Windfall for county as Wexford scores GAA conference
WEXFORD is in for a financial windfall next year after the county board secured the annual GAA congress.
Michael Martin, vice chairman of Wexford GAA, said that it had applied to GAA headquarters to host the 2019 congress in February 2019. ‘We met with Croke Park officials a number of times to discuss our applications and we found out last week that we were successful.
‘Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Clare and Mayo had also expressed an interest but fortunately we were chosen to host it.
‘It will be a major boost for the county because there will be around 1,000 coming to Wexford for it including 130 delegates from overseas and their partners.
‘The overseas delegates will arrive in Wexford a couple of days before the actual congress for their own discussions and meetings and from Friday the other GAA delegates from around Ireland will start to arrive.
‘Over the course of the congress which takes place on February 23 and February 24 next year there will a series of discussions on various motions. The partners of the delegates will be taken on a tour of the county as well and be taken for lunch so it will be a boost for the entire county really, not just Wexford town.
‘You are looking at about 1,000 people coming to the county between delegates, their partners and media.’
Mr Martin said that while no venue has been chosen, the most likely option is Clayton Whites Hotel as up to 500 GAA delegates will attend the congress.
‘Whites looks the most likely option because of its capacity but all the other hotels in the town and county will benefit too in terms of beds and hospitality.’
He said that although the congress is nine months away, planning is already under way.
‘We need to do a lot of organising in advance. The tour for the delegates partners needs to be organised, we need stewards for parking and then the delegates traditionally receive a gift highlighting the local area. There will also be a Mass which needs to be organised.’
Overseas delegates will arrive from Australia, America, Asia and Europe with many of them expected to take in some of the sights of Wexford during their time here.
“Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Clare and Mayo had also expressed an interest”