County Committee doors should be open to media -Pauric McShea

Pauric McShea says tonight’s special sitting of county committee would be an opportune time for Donegal GAA to allow the press back in through the doors. 

McShea - who skippered Donegal to its second Ulster SFC title back in 1974 - believes the board has made the right call if their intentions are to finally shed some light on the Academy fallout which has rocked the county in recent months.

However, McShea says supporters also deserve to know the facts surrounding Karl Lacey’s acrimonious departure from the Donegal GAA Academy. And the only way to do that, he argues, is through the press. 

Matters sunk even further on Wednesday afternoon with the bombshell that Paddy Carr has stepped down from his role as senior football team boss. Speaking prior to that revelation, McShea says it’s time for answers. 

“It’s a positive development to see that the county board has decided to hold a special sitting of county committee on Thursday,” he said.  

“There is so much negativity out there, anger even; the best thing the county board could do ahead of Thursday would be to open the doors up to the press. It’s a great opportunity for them to let supporters know exactly just what is going on. 

“We need some transparency and we need real answers as to how and why we’ve found ourselves in the sorry position we’re currently in. The press has been outside the door now for a few years and that’s not right. 

“Supporters - the most important thing in all of this - are completely outside the bubble. They are the lifeblood of the GAA in this county. Where would we be without them? 

“Looking at the families present in MacCumhaill Park last Sunday, wee kids along with their parents drenched to the skin; it made me wonder what an afternoon like that costs? There has to be clarity and it should be made available to the core people in all of this - the supporters. 

“I’m getting so many messages from all over the country asking me just what the hell is going on in Donegal. A bit of clarity and some upfrontness from the county board is now what is needed. Where we are now, with all the silence, is chaotic”. 

Meanwhile, the board shed some further light on their intentions ahead of this evening’s gathering in Convoy after clubs asked for clarity on the agenda.  

Correspondence was sent out to Donegal clubs on Tuesday afternoon stating, amongst other things, that the only item on tomorrow night’s agenda would be the Academy. 

However, it’s understood that clubs immediately sought additional information regarding the parameters of that singular agenda item. And, as a result, clubs were furnished with some further clarity on Wednesday morning. 

“This meeting is called to address recent media/publications surrounding the Academy and other unrelated matters raised in these media/publications. The board has been inundated with requests from the media to issue a response or make a reply. 

“It was decided by the county executive on Monday night that the appropriate forum to address these matters is at county committee level, thus, the reason for calling this special county committee meeting”.

With Carr now gone as senior team boss, the agenda will almost certainly have to be rejigged as Donegal GAA somehow try to pick up the pieces of what is surely one of, if not the most disastrous periods in their history.