Coleman secures Central Council role
FORMER Wicklow GAA Chairman Martin Coleman secured the prized role of Central Council rep following a vote between himself and Avondale’s Victor O’Shaughnessy.
Coleman was appreciative of the support of clubs and said he was looking forward to representing Wicklow under a different Croke Park regime to recent years.
“I’d like to thank the clubs that supported me in that quest,” said Coleman. “I think it could be an exciting time to be in Croke Park. We have a new President coming in in February and we’ll have a new Ard Stiúrthóir in March so I’m certainly looking forward to the challenge and fighting Wicklow’s cause in the higher echelons and I hope it will be more open, I know there was great difficulty for our previous delegates because there was a lot of rubber stamping there. So, certainly, I think there will be a whole new regime in Croke Park and I’m looking forward to working for Wicklow up there,” he added.
His opponent Victor O’Shaughnessy was gracious in defeat and used his time on the microphone to pay special tribute to Rathnew’s Pat Doyle who was stepping away from his role of assistant treasurer.
“Congratulation on your victory, Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to thank the clubs for voting for me. I put my name forward because I feel that I have something to contribute, that’s the only reason I put my name forward. Competition is always good, I have to say, and the best man won.
“While I’m on my feet, Mr. Chairman, I’d like to thank Pat Doyle, out out-going vice cisteoir. Pat got involved in 2007, on my committee, development.
“And he was outstanding, Chairman, he was an outstanding man, and I tell you the clubs in this county have lost a man they could contact.
“Pat was a fellow you could go up and talk to and clubs could do that without any question and I think it has been proven over the last number of years when clubs got into difficulty, he was one man you could go to and strike a deal and everyone would go away happy.
“So, Pat, thank you for that and thank you for your contribution over a long number of years and hopefully you’ll be involved at some level. Thank you for all your work with me on my committee,” added Victor O’Shaughnessy.