New president Kent says integration will happen 'in a correct time space'

Chairman of the Munster Council Tim Murphy and GAA President Elect Derek Kent. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

GAA president-elect Derek Kent says integration will happen all in good time and “a correct manner that will suit all three organisations”.

Kent has spoken about a more realistic timeline for the merger between the GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association.

At Congress on Friday, Waterford chairman Neil Moore expressed concerns about the current integration process and Kent agreed with his sentiments.

“It’s no secret what my opinion has been on integration over the last three years. I didn’t say what I wanted to say about integration during the election campaign – I said it three years ago. I said it from the podium of Leinster Council.

“Integration is from the bottom up. That’s the only way we can do it. We all come from the club. Integration will happen and if it happens on the 150th year anniversary (of the GAA), it will happen, but it will happen in a correct time space and a correct manner that will suit all three organisations.

“I do believe what Neil said is correct and by the way that is the feeling out there among the 30 counties that I visited.” 

On Friday, Kent received 61% of the first-choice vote, the strongest mandate for a GAA president in recent times. Three years ago, Jarlath Burns won 57% of the vote and before him Larry McCarthy received 23% in a five-horse race. John Horan got 52%, Aogán Farrell 55%, Liam O’Neill was unopposed, Christy Cooney 55%, Nickey Brennan 53%, Seán Kelly 60% and Seán McCague 53%.

He said his experience as chairman of his county board between 2017 and ’20 had been key in his campaign. “The first thing it does is you lose your hair,” he laughed. “The second thing it does for you is it really connects with the volunteer, the club, the issue. To chair a county is a tough task. I say we will struggle with chairpersons because most chairpersons will tell you it’s nearly a job on its own.

“When you understand the volunteer, you understand what the issues are and you’re able to go out to the volunteer and explain and talk to them.”

Kent has concerns about the demands being placed on club officers too. “The workload that’s on the volunteer at the moment is beyond control. There are three counties in my own province that couldn’t fill their roles at the top table. There are 22 clubs in my own county that couldn’t fill.

“As the Ard Stiúrthóir (Tom Ryan) says, there is a team that won the senior championship in Carlow still looking for a chairperson. That’s a test for us and a test for me going forward – how do we attract the volunteer, sustain the volunteer.”