Madigan ready and able for secretary’s role

Newly appointed Clare Bórd na nÓg Peil secretary Níomh Madigan is unlikely to be fazed by the magnitude of her task. Originally from Terenure, Níomh served as vice-chairperson and secretary of Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA club for almost six years. She was also secretary of the ladies’ club in Ballyboden and registrar of the Leinster Ladies Football Council.
“When I was there three years ago, there were 77 teams at all groups. That was the last count when I was secretary,” Níomh says of her time with Ballyboden St Enda’s.
Ironically, Níomh played more hockey than camogie when she was active on the field. Since then though, she has concentrated on the administrative side.
“I played camogie and hockey but camogie only at school level up to Leaving Cert,” she explained, adding that her club was Glenanne Hockey Club.
Níomh’s husband, Thomas Madigan, is from Kilrush and the couple moved there in recent years.
“We’ve been coming up and down for years with the children. We had applied for planning permission and we eventually got it. We decided that instead of waiting until we retired that we’d move to Clare altogether. I’d much prefer to be here for the recession than in Dublin,” she said.
Now chairperson of Kilrush minor GAA club, Níomh became involved in the club almost as soon as the family moved to West Clare.
“I only joined the club a couple of years ago when we moved down. Obviously, word got out that I’d been involved before and they came looking for me. I wasn’t going to do it because I was going to take a while off but I couldn’t resist,” she reflected.
Níomh feels that her strengths lie in administration but she enjoys her various roles.
“I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t train a team but I can organise the getting there and have the bus ready for them. And wash the jerseys. I’m the admin girl. I wouldn’t be the coach,” she laughed.
Working part-time in a Kilrush launderette keeps the new Bord na nÓg Peil secretary occupied when she is not tied up with her GAA activities.
“Unfortunately, there’s not much work at the moment. I need to keep busy and volunteering is the way to do that. At least, I’m doing something anyway,” she noted.
Níomh cites a communal approach as the best way of running underage football in Clare.
“It’ll all be teamwork. There’s a huge number of people working very hard and also remember the delegates. They do great work as well in their own clubs. That makes it easier for people who are up at the top table if the clubs are doing the work. It will be tough, there’s no doubt about it but I’m hoping that my organisational skills will help me through it,” she said.
Níomh is confident that her years with Ballyboden St Enda’s have given her a decent grounding in GAA administration.
“It certainly will help. I was also involved at Dublin county ladies’ level and at Leinster ladies level as registrar. I know a bit of what it’s like but you still don’t know everything. There’s so much to learn and know within the GAA. I don’t think anyone knows it all except maybe Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh,” she joked.
In the event of a dispute between clubs over fixtures or any issue that may arise, Níomh believes that listening will be the key to resolving any wrangle.
“The great thing about the GAA is everybody always thinks they’re right. Both sides think they’re right even if one side is wrong. I think the key to it all is communication and giving the clubs the chance to speak and to be listened to.
“Once the club gets that chance, I think you can work on it and see what has to be done. If anyone is really wrong they know they’re wrong and are only taking a chance. If there is controversy, which I hope there won’t be, I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it. I’ll certainly give it a go anyway,” she predicted.
Níomh feels that opportunities for people to become active in the GAA are increasing because of the economic crisis. With jobless figures increasing, people have time to donate to sporting or community organisations.
“There is unfortunately, a cost to it and sometimes that might put people off. But I think people do like to get involved and the fact that there are people out of work at the moment, they have time on their hands,” Níomh suggested.
“Especially the men of the household more so maybe than the women because women always, I think, find themselves busy anyway. But if there’s men at home, being in the house all day doesn’t do anything for anybody. The lads in Kilrush are brilliant. They’re not only involved in the GAA but they’re involved in soccer as well. They really are great volunteers. It’s fantastic for the GAA that people get involved and stay involved,” Níomh maintains.
Aside from fixing underage football games and running competitions, Níomh says that she would like to have an input into the progression of under age development squads in Clare.
“I am already involved. John Enright has set up six regional divisional squads and prior to getting this post, I had been involved. They’ve all got their own little committee now and I’m involved in the one in West Clare which incorporates Kilrush, Kilkee, Killimer, Doonbeg, O’Curry’s and Naomh Eoin,” she explained.
“There’s absolutely nothing stopping all of the clubs, the games development administrators and the people at the top table from supporting development and keeping going with it. If you don’t, in 10 years’ time, you’ll have nothing,” Níomh forecast.
Work and GAA aside, Níomh presents a weekly sports programme on Radió Corca Baiscinn. She also dabbles in commentating and was part of the community stations commentary team for West Clare Gaels All-Ireland semi-final win in Doonbeg last November.
Replacing Anne Hayes, who served for 22 years as secretary will be quite a task but Níomh Madigan has the experience and communication skills to ensure a smooth transition.