Chairman not in favour of amalgamations

January 1977

NEW Louth GAA county board chairman Frank Lynch questions the merit of clubs amalgamating to put out minor teams, rather than field on their own.

During a discussion on affiliations for the coming year, the secretary reports that applications have come in from two new minor sides, St. Nicholas (serving Ballsgrove, Drogheda) and Naomh Aine (Knockbridge-Louth).

Mr. Lynch says there is something wrong when St. Bride’s (Knockbridge) and St. Mochta’s (Louth) cannot field separate under-age teams, instead of amalgamating forces.

There are a lot of players aged 15 to 18 being lost to Gaelic football, and much of the fault, as far as he is concerned, lies with the clubs themselves.

Recalling that in other years St. Bride’s have linked up with Geraldines in supplying St Fursey’s with players, Mr. Lynch says there is certainly an argument that St. Fursey’s, catering for a parish which includes Blackrock, should be able to field a side under their own steam.

His criticism of St. Bride’s and St. Mochta’s, he continues, is not so much in the fact they are amalgamating, but of the danger of young players losing their identity.

Paddy Farrell (St. Bride’s) says it has been decided that Knockbridge should sever connections on this occasion with St. Fursey’s ‘ because of lack of competition over the years.’

Denying that he is singling out St. Bride’s, the chairman replies: ‘My comments were constructive, but your comments tend to be destructive.’

Mr. Farrell adds he is very sorry to have to say that the co-operation received from St. Fursey’s has been ‘very, very bad.’