Children's officer nomination challenged as things get heated at county committee

Donegal GAA officials are to seek clarification after confusion arose at Monday night’s sitting of county committee

The issue was in relation to the appointment of the county’s children's officer. The outgoing children’s officer and former county chairman, Mick McGrath, was nominated again for the position.

He was the county executive’s nominee for the position, proposed by Ed Byrne, the assistant secretary, and was seconded by an Aodh Ruadh club delegate. However, the nomination was challenged and it emerged that a number of clubs wished to nominate club members for the position.

The children’s officer is one of two positions appointed to the county executive as opposed to being elected as is the case with all the other positions on the management committee. The three club nominees are Michael McMenamin, Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin; Emelyn Hughes, Four Masters, and Gary Duffy, Buncrana.

The fact that there were four nominees as opposed to one created a dilemma given the position is by appointment only and a vote was ruled out.

Following what is believed to be a lengthy discussion it was decided on the proposal of central council delegate Sean Dunnion, to seek clarification from Croke Park, on how to deal with the situation.

With November’s sitting of county committee the last one of the year, it seems likely the ultimate say on the matter will come at December’s county convention.