Donegal GAA exploring possibility of employing full-time commercial manager
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Donegal treasurer Grace Boyle informed clubs at Monday night’s monthly county committee meeting that she was stepping down from the role at next month’s annual Donegal GAA Convention.
Donegal GAA chiefs are now exploring the possibility of appointing a commercial manager in a bid to boost the county’s finances, the Democrat has learned this week.
This comes as the cost of running GAA activities in the county rises and turnover is expected to be around €4.6 million for 2026. And it is predicted to be close to the €5 million mark in 2027.
The responsibility for the management of the county coffers lies with the county treasurer. And the raising of the finances to run the county also rests with the treasurer and the county finance/fundraising committee - all voluntary officials.
And Boyle says the role is no longer sustainable, in its current guise, for anyone who is also juggling full-time employment.
“It simply is not possible for someone in full-time employment to do the job of treasurer and on a voluntary/part-time basis,” she told the Democrat this week.
“The only reason I could do the job is that I’m retired. I think the time has come to appoint a commercial manager to look after the fundraising side of things.
“Several counties like Mayo, Kerry, Tipperary and Fermanagh all have commercial managers and there are many more.
“All these have designed the job spec to suit their own counties and their own needs. Our finance committee is currently drawing up the job spec on the role to suit our specific needs. And they will report back to the executive for discussion.
“And if approved by the executive, they will bring it forward to the county committee. It may be a full-time or a part-time position.
“Mayo, Kerry and Tipperary have appointed the position on a full-time basis. Fermanagh have opted for a part-time position and it seems to fulfil their needs.”
The appointment of a commercial/operations manager has been a topic of conversation for well over a decade.
It was even one of the key recommendations of a Croke Park committee that looked into Donegal’s finances three years ago.
The position was advertised and it is understood a number of interested candidates were interviewed.
But it seemed to stall at that. But in light of the astronomical increase in expenditure and turnover, it has become a very live issue once again.
Boyle will now hand over the treasurer's portfolio to a new incumbent next month. Naomh Brid will host Convention at the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town on Thursday, December 10, to mark their 50th anniversary.
“I feel it is time to move on. I’ve done my time between my current stint over the last three years and my two previous terms in the job.
“I have done seven years in the job. And before that I had served five years as an assistant so I feel the time has come to move on to something else.
“I would like to stay involved because there is a fundraising project I would like to continue with.
“There may be a vacancy as one of the Ulster Council representative positions is becoming vacant at Convention, and if it does, I would be interested.”
Boyle’s previous two terms as treasurer were 2009-2010 and 2012-2014.