ.
โYou could mention twenty or more names of people that could be honoured including the late Brendan Vaughan who did wonderful work for Clare GAA. You could offend somebody, there are so many that could be rememberedโ, Robert Frost pointed out.
Junior whistlers:
Rory Hickey informed the delegates that โa junior whistlers programme is off the ground. The aim is to get these people refereeing blitzes and hopefully they will go on to become regular referees. There are a serious amount of games taking place in Clare and only about forty referees. Our aim is to get these juniors involved and maybe pay then expensesโ.
Head of operations Deirdre Murphy said โwe will need to agree about expenses before confirmingโ.
AOB again:
Having been the subject of a lively debate at a meeting earlier this season, the question of Any Other Business being on the agenda raised its head again this week.
A note at the end of the agenda for the meeting read โIf clubs have any matters they wish to add to AOB please email in advance of the meeting and we will add to the agendaโ.
Chairman Kieran Keating said if there is stuff you want discussed it would be useful to know beforehand so that we can have answers ready. I wonโt stop you asking questionsโ.
โRemoving AOB would take the entertainment out of meetingsโ, commented P.J. McGuane. โIf you are running a meeting it is courtesy to get items on the agenda if you want it discussedโ, according to Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy. โIf there is something clubs want discussed it makes sense that it would come from clubs to have it on the agenda, This is not to try and gag anybodyโ.
โIn most organisations if itโs not on the agenda it canโt be discussedโ, according to Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick.
