Green light for Pearse Stadium to host future rugby World Cup ties

CIARAN TIERNEY

A motion which will allow the use of Pearse Stadium for a Rugby World Cup bid in 11 years time and the first ever election of a female officer were the two most newsworthy outcomes from a low key GAA County Board Annual Convention at the Claregalway Hotel on Monday night.

It was an historic occasion for Mary Judge of the Caherlistrane club, who was elected unopposed as Development Officer during a night in which there were no contests for positions on the board.

Delegates attending the three and a half hour convention gave unanimous backing to a motion from the Salthill-Knocknacarra club which will make selected GAA grounds, including the Salthill facility, available for a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

“This is a motion which we discussed extensively at our club AGM,” said Salthill-Knocknacarra representative David Burke. “It is our view that the GAA can hold out the hand of friendship to boost not only the local but the national economy.

“I am proud of the GAA and our games. I believe that our games will go from strength to strength, particularly here in Galway.”

The motion was seconded by Oliver Crowe of Liam Mellows, and was passed unopposed. Salthill also called for two sponsors to be allowed on county team jerseys, a matter which County Chairman Noel Treacy said should be left with the Management Committee for consideration.

A third motion by the Salthill club, that the U-21 club football championship should be played in the Autumn, was not adopted but instead forwarded to the Galway CCC (Central Controls Committee) for consideration.

Skehana proposed that no more than one team per year should be allowed drop from Intermediate to Junior A, following concerns that the relegation of four teams in 2011 had made the lower grade unbelievably competitive this year.

This was also forwarded to the CCC for consideration, while a Dunmore McHales call for a new competition for over 40s was sent forward to the county’s Management Committee.

Gort called for the completion of the senior and intermediate hurling championships by the second Sunday in October, although club delegate Dermot Flaherty admitted there had been unprecedented delays this year due to Galway’s participation in a drawn All-Ireland final. This proposal was also forwarded as a recommendation to the CCC.

Mary Judge’s election as Development Officer was heralded by Chairman Noel Treacy as an historic moment for Galway GAA, on a night in which there were no contests for any of the positions on the Board.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.