Donegal GAA aiming to address parish boundaries and transfer gripes

The thorny issues of parish boundaries and transfers received a good airing at the Donegal GAA Convention in Pettigo on Wednesday night. 

The new buzz phrase is ‘catchment area’ and the Donegal Management have tried to put a sticking plaster on the matter with a motion that was passed by 126 votes to 4

That seeks to bring back the date for club transfers from July 31 to March 31. It also looks to ensure that the player has been living at his primary residence for at least four months, as opposed to three months unless both clubs are agreeable to the transfer.

Then, the four-month residency can be waived by the CCC. The earlier date will allow clubs the chance to know who is transferring and to whom.

But this is “kicking the can down the road” according to Naomh Muire’s Donal Sharkey who pointed out there were no defined catchment areas, so the county was in limbo. So a report from a boundary group is eagerly awaited.

“We have no boundaries,” Mr Sharkey pointed out on a number of occasions. 

Earlier, newly elected county secretary Mary Kelly said she was very proud to be elected and the fact that women were playing such an increasing role in the association in this county.

She told the meeting she was the fourth person from her club to have the honour of being county secretary.

The last man to have that honour was Bart Whelan who served from 1980-1990, Convention was told.

“There have been many changes and we have to accept all those things,” said the Ardara woman. 

“But I think the biggest change of all is the participation of women in our clubs, both as administrators, as coaches and as players. I was very privileged to be club secretary in our club for 13 years.

“I’m delighted that many of the roles in the clubs in our county are being carried out by women.

“It can only be good for the association, and we have 25 women as club secretaries in the county.”

Elsewhere, child protection officer Emlyn Hughes told Convention that our biggest enemy in terms of child protection was complacency and taking things for granted.

“We think that these things won’t visit our door and in society generally child protection is a major issue and the best way to ensure that everything works well is to ensure that we have vetting and safeguarding for everybody that is involved with underage teams.It is very simple but very effective.”

And Chairperson Mary Coughlan warmly lauded the outgoing central council delegate Sean Dunnion.

“He is highly regarded in Croke Park and he has chaired committees in Croke Park. I want to thank him for his guidance, his advice and his cool head. 

“As you know Congress is coming to Donegal Town at the end of February and Sean had a hand in that.I want to thank him for all the work he has done.”

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In response, Dunnion thanked the chairperson for her kind words and said it was a huge privilege for him to represent the county at Central Council level.

“To be elected at the past five conventions has been special. I thank the clubs for the support and courtesy they gave me.

“To go to Croke Park and sit around the table with 54 others in a room can be quite daunting and I will be there to support newly elected Fergus McGee”.