Donegal GAA become first county ever to appoint three females to main roles

For the first time anywhere, the three main officers of the county board are women following the unopposed election of Ardara club person Mary Kelly as County Secretary. 

Kelly joins Mary Coughlan as Chairperson with Grace Boyle as Treasurer. 

And while Kelly was unopposed, as Darren Collins and sitting PRO Sinead Breen withdrew, there were a few interesting contests for positions on the night, with assistant secretary, PRO, Ulster Council, and Central Council were all well contested. 

Mary Kelly, the sitting assistant secretary, succeeded outgoing secretary Declan Martin. 

Naomh Muire’s Martin has served his five-year term in the secretary’s chair and stood down on Wednesday night and he was warmly praised for his “sensible thoughtful contribution” in a ten-year spell on the Executive, having previously served as Assistant Secretary for five years. 

MacCumhaill's Collins is now the new Assistant Secretary and has inherited the tough job of being Fixtures Secretary. 

But he did so only after a hard-fought battle with Killybegs clubman Ed Byrne as Collins won by 82 votes to 77. 

The next contest was between outgoing PRO Sinead Breen and challenger Packie McDyer, with Breen prevailing. 

The positions of two Ulster Council delegates were narrowed down to three contestants after Fergus McGee, Liam McElhinney, Martin McHugh, P J McGowan, Sean Dunnion, and William Doogan all withdrew leaving incumbents Cieran Kelly, Andy Doherty (outgoing), and Donal Sharkey to fight it out for the two positions. 

There was a moment of comedy when it was announced that there would have to be a recount after a significant number of delegates had unintentionally spoiled their votes. 

When order was restored, after a considerable delay, the result was Cieran Kelly 75, Andy Doherty 69, and Donal Sharkey 15 with the incumbents keeping their posts. 

Another interesting contest was the vacant Central Council slot vacated by the outgoing Sean Dunnion. 

Dunnion was also warmly praised for his ability to represent the county in Croke Park. 

Last year’s County Chairman Fergus McGee defeated Gary Duffy by 103 to 54 after Noreen Doherty and Martin McHugh withdrew. 

And a veteran Ardara delegate Edward Molloy was a winner on the double after defeating Convoy’s Brendan Kelly by 88 to 68 for delegate to the Ulster Convention after he defeated Gary Duffy by 87 to 70 for delegate to Congress which will be held in Donegal in February. 

Officers Elected: 

Chairperson; Mary Coughlan 

Vice Chairperson: David McLoone 

Secretary: Mary Kelly 

Assistant Secretary: Darren Collins 

Treasurer: Grace Boyle 

Assistant Treasurer: Frankie Doherty 

Coaching Officer: Damian Diver 

Irish and Cultural Officer: Catriona Uí Shuibhne 

PRO: Sinead Breen 

Hurling Officer: Cormac Hartnett 

Ulster Council: Cieran Kelly, Andy Doherty 

Central Council: Fergus McGee 

Delegate to Ulster Convention: Edward Molloy 

Delegate to Congress: Edward Molloy