GAA DELEGATE SHOCK AT £2,500 SIZE OF COUNTY BOARD DEBT
HOWEVER CHAIRMAN REPLIES ESSENTIAL TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO IMPROVE SENIOR TEAM’S FORM December 1977
FORMER chairman, Brendan Breathnach, expresses shock that the Louth county board is in the red to the tune of almost £2,500.
The St. Bride’s delegate tells the annual convention that in his thirty years’ association with the GAA, this is the first time for such a situation to have arisen.
‘We mustn’t get like other counties which, after finding themselves in the red, can’t seem to manage to get out of it,’ he adds.
Chairman, Frank Lynch replies that it was essential to spend more money this year on challenge and trial games, in order to get the county senior team back on an even keel.
On the question of the amount being paid to the county secretary/treasurer, it is remarked by Terry Maher (Oliver Plunkett’s) that the below four-figure sum, is less than some people are receiving on the dole.
In fact, there are many on social security getting a whole lot more.
He feels they could allow the secretary more time off for other work by allocating him a dictaphone.
The chairman and Jim Savage (St. Patrick’s) support these comments, Frank Lynch noting that in relation to the vast amount of work which Peadar Kearney is putting in, he is very inadequately rewarded.
Elsewhere, there is criticism of a lack of detail in the financial reports, while Mr. Lynch tells Maurice Murphy (Naomh Moninne) that he doesn’t believe the auditing is on the high side, based on his own personal experience in work of this nature.
Neither does he think that in excess of £1,000 in staging inter-county challenges from the previous year, can be regarded as heavy.
Ten trial games could be regarded as necessary in order to build anew.
Away from money matters, Oliver Plunkett’s are unsuccessful with their motion for Congress that the inter-county U-21 football and hurling championships be terminated because ‘ they have failed to serve the purpose for which they were inaugurated.’
Seán Murray argues that interest has waned on several counts, including several preliminary round games being played on week evenings.
Dan Woods seconds the motion, and there is support from O’Rahillys’ delegate, Jimmy Mullen.
The motion only garners 46 votes in favour – or less than one-third of the assembly – and is lost.
The line-up for 1978: Chairman: Frank Lynch (unopposed); Vice- Chairman North: Paddy Kenny defeats Harry Reilly 114-39; South: Peter Conry (unopposed).
Secretary/Treasurer: Peadar Kearney defeats Oliver Kelly 135-16, to take the position for the 23rd year; Assistant Secretary/Registrar: Tom Dixon defeats O. Kelly 126-23.
Youth Officer: Fr. John Mulligan defeats Terry Doherty 79-70; Central Council delegate: P. Kearney (89) defeats Nicky Marry (35) and Paul Kenny (30).
Leinster Council North: N. Marry (unopposed). South: P. Kearney (unopposed).
Congress delegates (6): Leslie Toal, T. Dixon, N. Marry, Paddy McGlew, Paddy Kenny, Aidan Wiseman (U-21).
Leinster Convention: T. Dixon (59), L. Toal (58), D. Woods (54), P. McGlew (53), P. Mulroy (50) and N. Marry (49).