Donegal GAA chairperson nominee, Mary Coughlan - Count me in ahead of Convention 

Mary Coughlan has confirmed she will be allowing her name to go forward at Convention for the position of Donegal GAA chairperson. 

The former Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil minister is one of three nominees for the position being left vacant by current chairman Fergus McGee, who will step down in December after just one year at the helm.

The other two nominees for the position are Seán Dunnion of Four Masters, a former county chairman, and Cieran Kelly, a St Naul’s club colleague of Coughlan’s, an ex-county treasurer and currently one of Donegal’s two representatives at Ulster Council.

When contacted on Wednesday morning Coughlan - also a former South Donegal TD and holder of a number of high-profile government ministerial positions - said she was enthused by the reaction to her original nomination and, as a result of that feedback, will be leaving her hat in the ring to succeed McGee.  

“I’m running,” she told DonegalLive. “And it’s an honour to be the first woman ever to be nominated for chair. There needs to be a change of culture in the county board and I feel a good, strong team would be hugely important and beneficial to that. 

“Both other candidates are superb individuals that have made massive contributions to the GAA. My contribution to the GAA has been as (club) secretary for 11 years and as a supporter. But it’ll be a matter for Convention now to decide.

“And listen, regardless of the outcome of Convention, I’ll still be supporting my club and my county going forward”. 

The annual Donegal GAA Convention is on in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey on Wednesday night December 13.