Cork ready with €2m war-chest
The disclosure was made at the launch of the final report of the Cork GAA Clubs Forum in the Maryborough House Hotel last night. Forum chairman Tomás Ryan and PRO John Corcoran reported to over 150 club delegates present that they had had a constructive meeting two weeks ago with representatives of the executive of the Cork County Board regarding the development of the GAA in Cork.
At the meeting the forum officers said they had asked about revenue received by Cork County Board from Croke Park arising from rugby and soccer games in GAA headquarters, and were informed that €2m had been received from GAA head office.
Board representatives added they were in discussions with the local authority about the development of a site for a dedicated GAA centre of excellence, with those negotiations at a “delicate stage”.
More details regarding the centre are expected to be published in the new year.
A separate development is expected to be unveiled at the Old Mon Field, in Knocknaheeny, with pitches and dressing-rooms purchased recently.
The club forum was set up in March of this year in the midst of the stand-off between the Cork senior hurlers and the Cork County Board over the reappointment of hurling manager Gerald McCarthy.
The forum issued an interim report in July which focused on democratic structures, communications issues and development issues, and sought feedback from clubs in Cork on those matters.
Last night’s final report contained further details of the motions the forum hopes to bring before the County Convention next month.
The motions relate to representation of all clubs, including junior clubs, at county board meetings; to clubs being consulted by delegates in advance of voting on matters other than match fixtures and venues; to secret ballots being used for county board votes if sought by one third of delegates present; to prior notice being issued by the board of matters to be discussed at meetings; to time limits for certain positions on the county board executive; and to maintaining a record of who votes and the exact numbers of votes cast at meetings.
These motions can be related in particular to widespread dissatisfaction among Cork GAA members with various county board meetings and votes which were held during the impasse last winter, and to a general sense of dissatisfaction at the level of communications between the executive of the Cork County Board and GAA members and supporters within the county.
Forum officers confirmed last night that having sought legal advice on the wording of the motions, they were satisfied that the wording satisfied the requirements of the board by-laws.
Club delegates present congratulated the forum officers on their work on the report and raised further issues on matters such as the backlog of colleges games, ticket allocations to clubs and greater transparency at county board meetings.
Club forum chairman Tomas Ryan said the report was the work of “GAA people”. He said: “This is a GAA report made by GAA people.
“Many of those here tonight are club officers, and anyone who was not here – I hope they take this on board and work accordingly in their clubs to support the motions we have outlined here. A lot of the problems with the GAA in Cork stem from a lack of communication. We got no response from the county board regarding the interim report, for instance.
“I know we weren’t selected by the board. We were selected by grass-roots members of the GAA last March to do a job, and in doing that job we have hurt no-one. We want this done for the GAA in Cork.’’
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