Association urged to learn from Rebel strike

THE GAA must learn from the recent Cork dispute to ensure there is never a repetition ‘anywhere else,’ said outgoing Leinster Council Chairman — and presidential candidate — Liam O’Neill at the annual convention in Wexford at the weekend.

In welcoming addresses to delegates from the 12 counties, both the Mayor of Wexford and the County Chairman also alluded to the dispute and its implications for the membership at large.

While Mayor George Lawlor didn’t specifically mention the strike, he commented that players and others had their profile ‘greatly enhanced’ through their involvement in the GAA. He added: “some people who seem to be shouting the loudest seem to be abandoning the fact that were it not for the GAA they would not be in the economic circumstances they find themselves at the current time.

“Also, in relation to power bases in the GAA, it has to be said that the day when a club secretary or chairman or county board delegate decide they want to go on strike, I think that’s the time you will see who are the powerhouse and who are the engine room within this organisation.’’

The view of Wexford chairman Ger Doyle was that the way the peace deal was brokered ‘left a lot to be desired.’ As an amateur organisation the GAA should have dealt with it themselves, he said, saying they had ‘plenty’ of people at provincial and national level who could have been brought in — as opposed to involving the LRC chief Kieran Mulvey. He also expressed concerns about the knock-on effects.

“I don’t think that the solution they came to will be of benefit to any county, and I think that the decision that was taken last week to award points to other counties was a disaster. I think it’s going to open a can of worms for every club and county that’s in it. There were plenty of opportunities to play the two rounds and the games should have been played.’’

O’Neill, one of the three candidates in the Presidential election, was more concerned about the ethical issue of ‘who controls’ the Association, posing the question: “is it the players, is it the managers, is it the county officials, is it the clubs.’’

He said: “I don’t think we should be confrontational about it. We need to look for the answers there in a collaborative way. All of us are contributors to the organisation. The organisation would not work if any one of us withdrew our services. The glue that binds us all together is amateurism and the fact that we all give our time freely.

“It was pointed out to me, during that whole debate that the GAA is one of the few organisations where the stockbroker can mix with somebody of humble employment — because we are all giving our time for nothing. We share that. While we are involved with the GAA it doesn’t matter what you do in your daily life, whether you are a high flyer or somebody of humble status in society. We are all regarded equally. What we have to do is guard that. Anything that would infringe on that and cause jealousy between the various sections has to be resisted.’’

Stressing that he was not anti-player, he said ‘all’ players mattered – and mattered equally at all levels. And the same applied in regard to clubs and counties, irrespective of size.

“We have to keep that in mind as we look to our own roles in the organisation. Far from taking from one another, if this organisation continues the growth it has experienced over the last number of years, we need to strengthen each other. And we need to feed off each other’s strengths. We need to give more back-up to our officials, be they at county level or club level.

“We have difficulties at the moment. We have had damage done to the relationships. Rather than dwell on them and the difficulties which were experienced publicly by Cork, I think we should look calmly at what happened. It’s up to each one of us in our own counties to put in place the structure that will ensure that, that won’t happen anywhere else again.

“If that means sitting down and talking with people in advance of decisions, then we should do that.’’

Seamus Howlin from Wexford took over as Leinster Chairman and former Longford chairman Martin Scally was elected vice-chairman, defeating John Horan from Dublin by a single vote, 48/47. Pat Toner (Louth) and Paddy Kelly (Meath) were also nominated but withdrew. Officers: Chairman – S. Howlin (Wexford); Vice-Chairman – M. Scally (Longford); Treasurer – S. McCarthy (Kildare); PRO – T. Farrell (Westmeath).