The battle for positions in the Mayo GAA executive has taken shape following the release of the full list of candidates for positions, ahead of the convention which will take place on Sunday, December 15 in Belmullet.
The list of nominees shows that the position of chairperson will be contested by current vice-chairperson, Seamus Tuohy from Breaffy and the outgoing coaching officer, Liam Moffatt, from Crossmolina Deel Rovers.
It had been expected that the position of vice-chairperson would be contested by the current Mayo GAA Bord na nOg chairman, Con Moynihan from Ballaghaderreen and the current PRO Paul Cunnane from Davitts. Cunnane had let his name go forward for the position, but opted to withdraw from the race for that position and will contest for the retention of the role of PRO, which he has held for the last four years, against Ballycroy club man Michael Gallagher.
Gallagher had been excluded from the race a few weeks ago, but the county board have allowed his nomination to proceed to convention. In a statement released this week Gallagher said, "On behalf of my family and I, I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to give me the opportunity to re-enter the race to be Mayo GAA PRO.
"It hasn’t been an easy nine days, but the support of clubs and the general public throughout Mayo and beyond has been nothing short of inspirational. I want to sincerely thank my club, Ballycroy GAA, who never deviated from the right road and went to great lengths to bring about a fair outcome to this saga. The professional and fair-minded way in which they worked over the past week will never leave me.
"I also want to say how much I appreciate the response of Mayo GAA to the situation. At a very difficult juncture in time, they worked with Ballycroy GAA to bring the matter to a close. I now find myself in a very disadvantaged position having lost nine days of campaigning, but will move forward positively and with great endeavour in the very best interests of Mayo GAA and everyone involved in our association."
There is nobody contesting for the position of secretary against outgoing office holder, Dermot Butler, while there is also only one nomination for the role of treasurer and assistant secretary, with Valerie Murphy from Charlestown nominated for that position and Castlebar Mitchels' Micheal Diskin, in for the assistant treasurer role.
Former county board chairperson, Paddy McNicholas, is the only nominee for the central council delegate while there will be four people looking for the position of Connact Council delegates, with former county board secretary Vincent Neary from Bonniconlon and Ger McHugh from Hollymount-Carramore, John Hopkins from The Neale and Ardnaree Sarsfileds' Johnnie O'Malley all in the race for those positions.
Ballintubber's Sean Feeney is the sole nominee for the position as county board president, having been nominated by his club Ballintubber and the West Mayo divisional board.
GAA top brass look to meet with O'Leary
Following on from the meeting of members of the Mayo GAA executive with the top brass from Croke Park last week, it has emerged that the GAA's top officials have offered to meet with Tim O'Leary from the Mayo GAA International Supporters Foundation, in an attempt to bring to a conclusion the current stand-off between the board and the foundation over funds raised by the foundation.
