Rule change to transform GAA

STARTING at the top, with the imminent departure of Director-General Liam Mulvihill and PRO Danny Lynch, the public face of the GAA is about to undergo a dramatic transformation.

It relates mainly to the five-year limitation on the holding of office at county level which is coming into force and will result in sizeable numbers of the prominent officers bowing out before the end of December. For instance, it will see the departure of Sean Walsh in Kerry and Ned Quinn in Kilkenny, two men who have presided over their counties during a period of success that is without parallel anywhere else in the country.

In Walsh’s case, he is destined for higher office, having been elected vice-chairman of the Munster Council last February and, if current practice continues, will take over as chairman in 2010. Quinn will continue as chairman of the National Hurling Development Committee for the duration of Nickey Brennan’s presidency, which is nearing the half-way stage.