*Clare GAA Vice Chairman, Michael O’Connor. Photograph: Burren Eye Photograph
VICE CHAIRMAN of Clare GAA, Michael O’Connor has said the role is “ceremonial at best”.
In situ as Vice Chairman of Clare GAA since December 2021, O’Connor was Public Relations Officer prior to this.
O’Connor stated in his report to County Convention, “In Clare GAA the role of Vice Chairperson is ceremonial at best. There is no relevant role for the position and in the strategic review there is no mention of the position unlike nearly every other elected or support role within the association in Clare”.
A milestone of the Cusack Park shop operating for thirty years was acknowledged by the Crusheen man in his report. “For the past three years I have volunteered to help organise the shops around Cusack Park. From the first game in January until the end of the season the shops are open in Cusack Park to help provide the produce, provide staff and allocate duties and ensure that to the best of our abilities the spectators can avail of refreshments before and during the game. This year the shop in Cusack Park reached a milestone as the current structure reached 30 years of service having been opened under the management of Padraic MacMathuna”.
Items for improvement were put forward by the Vice Chairman. These include having at least one container operating as a shop for the North Terrace of Cusack Park, playing more underage finals in Cusack Park, revamping the main shop “in conjunction with staff and their working knowledge”, having signage to indicate the location of the shops, selling Clare GAA flags, football, sliotars and other equipment, organising an annual programme collector’s sale in the facility and also a programme selling booth in the North Terrace. He also suggested “a greater social media recognition of the shops on match day with adverts online, social media and price signs around the facility”.
He paid tribute to the staff working in the main shop led by Aisling and Kevin Collins. “They possess a rota of loyal workers who take great care and often carry out duties when there are no games in the park, cleaning up and preparing for the next outing. Special mention to the dozen or so student staff who work during the major events of the summer and also this year for the county semi-finals and finals as well as the All-star game in early November. The container has helped increase sales in terms of goods and programmes. The staff work on their own initiative under guidance and have been selling programmes with much success”.
Hosting two Munster SHC clashes “and the bonus game of the Munster senior football game was a great boost to revenue and as stated in previous reports that whilst there are many once off fundraisers that capture headlines the work and income generated by the shops is a constant steadily increasing income that should be recognised”.
Michael said, “My other function was to ensure the cup of the senior board were gathered back in presentable condition. Thankfully, while there are a number of cups, due to lifelong service, require rejuvenation most have come back this year in a better shape than other years as the Jack Daly cup saw its third version introduced. Once again, I would ask clubs who win cups to ensure their return in the same manner as they were presented especially at under 21 level and junior level”.
He added, “One other task I was delighted to be associated with was the honouring the 1989 Clare Minor hurlers who reached the 1989 All Ireland minor hurling final. Many of these players went on to win All Ireland junior honours, Munster senior and All Ireland medals as well as county, provincial and all Ireland honours with their clubs. Many thanks to Clare GAA for providing jackets for the players and also to Mike McNamara, the team trainer for hosting the players for a get together in Scariff, the night before the final. Congratulations to all those involved with all aspects of Clare GAA on the ongoing work that is providing positive results on and off the field”.
