250,000 problems for Clare County Board

Money is the root of all evil, or so the saying goes, and many in Clare GAA will agree with this.
The controversy over how Clare GAA is to distribute its €250,000 allocation from Croke Park raged on at the March meeting of the board on Tuesday night.

There was lively debate when the February meeting of the board discussed the issue with the end result that the executive asked Croke Park to change the system of distribution and instead aid 25 clubs. The request was refused and directed them to proceed with 10 grants of €25,000.
When board chairman Michael O’Neill and committee chairman Johnnie Hill told this week’s meeting that they propose to hold a meeting with representatives of the 25 clubs, it drew a sharp reaction from some delegates who argued there was no need for such a meeting, given the Croke Park ruling.
“What are we hoping to achieve by bringing in the 25 clubs that the three man committee should have achieved before now,” asked Cooraclare’s PJ McGuane. “They have all the information; they have the names of the 25 clubs. What is going to be the agenda for the night?” he asked.
Michael O’Neill said an agenda would be forwarded to the clubs, to which McGuane replied, “I was the first person that proposed 25 tens and I was shot down before a decision was ever made. This has become a political football and it has made a political football. Bring in the 25 clubs and you will have a free for all. What is the criteria?” he again asked.
Clarecastle’s Martin Reynolds said the meeting with the 25 clubs should have taken place before the county officers went to Croke Park. “There was a committee appointed many moons ago to make the decision and pick the clubs and I suggest that they make that decision.”
Chairman O’Neill agreed that the committee had been appointed “many moons ago” but maintained nothing could be done until the end of December. “If the clubs don’t want the 25 to be brought in, that’s grand. We made a decision and that is what we were doing.”
McGuane shot back that the three-man committee appointed is incapable of making a decision. “Why did they take the job. They can’t make a decision,” McGuane claimed.
Chairman O’Neill immediately called on the Cooraclare delegate to withdraw the comment, stating it was not possible for the committee to make the decision. “The decision will be made, have no doubt about that,” he noted.
Clarecastle’s Martin Reynolds replied, “The decision was always to give 10 clubs €25,000 each and I am saying to you that the committee that was appointed should make the decision now. There is no reason in the wide earthly world for any more meetings. A decision has to be taken”.
St Breckan’s delegate John Stack said he felt sorry for the three-man committee as it is a tough decision. “The three lads have a job to do and I would not envy them that job. If Croke Park has made the ruling, there will be 15 clubs disappointed and all the gold in China is not going to satisfy them.”
Kilmihil’s Gerard O’Neill proposed the committee make the decision and let it be final. “If we lose, we lose and if we win, we win. Let it be final and let us accept it.”
“It’s a very divisive issue,” added secretary Pat Fitzgerald. “Twenty-five clubs have already met the criteria. There will be people disappointed.”
PJ McGuane then proposed that five go to hurling clubs and five to football clubs, which prompted Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin to ask if his club was a football or a hurling club. The debate raged on with contributions from PJ O’Doherty (Parteen), Michael O’Donoghue (Clarecastle), Michael Clancy (Newmarket), Paudie Nealon (Shannon Gaels), John Lynch (Kilkee), Michael Lee (Tubber), Michael Neenan (Doonbeg) and Pat Frawley (St Joseph’s).
Michael Clancy, pointing out that his club is not involved, proposed the clubs be chosen by a draw, a proposal seconded by Paudie Nealon.
“That system is well documented and is as good as any,” commented committee chairman Johnnie Hill.
Describing the topic as being “like extracting a bad tooth without a dentist,” Miltown’s Noel Walsh accepted that while it’s a difficult decision, one still has to be made. “They have been around to the clubs and it’s now their responsibility to make the decision. It will be accepted,” he said.
Following a plea from Kilmurry-Ibrickane chairman Ger Talty to go ahead with the meeting of representatives of all 25 clubs, the meeting agreed and chairman O’Neill said it will take place inside two weeks. Each of the 25 clubs will be allowed a maximum of two representatives.