New Donegal GAA Administrator Lisa McTernan loves busy life

On Sunday evening next in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh Lisa McTernan will stand down as chairperson of Aodh Ruadh after taking on a much bigger role in the Association - that of Donegal GAA Co Administrator.

In the first week of August 2024, Lisa took over from Noreen Doherty, who had been part of the steering committee of the good ship Donegal GAA for more than 30 years.

The GAA world is continually expanding and so is the role of the Administrator but after serving at every level possible at club level, Lisa McTernan is well qualified in every way to continue the great work done by Noreen.

Lisa McTernan has been immersed in the GAA world for a long time. Her early education was at Creevy National School and Sacred Heart Secondary School in Ballyshannon.

Her interest in the GAA, she says, came with travelling to Aodh Ruadh matches with her dad, Maurice, especially those county finals involving the Ballyshannon club in the late 1980s.

The arrival of children Evan and Anna, working locally in Mace in check-out and office was part of her early life before going back to education and doing a Business Studies course.

Then it was finding very meaningful employment with MCM in Ballyshannon and loving every minute of it.

“My earliest proper memories of the GAA was when I was at those Aodh Ruadh county finals in 1997 and 1998, going to them with Maurice, my dad.

“Around the same time we would have moved to live in Saimer Drive and you had Munday’s Field right beside you on the other side of the wall. You could see the activity going on.”

And just like many people’s introduction to GAA administration, Lisa says she “was lured into a meeting under false pretences!”

“It was actually by Shane Ward. I would have gone to school with Shane and I would have known him. He was involved in coaching with Aodh Ruadh Bord na nOg at the time.

“Evan might have been with the U-10s, U-12s and I would have got the call to come to a meeting. ‘You won’t have anything to do, just be a face’.

“I walked out of that meeting as Bord na nOg secretary,” said Lisa. “I didn’t know a lot about it at the time. I had taken over from Tracey Flood and Shane Toolan was chairman.

“When I took it on I would have spent a few evenings up with Tracey and she would have been handing over. The takeover  was easy because Tracey had loads of knowledge and she eased me in. 

“And I took over from there with David O’Donnell as Bord na nOg chairman.”

Like most volunteers, Lisa got involved because her son, Evan, was an underage dual player. “That was the reason I got involved, why not help out and give back.

“And then it took on a whole new life of its own. From the start I was fully immersed in it and I loved it.

“And it was at the end of that first year that Emma Gaughan approached me and asked me if I would be club secretary. And I knew I didn’t want to give up Bord na nOg because I loved it. I had a few conversations with people and I was told that the other person who had done both at the same time was John Hughes.

“And John Hughes has an energy level that nobody can match. Not a good idea to try to match him. He’s brilliant.

“After talking to a few people I decided to give the two jobs a go and see what happens and they merged really well together.

“So that was me for eight years in there with Gerard (Ferguson) and Catherine (McKee) first and then Serena (Brosnan) and William (Doogan).”

It was a new life that revolved around being at the park most evenings with underage games during the week and senior games at weekends.

“I don’t think there was ever a day I said I don’t want to do this any more or I can’t do this anymore. That never crossed my mind.

“It can be very time consuming. There were days when you could have been in the park from 10 in the morning until six in the evening.”

But being organised makes the job much easier.

“My kids would tell me I’m OCD a wee bit. I do have good organisational skills and I know that.”

And would Lisa be annoyed if other people are not equally organised?

“I used to, more are at the start. But that is something that I’ve learned to adapt to and let people go at their own speed and flow and we’ll get there eventually. You have to work with different people in the club and that’s what makes the club work in my opinion.”

Being involved with the Aodh Ruadh club at administrative level for 10 years would not happen without issues arising.

“You don’t get through years without issues or problems but you learn to deal with them as best you can. There’s a massive support network there if needed. You don’t always get the outcome but once you know in your heart that you have done your best,” who adds that when new faces come into committees, there are always some people with experience who can help the hand-over while new faces bring freshness.

