Neglect of the Mid-West

“THE Mid-West is being neglected when it comes to new initiatives for employment and we only have to look at Shannon Airport and the industrial areas and how they are being allowed to be run down. This is certainly not good for the region and a major co-ordinated drive is needed before it is too late.”
So said Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill, when he addressed delegates at the annual convention of the organisation at the Auburn Lodge Hotel last Thursday night.
“Finding employment for our members is proving more and more difficult,” he said. “We will all work with the relevant bodies in the county to ensure we can provide employment for our members.”
“The Mid-West seems to have been neglected for whatever reason and maybe a lot of investments are geared more towards the east of the country, which is to the detriment of the West of Ireland and here in the Mid-West in particular,” he added.
“Since we gathered for last year’s convention, much has changed unfortunately for the worst, in the world we live in. While it is vitally important not to get caught up in it all, we must not ignore the major effect it is having on our members and society in general,” the chairman told the gathering.
“As an organisation, there is only a certain amount we can do to alleviate the genuine hardships our members are facing throughout the country. The GAA has built a massive infrastructure in every town and village thanks to the hard work every genuine member of the association has put in and we need this work to continue now more than ever in order for people to have an opportunity to contribute in their local communities,” according to the chairman who went on to appeal for more volunteers, urging people to get involved in their local clubs.
“Now is the time to get back working in our communities as it is never more needed. I can’t emphasise enough the need for people to get involved with their clubs. There is great credit due to all who work so hard in a voluntary capacity to keep the GAA such a vibrant organisation within our communities,” he added
On finance, O’Neill said, “Despite the fact that we are in extremely difficult times, I have to compliment the prudent way our finances are dealt with. It is getting more difficult to secure finance and we will certainly feel the effects of this more so into the future. Treasurer Bernard Keane has just given you an extremely accurate account of our finances. It is very intricate. It is an audited account and what is expected by Croke Park, who expect us to look for that from clubs as well. Some clubs do provide their accounts to us. We don’t push clubs, as we know they are under a lot of pressure at the minute as well,” he said. 
“Our audit committee, under the stewardship of Michael Curtin, have worked extremely hard to ensure our revenue is well supervised.”
On the question of fixtures and a games programme for the clubs of the county, the chairman said, “Our fixtures and games structure is currently under review by thecommittee, which was set up in November. All clubs have been given the opportunity to contribute their views and some hard decisions will have to be made when they present their findings and recommendations at a special convention in January. It is only fitting that we have a special convention to discuss their report and motions.
“Dual players and dual clubs create a lot of problems fixtures wise,” the chairman added. Since I got involved in fixtures, there are more dual players and more dual clubs which is good for the association. I am not against that but it does create problems when it comes to making fixtures.”
Turning to the performance of the county teams, O’Neill said, “Putting minor titles back to back created its own bit of history and gives an indication of what talent is in the county at present, while also giving an indication of the talent coming through the underage system.
“Our intermediate team made history by winning the first ever title at this level, a great achievement by all involved,” he said
He added that while the U-21 hurlers put up a good performance in Munster, “We were a bit disappointed they didn’t go further given the success we had in the previous two years. We lost to what proved to be a great Limerick team, which went on to win the Munster title after a thrilling final against Cork.”
The Ballyea man added, “Our minor, U-21 and junior football teams competed well in their respective competitions during the season. The work is being put in by players and management and this will, I have no doubt, be rewarded sooner rather than later. We need to get out of Division 4 in the football and have a good run in the championship. We were unfortunate in Cusack Park in the qualifiers to lose to Down.”
According to the chairman, the recent Bord na nÓg Peil forum “came up with some excellent suggestions, which were raised at the Bord na nÓg convention. In conjunction with the forum committee, Bord na nÓg Peil, the Clare football supporters’ group and the county board we will go through each of the recommendations, item by item, early in the new year.”
“Our senior teams and management are striving to get back up the pecking order in both hurling and football and patience is needed for this to happen. I firmly believe the talent is in the county to challenge for titles in the not too distant future.”
On coaching and games, O’Neill said the committee under Sean Chaplin and Eamonn Fennessy had “an excellent schedule and quite an amount of money has been spent and there is quite a lot of voluntary work going on as well”. He encouraged more of the voluntary work at underage level in the clubs. “I think we are falling down a little in some clubs when it comes to coaching football and hurling and more work is needed in that area.”
He then paid tribute to the work of Sean O’Halloran and his committee for their work, paying particular tribute to Bodyke man, O’Halloran. He also paid special tribute to the full-time coaches in the county for their work.
On the issue of facilities, the chairman said, “Cusack Park needs to be upgraded as we can afford it. We are living in a very difficult time at the minute and when that will change nobody knows. Work on the development at Caherlohan is ongoing and phase two will be starting in the new year. Obviously, ongoing maintenance will be a major cost when we have all these facilities. If we don’t carry out maintenance, our facilities will deteriorate. There is a major cost involved in that,” he said.
The chairman, who pointed out that 2012 will be his final year in the position, congratulated the winners of the various titles and all who took part in competitions run by the board. He praised Crusheen, who won senior titles back to back Clare and represented well in Munster and also Kilmurry-Ibrickane “who recaptured the Jack Daly and proved very unlucky in the Munster championship”. He added, “It was nice to see Éire Óg coming back up to senior in hurling and to see my own club Clondegad, finally gain senior status in football”.
O’Neill also paid tribute to all who work hard in a voluntary capacity and keep the GAA such a vibrant organisation within communities. “We must continue to work together to have a vibrant association. We won’t always agree on everything but we will not be applying blame, as it achieves nothing positive,” he said.
Before concluding he acknowledged all who helped the board during the year.