Martin lands the top job!
Fitzgerald defeats Dignam
ANNACURRA’S Martin Fitzgerald secured the top job in Wicklow GAA at last Monday night’s County Convention when he defeated Rathnew’s Bobby Dignam in a vote for the County Chairman position.
Fitzgerald has put in a five-year stint as vice chairman to Martin Coleman but would not have treated the potential of Bobby Dignam to thwart his plans lightly given the history the Rathnew club man has in terms of his previous work on the County Board where he served as Chairman for a number of years.
County secretary Chris O’Connor announced to the room that Martin Fitzgerlad had won the vote and that the Annacurra man was the new Wicklow County Chairman for 2018.
“First of all, delegates, I want to thank you very much for putting me in this position, an honorary position. I was born into the GAA. I spent most of my young life, from the time I was very young, out on this field (Joule Park, Aughrim) with my father who spent 50 years out here, giving and taking abuse, I might as well tell you.
“I’d like to thank my family, especially Trish, Michelle, James and Robert for all their help they gave me over the last five years and the work they’ve done with me.
“They’ve always been behind me even though they give out to me sometimes.
“I’d like to thank my club Annacurra for nominating me and all the rest of the clubs for nominating me.
“I’d like to thank Bobby. You are a man who I looked up to back in the early 90s and if I can do as well you did then I’ll be doing very well, so thank you very much, I think competition is very, very good in the GAA and it’s very democratic so I’d like to thank everyone very, very much.
“I’d say to people, don’t be afraid of change. There’s a new review coming up here at the moment and the clubs put it forward and there’s going to be a lot of change and I would just say to the clubs, don’t be afraid fo change, change is good for Wicklow.
“We can’t be just going back and doing the same things we have been doing for the last 50 years. I think things are very exciting for the future and we’ll embrace the future and move on and we’ll work hard at the review.
“With that I’d like to thank everyone again and I look forward to meeting all the clubs in the New Year,” he said.
Bobby Dignam said that he would like to congratulate Martin Fitzgerald on his success and he said that he wanted assure Martin of his support going forward.
“I’d like to congratulate Martin and I’d like to thank all the clubs that supported me and I can assure Martin of my support. It’s an onerous job, Martin, as you know, and I appreciate the few words you said about my previous term. I’d like to wish Martin (Coleman) all the best in his new job on Central Council.
“It is exciting times ahead for Wicklow with the review. I was very impressed yesterday (Sunday) when Wicklow (footballers) played Wexford in a challenge match down in our part of the country and I was very impressed with the commitment, dedication and the absolute enthusiasm of our new county manager (John Evans) and I believe ye (the County Board) got it right there, the whole lot of ye.
“He is a brilliant man, no doubt, and he definitely deserves our support and I would urge all the clubs to support him and I would ask all players asked to go forwards to go forwards because we need the best men out there and I do honestly believe that this man will do the job.
So, Martin, the best of luck, and, as you say, competition is good, and I congratulate you again,” he added.
Declan Finn, Annacurra club delegate, congratulated Martin Fitzgerald and said that the new County Chairman was a hard-working character and that anything he had attempted at club level, ladies football or county level that he had worked hard and that all in the club wished Martin Fitzgerald the best.
Declan Finn also wished Bobby Dignam all the best and that the position of County Chairman warrants a vote and warrants people running for it and he wanted to commend Bobby for his efforts.