A motion to establish an Independent panel to develop a five year strategic plan for Clare GAA has been unanimously supported by clubs.
The motion was proposed by Eire Og, and discussed at a highly anticipated meeting last night.
Jack Chaplin’s debut as Clare County Board Chairperson began almost immediately with a lively debate over the open voting rights of delegates at the meeting.
Conducted virtually, there was a clear over-attendance at the meeting and the Executive was concerned that this would make an open vote, allowing one vote per club, difficult.
Tulla GAA’s delegate, supported by his counterparts in Wolfe Tones, Clarecastle, Whitegate and Kilmaley, encouraged the Executive to allow voting during what he described at a time where Clare has “the whole country looking at us” and describing the perception of the County’s GAA structure as a “laughing stock”.
Motion 12 of the meeting, that to introduce an Independent panel to develop a strategic plan, was introduced by the executive who pledged their support and encouraged the support of club delegates.
The motion was unanimously accepted by clubs.
While the initial motion proposed involved complete independence from the County Board, it was supported at the meeting, including by the Eire Og delegate, that a County Board individual would need to be somewhat involved – with Vice Chair and Sixmilebridge clubman Kieran Keating proposed by Clarecastle’s Niall Tuohy.
A motion to discuss the holding of an U20 hurling and football Championship in Clare this year, COVID-guidelines permitting, was also delayed until the next meeting, with Sixmilebridge’s delegate showing concern that college age players may be lost.
There was also vocal support for long-standing Clare GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald after online abuse this week.
