Benevolence for Boston trip shows finances on the up

FREE ACCOMMODATION is being offered to members of the Wexford G.A.A. Management committee should they wish to avail of the opportunity to accompany the county’s hurlers to the Fenway Classic in Boston next weekend.

According to the minutes of the county Management committee meeting of September 25, Wexford had asked for inclusion in the Boston Super 11s.

The trip is from November 16 to November 20, with two semi-finals, and a final on Sunday, November 18. Wexford will be accompanied on the trip by All-Ireland champions, Limerick, whom they meet in the semi, along with Cork and Clare who will play in the second semi-final.

The Management committee meeting of September 17 saw the Vice-Chairman, Micheál Martin, give up to date information on the trip. Conor Ryan of the G.P.A. and Rúairí Harvey, the G.A.A. co-ordinator, had been in touch with Senior manager Davy Fitzgerald, outlining two semis, and a final on the Sunday, while stressing they want the four teams to take it seriously.

The meeting was informed that contact had been made with Joe Doyle, Sharon Dempsey and Cronan Dempsey in Boston, regarding a fundraiser on the Friday night, with the event in Seán Morrissey’s Bar. Rúairí Harvey of the G.A.A. advised that the trip is being organised as a ‘Le Chéile’ competition to top up G.P.A. funds. The Wexford squad travelling will comprise 24 from the playing squad, four management personnel, and two from the County Board.

In the Management committee minutes of October 8, further details were outlined of the fundraiser in Seán Morrissey’s, a venue very close to the team hotel. Organisers were hoping for an attendance of 200, with tickets costing $100 each but €50 if bought directly from the Wexford G.A.A. office.

And then, in a tweet on November 1, Wexford G.A.A. detailed a fundraising event for Friday, November 16, with Davy Fitzgerald and the Wexford hurlers followed by a raffle and auction. This question and answer session will now take place at Sunset Cantina, 916 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.

While the official trip for the four competing counties is being fully sponsored, Wexford have decided to offer free accommodation to members of the county Management committee wishing to join the travelling party in Boston. It now appears that Wexford County Board has left some of its darkest years behind, having come through a financial crisis.

It’s worth remembering that when Diarmuid Devereux assumed the office of Chairman some seven years ago, he was faced with the stark reality of a financial crisis in the county, one that was not of his making. It took five years of tough decisions to get the county back to a stable financial situation, which he had achieved on handing over the office two years ago.

And the success which his appointment, Davy Fitzgerald, achieved with Wexford hurling led to increased finances flowing into G.A.A. coffers. Anyone following the games closely would also realise that Wexford would have benefited financially from a Senior football final replay, along with final replays in other grades.

But rather than utilising their new-found financial cushion for the benefit of the games and county grounds, Wexford G.A.A. in their wisdom have now deemed it wise to offer free accommodation to members of the county Management committee wishing to join the hurling squad in Boston.

We wondered how Wexford found itself in such dire financial straits just seven years ago. Well, it now appears as if the county has surplus finance, but in this business where the county is so reliant on the achievements of the hurlers, it would be irresponsible to become extravagant. After all, the Association is never shy about highlighting the volunteerism that has kept it to the forefront over the years.

Taking a close look at Innovate Wexford Park along with St. Patrick’s Park, one feels that this type of surplus money would have been better spent on a coat of paint for the county grounds, along with the upgrading of toilet facilities which are no longer fit for purpose at either venue.

Maybe more information will be forthcoming over the coming days as to who from the Management committee will avail of the generous offer, presumably fully endorsed by the clubs.