Duignan’s new chair of Faithful
MICHAEL DUIGNAN was last night elected as the Offaly county board chairman.
The former county hurler and footballer beat incumbent Tommy Byrne, who was bidding for a fourth year in the role, by 76 votes to 62 at the annual convention at Bord Na Mona O’connor Park.
“I’m very humbled and honoured to be elected as chairman of Offaly GAA,” said Duignan. “I’m looking forward to working with the incoming management committee, the county board, the clubs of Offaly and our schools...everybody else, all our stakeholders. I just now want to unite
Offaly GAA after this challenging campaign.”
Byrne has cut a controversial figure over the course of his county board service having also had a two-year stint as chairman in the middle of the last decade, during which the senior footballers and hurlers went on strike.
He served as secretary prior to his second spell as chairman, a period which saw the Offaly Hurling/ Implementation Committee stand down, and a group led by Duignan felt compelled to challenge the executive as the county’s fortunes continued to dip, culminating in the hurlers’ relegation to the Christy Ring Cup this year.
Byrne said afterwards: “I’d like to congratulate you Michael. I think the main thing that came out this at the end of a long campaign hopefully neither me not you has damaged Offaly going forward.”
Two-time All-ireland winner Duignan, now of the Durrow club, is an RTE pundit and newspaper columnist, and has said he will not be relinquishing his extensive media duties.