*The top table in Hotel Woodstock. Photograph: Natasha Barton
IN THE BATTLE of two former Clare GAA Chairman, Ballyea’s Michael O’Neill has defeated Robert Frost to become Central Council delegate.
Club delegates took refuge from the cold weather in the warm setting of Hotel Woodstock for the County Convention on Wednesday evening in what was the first such gathering with Deirdre Murphy as Head of Operations and Kieran Keating as Chairman while it also marked the first occasion whereby Pat Fitzgerald did not organise the event in three decades.
Postal voting was used to decide the winners in three contests for officer positions on the County Executive.
Simon Moroney who resigned as Central Council prior to the conclusion of his five year term will be succeeded by Michael O’Neill. It’s another success for the Ballyea club, in a year where they were crowned Clare SHC champions for the fourth time, they now see one of their most well-known members return to the top table of the County Executive. O’Neill defeated Robert Frost 96-86.
Cooraclare’s Sean Chambers was returned as Assistant Treasurer, surviving a contest against Caroline O’Connor of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. The vote went 96-87 in favour of the incumbent.
After his term as Irish and Cultural Officer concluded, Flann O’Reilly was unsuccessful in his bid to be elected as Coaching & Games Officer. The Cratloe referee lost out to fellow referee Neil O’Brien 116-66 with the O’Callaghans Man’s win now requiring Coiste na nÓg to appoint a new Chairman.
There was no contest for the post of Irish and Cultural Officer with Martin Moloney withdrawing from the race in advance allowing Cooraclare’s Joe Garry to be elected with no competition.
Clare GAA Executive 2023:
Chairman: Kieran Keating (Naomh Eoin)
Vice Chairman: Michael O’Connor (Crusheen)
Asst Secretary: Deirdre Chaplin (Cratloe)
Treasurer: Rebecca Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Asst Treasurer: Sean Chambers (Cooraclare)
Public Relations Officer: Anne Hayes (Lissycasey)
Irish & Cultural Officer: Joe Garry (Cooraclare)
Coaching Officer: Neil O’Brien (O’Callaghans Mills)
Central Council Delegate: Michael O’Neill (Ballyea)
Munster Council Delegate: John Fawl (Ennistymon)
Munster Council Delegate: Bernard Keane (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
National Congress Delegates: Gabriel Keating (Naomh Eoin), Robert Frost (O’Callaghans Mills), Michael O’Connor (Crusheen)
Munster Convention Delegates: Robert Frost (O’Callaghans Mills), Bernard Keane (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Des Farrell (Coolmeen), John Fawl (Ennistymon)
Safety & Facilities Officer: Ambrose Heagney (Corofin)
Children’s Officer: Cathy Hogan (Wolfe Tones)
Planning & Training Officer: Paddy Smyth (Éire Óg)
