Mac's View: Donegal have faith in their women as they smash the glass ceiling

First of all, I want to begin this week by congratulating Mary Kelly on her election to the position as County Secretary last week. 

Mary is very capable and experienced and I have no doubt whatsoever that she will do a good job. 

Mary replaces Declan Martin who had completed his five-year term in the job, having served as assistant secretary for the previous five years. Declan was a safe pair of hands and never ruffled any feathers as he went quietly and efficiently with the job.  

Best wishes also to Fergus McGee on his election to the role of Central Council representative. It is a role I am quite familiar with, having done five years in the job. 

Fergus, I feel will do a good job in what again is an important role as the county’s voice in Croke Park.  

He takes over from another former chairman, Sean Dunnion, who also completed his five-year term in the role. And from my contacts, I hear Sean was well-liked and respected and served on a number of committees in headquarters over the five years.  

Like Declan Martin, after over a decade of involvement at a high level, Sean will welcome a little break. 

Both Sean and Declan are still very young men and I feel they still have a lot to contribute, and I certainly hope we have not seen the last of them.  

As a result of Mary Kelly's elevation to the secretary position, Donegal is unique in that to the best of my knowledge it is the only county of the 32 to have women in the top three positions in the county. 

Mary Coughlan is still the chairperson, Mary Kelly is now secretary, and Grace Boyle is the treasurer. 

The glass ceiling has been well and truly smashed in Donegal and well done to the ladies who are all more than capable of carrying the torch. 

Here in Donegal, we have five women on the County Executive with Sinead Breen as PRO and Catríona Sweeney in the role of Oifigeach Chultúra and Language. 

Donegal being unique is nothing new. Noreen Doherty, our recently retired county administrator, was the first county secretary in the country when she was elected to the position back in 1991.  

Noreen was one of the county’s longest-serving officials before taking up the role of administrator.  

She lit the torch and many more counties followed, and today you would have grave difficulty in finding a county committee without at least one or more women on it.    

This is reflected too in clubs right around both the county and the rest of the country, with in many cases, the women being the driving force in the club. And the GAA is the better for it.  

I was very disappointed to miss last week’s County Convention. It was the first I missed in a good number of years. A visit to the dentist the day before did not go well and I was in the worst of form when Wednesday came around.   

I attended my first back as a young lad in 1958, and apart from my years away in Canada, I’d say I could count on one hand and still have a finger or two to spare the number I have missed in the last 50 years.  

I’ve always enjoyed the Convention though it has changed dramatically in the last decade or so. 

Nowadays it is very streamlined and is run very efficiently over a few hours. 

For years, the convention was held on a Sunday and was an all-day affair, and more often than not business was not all done and had to be finished a week or so late on a Monday night. 

Back in those days, there was more debate, and issues were thrashed with arguments at times, to say the least of it.  

They say the modern way is better. I’m not so sure. I agree that the modern-day Convention is a slicker operation and runs more efficiently, but I do feel we need a little more debate and discussion on the reports and issues that are being highlighted.  

Is it a case that the Convention has become too streamlined with all business being jammed into three or four hours. Is there more time needed for discussion and debate?  

I was also disappointed to miss the Convention because it was hosted by the Pettigo GAA club, with who I have always had a great affinity with from my days playing and managing Donegal. 

Pettigo was always our first stop on our way home from big games in Clones, or Cavan, or wherever, and the Pettigo people were always out to greet us.  

On the field action 

On the playing front, I send commiserations to Downings on losing the All-Ireland Ladies Junior Championship final. I know they will be disappointed but when they get time to reflect, they will realise it has been a good season, and reaching an All-Ireland final, regardless of the outcome, is a great achievement in itself.  

Finally, I want to wish all Donegal Gaels no matter where they are in the world a happy and peaceful Christmas.