Parish Rule concern in Kerry

KERRY County Board secretary Eamon O’Sullivan claims clubs who undertook or assisted legal action to resolve Parish Rule disputes did “a grave disservice to the association.”

Mr O'Sullivan said the issue as one of the most difficult problems faced by the board over the past year.

He also asked Croke Park and the Provincial Councils to ease the financial strains of county boards regarding intercounty teams.

But the Parish Rule issue is a key concern for the board, O'Sullivan stressed.

"One of the most time-consuming problems has been the Parish Rule issue. The rule book should make life easy but experience has shown it will remain ongoing," he said in his annual report to be presented on Wednesday night in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney. Developing the point, he said: "Old agreements being questioned, parish boundaries changing, attendance at national schools outside one's parish, and the ever-present threat of legal action has made decisions very difficult. The

Kerry County Board voted to retain the Parish Rule and clubs must abide by that decision. It is a pity these matters cannot be settled at local level, especially where County Bye-law 22 allows transfers outside general rule.

"One thing, however, is certain the Kerry Co Board cannot afford to go down the legal route again, and clubs who accommodate such actions are doing the association a grave disservice.

"At the last Congress it was proposed to set-up an Arbitration Committee to solve local disputes without recourse to legal action. This may be the only solution to this type of problem."

Mr O'Sullivan is also concerned over the spiralling costs of training intercounty teams. He believes that county boards should receive greater support from the GAA at provincial and national level to avert a financial crisis.

"The need to look after inter-county players has been highlighted.

There is no doubt that they and the management teams make enormous sacrifices in pursuit of success. Kerry have never been found wanting in providing this back-up.

"However, it is equally obvious that the costs of sustaining such support cannot be funded by county boards alone. More financial support is needed from central and provincial councils.

He is also concerned at falling participation figures at underage levels in some rural areas.

The Minor Review Competitions Workgroup in conjunction with Bord na nÓg and the divisional boards will have to monitor problems on an ongoing basis to ensure survival for clubs and suitable participation at an achievable level.

Former manager Páidí Ó Sé was also commended for his efforts over 30 years, both on and off the field. of play.

"While the parting was not of his choosing and the controversy which followed was not of ours, the impact of Páidí Ó Sé on the life and times of Kerry football has been immense,"

Mr O'Sullivan said. "He has given a lifetime of service to Kerry, West Kerry and An Ghaeltacht. His legacy to the present generation of Kerry followers was the winning of All-Ireland titles in 1997 and 2000 and the general success of Kerry football over the past seven years. We wish him every success in his tenure with Westmeath."

The county secretary also dealt with relationships between the media and the Kerry GAA

"The GAA has a very high profile and publicity for our games and activities is mostly positive.

"While we are sometime annoyed at what is published or spoken, we acknowledge that everything is not always correct on our side.