Trio appointed as Donegal GAA begins its post-review steps

A new Interim Implementation Team has been appointed by Donegal GAA as the process of carrying out the recommendations of a damning report into the body’s workings begins.

Dr Billy Bennett has been ratified as the Interim Head of Operations with Roger Keenan has been chosen as the Interim Coaching support and Gerard Bradley takes on the role of Interim Governance and Finance support.

The trio were installed on Monday at the monthly meeting of the Donegal County Committee at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.

A review into the talent academy, finance and governance structures of Donegal GAA recommended last month that there will need to be significant changes into how Gaelic games are run in the county.

The review revealed 14 ‘high-risk’ findings, so Donegal GAA are now working towards addressing those.

Donegal GAA say the Interim Implementation Team has ‘a vast array of experience in the specific areas required’.

Dr Bennett is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), having previously held the posts of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar; Head of School of Business; and Head of Teaching and Learning at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT).

chairs the Technological Universities EduCampus Governance Forum and the Board of Alcohol Forum Ireland. He is on the Board of Directors of the Central Applications Office (CAO); the Board of Directors of HEAnet; and is a member of the HEAnet Group Audit Committee. He is a member of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland Programmes and Awards Oversight Committee; the Technological Higher Education (THEA) Apprenticeship Committee; and the THEA Internal Audit Steering Group.

Keenan, a former Tyrone senior player, is the current Coach Education Manager with Ulster GAA and hails from the Gorton Naomh Padraig club in Tyrone.

He has coached Kildress, Gortin and Carrickmore to junior, intermediate and senior championship successes and has also been involved at successful Tyrone minor and under-21 teams.

Bradley is also a member of the Gortin club and is the retired Vice-Principal of Loreto Grammar School, Omagh having previously taught in St Colman’s Strabane.

He is currently Tyrone GAA’s IT Officer and a member of County Sub-Committees including finance, coaching review and Club Tyrone. During his time on Ulster Council, he was a member of the Ulster Management Committee and is currently on the Ulster Finance Committee.

At National level, Bradley has served on National Officer Development, IT, National Finance and Games Development Committee.

A statement from the Donegal County Board said: “Donegal GAA Coiste Bainisti now await a further  invitation from the Review Committee, so that they can plan the way ahead.”