Delegates walk out as top table wins power struggle

MORALE in Galway GAA would appear to be at an all-time low after approximately a third of the delegates – mostly affiliated to the Hurling Committee – walked out of the County Convention after clashing with County officials at the end of year review in the Lough Rea Hotel on Monday night.

Despite several motions left to be discussed, disillusioned delegates got to their feet and withdrew from the Convention following an hour long debate on a motion essentially seeking the establishment of Divisional Committees to replace the current Hurling and Football Sub Committees.

When the latter sub committees replaced the Hurling and Football Boards last year, delegates lost the power to elect their own officials to these institutions, with appointments to these positions now made by the County Committee.

The devolution of power has been the source of much angst between hurling and football delegates – who also seek the right to have a say in the appointment of inter-county managers – and the County Committee’s top table, led by Chairman Noel Treacy and County Secretary John Hynes.

In an attempt to wrestle some control back from the County Committee, a motion was put forward by Oranmore/Maree to set up Divisional Sub Committees to administer Gaelic football, hurling and youth football and hurling in the county.

These Divisional Committees would replace the Hurling and Football Committees but, unlike the present structures where officers are selected by the County Committee, the Divisional officers would be elected at an AGM as provided for under the rules of the GAA.

Delivering the motion, Oranmore/Maree delegate Tom Carr added: “If we are trying to strike a balance of harmony over the coming years, I think this is a crucial moment. All I can do is strongly recommend the motion. It would be a new beginning because, as it stands, the sub committees and how they are selected is going to cause continued rancour within Galway GAA.

Supporting the proposal, Barna’s John Connolly maintained that the continued dilution of the sub committees’ powers was “almost death by a thousand cuts” while Tomas O Curraoin (Barna/Furbo) and Michael Kelly (Ballinderreen) said the ongoing situation was only deepening frustrations.

Extended report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.