BIG DIFFERENCE

There have been huge changes in the make-up of GAA clubs with a huge increase in Ladies football especially.

“I remember when I first started, all the girls were training together. But numbers got so big we had to split them. Now we are fielding two teams at senior level, one of the few clubs in Donegal doing this.”

And did Lisa McTernan have ambitions to become Co Administrator?

“Never. Absolutely not. I did the role as club secretary because I loved it. What I got most out of it was the reward of players being happy coming through the gates. But for me ultimately that’s what it is about.

“The ultimate goal for me was to provide a platform for players who paid their membership and wanted to be part of Aodh Ruadh.

“I was happy out being club secretary.”

“Then William’s (Doogan) five year term as chairman was up and I thought, do I want to give this a go? Because I knew I wasn’t ready to walk away. I said I’d give it a go. Being chair certainly has different elements to it and you realise there is a lot more responsibility on your shoulders.

“I know you are never singularly making decisions on your own and you have the support of the whole club. But ultimately you are the person who is dealing with it, the person getting the phone calls. There was that whole element of it. And I didn’t come into it to just do it for the one year, but circumstances change.

“It’s bittersweet but I have to say I really enjoyed being chairperson of the club.

NEW ROLE

The first time that the role of Co Administrator was mentioned to Lisa was in the Spring of 2024.

“It was probably mentioned to me in or around March or April time that Noreen (Doherty) was possibly retiring and would it be something I’d be interested in. Initially, I would have said, nah I’m happy where I am.

“And then when it was official that she was retiring, I was approached again and I said I’d see what was involved in the application, got the application form, put it together with the help of Sabrina and never thought more of it. Then got called for the interview, went for that. And coming up the road was glad to have had the experience of doing it.

“I knew the interview went well. I knew I had experience of being secretary of Southern Board for two years and being on Coiste na nOg and CCC and I knew how all of that worked.

“I openly admitted that I was the club chairperson and that it was a role that I wanted to stay in until the end of the year. I hoped it wasn’t going to be an obstacle and it wasn’t. They offered me the job.

“It is a big jump. I’m not going to say I wasn’t nervous because I was. Even when I got the call I was offered the job and I had 24 hours to accept. I doubted it for maybe an hour and I was saying ‘Am I mad or am I capable of doing this?

“Because I was going from a job out the road that I loved, great people, great boss, into the unknown. But so far the transition has been good.”

Lisa’s new boss is Co chairperson, Mary Coughlan, and she is happy with that.

“From one good boss to another,” she laughs.

Starting in August, Lisa has had four weeks with Noreen Doherty for the handover of duties but she has been on her own since September.

“I really enjoy it. I see a lot of faces that I would have seen at club level. My experience at club level, even down to running Foireann, the club games administration system, is very helpful.”

Her new role includes portals like injury claims, dealing with county teams, the Academy and queries from other county board officers, “a bit of everything,” she says.

“Any queries from clubs will come through the Administrator. Come next year and into the ticket season. It does differ from day to day. I would work closely with Grace Boyle, who is the treasurer.

“There are days when I don’t see anybody and others when people are coming and going. Declan Bushell’s office is next door.

“I really love it. I mightn’t say the same come ticket time next year, but we’ll see then,” laughs Lisa.

“Office experience and GAA experience is what I have. To me it is not a chore and I get to do it every day now.”

Her life has revolved around the GAA for a  long time and asked how she will manage to take holidays in her new job, she says: “I’m used to booking holidays around the GAA world so that is not going to change.”

Lisa’s appointment is also a further reminder of the ever-increasing role of females in the GAA. One female Donegal GAA Administrator being replaced with another - underlining the real change that has taken place in the Association over the last 30-40 years.

“Even within our own club Aodh Ruadh. We have three females at the top table. And at Co Board level the county chairperson, treasurer, assistant secretary and PRO.”

On Sunday next Lisa McTernan will step down as Aodh Ruadh chairperson but she will still be at Co Convention next month when it is held in Pettigo, but this time in a different role.