*Clare hurlers lift the Liam MacCarthy in Shannon. Photograph: Joe Buckley
FUNDRAISING for the Clare hurlers holiday has to date raised €430,911.00.
Delegates attending the November meeting of Clare GAA in Clareabbey were informed of the figure on Tuesday night. It was one of the biggest attended County Board meetings in recent months.
The travelling party, believed to be in excess on one hundred, will depart Ireland this Sunday from Shannon Airport for ten days following on from a campaign where they won the All-Ireland SHC and Allianz National Hurling League titles.
Speaking at this week’s meeting, Head of Operations with Clare GAA, Deirdre Murphy gave a breakdown of how the various fundraisers to date have gone.
The souvenir signed jersey sales realised a profit of €59,721 while to date 470 framed photographs have been sold realising a profit of €94,000. The recent Clare versus Club All Star team at Cusack Park generated €26,750.
There was an anonymous donation of €20,000, online donations of €5,440, such contributions came to €30,000 which included €2,000 from Tulla GAA plus €1,000 each from Patrick Bourke’s, Zimmer and Kerry Group.
Ms. Murphy explained that where corporate groups requested the cup, there was a fee of €1,000 for which they got a framed photograph, a visit from members of the Clare panel who spoke at their workplace and also gave of their time taking photographs with staff members.
The poker classic super draw brought in €50,000 which brings the total raised to date to €260,911.77.
“We will have €170,000 between Munster grants, Croke Park and our sponsors bringing the total to €430,911 available to spend on the holiday,” she added.
Clare to support rule changes:
Former Clare senior football manager Colm Collins, a member of the football review committee chaired by former Dublin manager Jim Gavin attended this week’s meeting and gave an outline of the changes proposed by the group which will be voted on at a special congress at the end of November.
There was broad approval for the changes from the delegates with Robert Frost proposing and Éire Óg’s Rory Hickey seconding that Clare vote in favour.
Club levy to continue:
The majority of Clare GAA clubs are in favour of extending for a further five years a yearly levy they pay to Clare GAA.
At the October meeting of the board chairman Kieran Keating said he would write to the clubs asking them to extend the level which was introduced ten years ago, for a further five years.
When he raised the matter at this week’s November meeting Brian Shanahan from Doonbeg and Paul Shanahan from Kilmurry Ibrickane told the meeting that their clubs are not in favour. Both pointed out that they are presently carrying out improvements at their clubs.
Irish officer Joe Garry reminded the chairman that he had opposed the proposal at an officers meeting and he went on to say that a lot of clubs are carrying out improvements to their facilities at present.
“We are all engaged in development at club level at some stage and it’s not easy”, commented Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick.
Supporting the proposal that the levy continue, Facilities officer, Ambrose Heagney said “huge improvements are required at Cusack Park. We need much work to be done on the dressing rooms which must be one of the poorest in Munster. We all will be going to Cusack Park for games”.
Clooney/Quin delegate John Skehan told the meeting that his club is in favour of the levy continuing while Clondegad’s Seamus O’Reilly said his club are also in favour but he said they were unsure of the criteria.
Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy said that works need to be done at Cusack Park where changes are needed to the shop. “We will be doing that with funds from the Dalcassian Patrons scheme and from our own resources and down the road we will need lights at Cusack Park. We will be carrying out small modifications on an annual basis”.
Tubber’s Andrew Monahan asked about how the levy is calculated for each club. “There doesn’t seem to be a big difference between what each club pays but there is a big difference in the ticket allocation each club gets”, he noted.
Commenting on the levy, the Head of Operations said “it brings in €60,000 per annum and if you take it back there is a lot of recovery to fill the gap. It’s an excellent source of funding for us and we will let you know where it is going”.
On a show of hands the majority of delegates present supported extending the levy for another five years.
Vacancy for U20 manager:
Replying to a query from Joe Garry as to where progress is on the appointment of an under 20 Clare football manager following the resignation of Miltown’s Michael Neylon from the position, board chairman Kieran Keating said they are seeking expressions of interest in the position and he asked delegates to enquire at their clubs if there is anyone interested in becoming manager.
“There is urgency in filling this position”, Joe Garry told the meeting.
Convention:
The annual county convention of Clare GAA will take place on December 11th.
“Nominations and motions have come in and we will be seeking confirmation from those nominated this week. We haven’t spoken to everybody yet”, Kieran Keating told the meeting.
He told the delegates that the next board meeting will be on December 3 and that will also be a structures meeting.
Handball success:
Mike Kelly reported on the achievements of Clare players at the recent World handball championships which were hosted in Leinster. He paid particular tribute to Clooney/Quin’s Sean Considine and Sean Coughlan who were winners at the championships. He also listed those who competed in finals at the championships.
Scór:
The recent Scór na nÓg Clare finals were a huge success, Irish officer Joe Garry told this week’s meeting when wishing the winners well in Munster.
Looking for Coiste na nÓg officials:
County chairman Kieran Keating asked delegates at this week’s meeting if they knew of anyone who would go forward to serve as Chairman of Coiste na nÓg football. “We are looking for fresh blood, somebody good at fixtures”, he said.
Earlier outgoing chairman PJ, McGuane told the delegates that they had got their programme of fixtures played to date. “We are at the semi-final stage in under 14 and under 16 which are knock out competition”, he said when thanking clubs and pitch committees for their assistance
Coaching and games officer Neil O’Brien told the meeting that “1,100 games were played at underage level through 87 competitions which is a credit to the Bord na nÓgs who work well together”.
He went on to say that a Munster club forum will take place at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick in January when each club will be allowed to have three representatives, a senior club coach, an underage coach and a leading officer.
