Galway camogie in trouble as top officials pull out

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY camogie has been rocked by the shock resignations of two senior officers from the County Board Executive. Both Assistant Secretary Pauline Mitchell and Treasurer Angela Moran tended their letters of resignations to a County Board Meeting in the Lough Rea Hotel and Spa on Monday night, although these letters were not read to the meeting itself.

It is believed the executive officers involved had become disgruntled with the way the affairs of the board were being conducted, stating there was no longer a working relationship between the top table officials, citing the lack of transparency when it came to the workings of the Board.

For her part, Mitchell had sought to air her concerns regarding the running of the Board at an executive meeting in late January, but this verbal request was denied. She subsequently submitted a written request, via email, requesting an executive meeting, noting that there were “a number of issues which require clarification before the camogie season commences”.

This request was again denied in a written reply on Saturday, January 30 from Chairperson Geraldine McGrath, who outlined she had both family and other camogie commitments to attend to the following week.

Emails – in which both factions outlined their grievances with each other regarding a number of issues, including insurance claims – were subsequently exchanged over the ensuing hours, resulting in Mitchell and Moran tendering their resignations that same day.

In her letter to the Chairperson, Mitchell believed her position as Assistant Secretary and Insurance Officer had been “undermined”, adding: “It is apparent that my position with the County Board is no longer tenable. You obviously no longer have confidence in my ability to carry out my duties, so please accept my resignation from the Board.”

Later that same evening, Treasurer Angela Moran also submitted her resignation, noting it was “very disappointing” to read a fellow officer’s request for an executive meeting had been refused. “I personally, had a lot of things I wanted aired and discussed. I am not happy with the way the Board and executive is functioning,” she said.

Chairperson Geraldine McGrath – who herself had believed she was also being “undermined” by other officials in her correspondence – declined to comment on the resignations, noting that there were ongoing issues to be addressed.

She hoped, though, the image of Galway camogie would not be tarnished by the resignations and asked people to remember that there were “two sides to every story”.

Speaking to the Tribune this week, Mitchell – who did not attend Monday night’s meeting – said she was disappointed her letter of resignation was not read out to the delegates. “I had sent the correspondence to the County Secretary (Anne Kearney), the letter of resignation, and it outlined the reasons why I was standing down. However, it was not read out. I don’t know why and the delegates were left in the dark as a result,” she added.

The Killimor woman and former County Board Secretary said: “We had written to the Chairperson and Secretary requesting an executive meeting, so we could air our views and concerns, but this meeting was not granted. The Chairperson refused to sit down and listen to the issues. If there are problems, and you can’t resolve them, then you are not going to have effective officers on the board.

“All I wanted was a meeting to discuss the problems we were having – very real problems – and this I didn’t get. After that, what option was left open to me? You have to have regard for yourself – I had to stay true to myself – and that is why I resigned.”

Clearly frustrated, Mitchell continued: “My other big concern is the image that the Board is portraying. We should be a young, vibrant organisation trying to promote our sport. I think the members there no longer portray that image of Galway camogie.

“I didn’t want to resign; I love camogie. I didn’t want to go.”