Devaney elected as new chairman of Down GAA

Devaney elected as new chairman of Down GAA

18 December 2019

DOWN GAA elected a new chairman at the annual convention in Newry last Wednesday evening.  Bredagh’s John Devaney becomes the 31st holder of the county’s main position, having been selected unopposed to succeed Mayobridge man Sean Rooney.

In his first address to delegates, Mr Devaney  outlined a strategic vision for the association in the county and a number of areas of focus for his term of office.  

The key priorities will be the proposed Centre of Excellence, the development of a new coaching plan, recruitment of referees, and a programme to encourage and nurture new and young administrators.

Following his election, Devaney said: “The Ballykinlar Centre of Excellence is clearly the single biggest project that we will have undertaken, and will take time and resource to bring to fruition.   

“We have set out our intention and we are determined that it will happen, because it is a fantastic opportunity for the county. But it is only the only project.  

“There is quite a lot we can achieve in other areas, on and off the fields of play. Coaching, refereeing, administration, club development and fundraising will also require our attention,” he added.

“And we also want to have the ambition for our teams to reach their potential and challenge for honours. So, the future has real potential for us, but it will require a lot of support, goodwill and a unity of purpose across the county.”    

A native of Killoe in Co Longford, Devaney has been an officer with Down GAA since 2005. He is a former chairman of the Queen’s University GAA club and the Higher Education GAA Council, and has served on Ulster Council Management Committee and Central Council.  

Further details on the proposed new Centre of Excellence at Ballykinlar were outlined at Wednesday’s meeting.  

Planning permission for the development was submitted earlier last week and the early concept designs of the complex were presented to club delegates. The site at the Ministry of Defence base will encompass four pitches, a MUGA and an administration and exhibition/museum centre.  Down GAA will now plan to appoint a Project Board in the New Year.

Maureen O’Higgins (Liatroim) was elected as the new vice-chairperson of the board, on an evening when a number of officerships changed hands.  

Outgoing chairman Sean Rooney was selected to represent the county on the Ulster Council alongside Sean McCashin. Donal McNally (Glenn) will assume the position of Irish and Cultural Officer, while Drumgath’s Michael McArdle is the new delegate to Central Council.  

As a result of disciplined financial management in recent years, the presentation of the financial report by treasurer Diarmuid Cahill showed a strong position for the county moving forward.

Fourteen motions on the convention agenda were all approved, including ten proposals to go forward to the GAA Congress in Dublin at the end of February.  These include: points deduction as a penalty option for a breach of the rule on ‘misconduct considered to have discredited the association; removing the rule which allows a newly-transferred player to finish playing in a competition he had started with his former club; a 12 month hiatus on a further transfer for a player after his transfer has been granted; adult inter-club championship games to be extended to 35 minutes per half.

Convention also approved a proposal for the GAA to engage with RTÉ on extending their TV competition provisions to allow entry from viewers in Northern Ireland.

Officers elected at the 2019 annual convention: chairman, John Devaney (Bredagh); vice-chairperson, Maureen O’Higgins (Liatroim); secretary: Seán Óg McAteer; treasurer, Diarmuid Cahill (An Ríocht); assistant secretary, Michael O’Rourke (An Ríocht); assistant treasurer, Brendan Fitzpatrick (Bryansford); PRO, Fiona Murphy (Glenn); Development Officer, Willie Gribben (Clann na Banna); Irish and Culture Officer, Donal McNally (Glenn); Central Council delegate, Michael McArdle (Drumgath); Ulster Council delegates, Sean Rooney (Mayobridge) and Sean McCashin (Ballykinlar).