Conleth's rebuild and finances dominate the agenda at Kildare GAA convention

Maybe it's an age thing.

But it's not the same.

Then again I suppose nothing is.

There was a time it took up practically an entire Sunday.

The venue was (mostly) The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge.

It began with Mass around 9 am before proceedings got under way.

Broke for dinner — a Christmas dinner at that.

Would not have been unusual to see a pint or two being downed.

Regrouped for a few more hours before breaking up; everything done and dusted for another year, as all looked forward to Christmas in a few weeks time.

Not to mention a new season just around the corner.

The occasion?

The Annual Kildare GAA Convention.

Boy, or (I suppose to be politically correct in these mad times we live in) girl, how times have changed.

On Wednesday evening proceedings got under way at 7.30 and closed with all business finished by the 9 o'clock news time.

A bit longer than expected would you believe.

Main items included an update on Cedral St Conleth's Park; the financial statement; the chairman's address with just one vote, that for the position of Leinster Council Delegate for 2024. Three delegates nominated for two places.

The meeting got under way with a presentation from Padraig McManus who has spearheaded the re-development of Cedral St Conleth's Park for the last number of years.

And the news was positive.

Very positive.

It began with a video showing the work as it got under way back in March; up to relatively recently.

Over the past number of weeks the roof of the new stand has become visible from the Main Street and just last week the flood lights have appeared.

Mr McManus informed the delegates that overall the work is well ahead of schedule and with no set-backs should be completed on time.

Work on the pitch will commence once the work that involves the use of heavy machinery is completed. The final work in this regard is, completing the roof and cladding etc; the seating will then be put in place and once that is done work on the pitch can commence.

A 20m strip, along the stand side of the pitch, has had to be used to accommodate the heavy machinery and that is the reason work will not commence until that strip of ground is no longer required.

Mr. McManus said that they (over-seeing committee) had received advice as to the pitch and were strongly advised not to start work on it until they had that strip reclaimed.

So all going well it is hoped to have the pitch re-seeded, at the latest, May 1st 2024 and if that is completed, as expected, the strong likelihood is that the pitch will be ready for the 2024 county football and hurling finals in October.

Mr McManus warned that if those two county finals are not played in October, then the likelihood is that the Allianz Football and Hurling finals, will not be played there commencing on January 2025. However, he emphasised that they were confident all the work, including the pitch, will be ready as expected come October 2024.

As regards funding, Mr McManus said all funding is in place, including the addition grant from the government announced last week, bringing the State's input to €6m. The County Board will be putting in €2 million they have accrued over the past few years; they will also be borrowing some €2.5m with Croke Park, Leinster Council and the IIP scheme bringing up the total package to some €16 m, which is the expected final cost of the entire project.

Needless to say all that news was well received by delegates.

So much in fact that there was not one question from the floor of the meeting.

FINANCE

Treasurer, Alan Dunney, informed delegates that the accounts were in a very satisfactory place and while there have been some falls on the income side of the balance sheet, he emphasised these were all expected and were budgeted for.

As expected income from gate receipts were down, due to the closure of St Conleth's Park and in particular due to the fact that

Kildare operated in Division 2 of the AFL in 2023, as distinct from Division 1 the previous year.

Overall the operating surplus came in at €579,659 (down from €1,083,781); leaving a surplus for the year at €370,756.

Income from Club Kildare came in at a total of €393,314; up some €70k; with the membership up €20k to €131,389 giving a operating surplus of €363,928 which shows an increase of €63k.

Schedule 6 of Financial Statement gives Match expenses (which includes medals, ticketing, referee expenses, Red Cross, Order of Malta; other match day expenses and programme costs at €157,519 (down €8k).

Schedule 8 covers team expenses, an item that includes catering, players travelling expenses, team expenses, buses and accommodation, sports gear, equipment and laundry; physical training and medical expenses comes in at €882,127 which is up some €50k on 2022.

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

Chairman, Mick Gorman, returned unopposed for this his fifth and final year in the hot seat, covered all games, both club and county, commenting on the various competitions which included complimenting the U20 footballers winning Leinster and All-Ireland honours; the county hurlers making it to the Division 2A final, while also commenting his disappointment of how the season went overall for the senior footballers and the hurlers who lost their McDonagh Cup status after a great run in the League.

Mr Gorman said there had been a deep review of the senior football performance; welcomed the addition of two new coaches to the set-up while saying “a big improvement needed in 2023.”

One aspect of the chairman's address concerned the lack of referees and he warned clubs, as was mentioned at the last county board meeting, that clubs who do not provide at least one referee will be penalised come 2024, possibly losing home venue for league games, but this will be revealed in the new year once the Management Committee and the CCC have finalised the proposal.

It was stated that throughout 2023 some €1m had been spent on Manguard Park; €200,000 has already been set-aside for more improvement for the coming year with the chairman emphasising that “Manguard Park is a vital cog in the development of GAA in Kildare.”

The Chairman congratulated Kildare Ladies on their league promotion; their Leinster and All-Ireland success.

Secretary Christine Murray, in this her third year in that role, produced a very comprehensive report of the entire season covering every adult competition in both football and hurling club and county.

MOTIONS

Overall there nine motions on the clár, all were classified as 'recommendations' by the CCC and will be discussed by the Management Committee early in the New Year.

The motions were submitted by Athy, Confey, Castlemitchell and Cappagh and included topics such as signage in St Conleth's Park as gaeilge (except commercial); a call for an U21 competition; a call for an U17 competition; a suggestion that U17 players should be allowed to play at U23 level; another motion suggestion that another look be take at the U23 club championship; a Player Charter be introduced for county U20 and U17 three motions concerning under-

age competitions. As said all will be considered in the New Year by the Management.

ELECTION

There was just one election throughout the evening and that was for the position of Leinster Delegates (x2).

Three nominations for two positions that included Larry Curtin (outgoing) along with Séamus Ó Midheach and Patria Dobbin; 2023 Leinster delegate Mick Mullen's five year term was up.

Larry Curtin received 57 votes; Séamus Ó Midheach 28 and Patria Dobbin 26; the quota was 38 so Larry Curtin was elected and when his surplus was distributed it saw Ó Midheach go to 38 with Dobbins to 35 resulting in the two Leinster Delegates for 2024 being Larry Curtin and Séamus Ó Midheach.

CONCLUSION

A presentation was made to Patria Dobbins whose five year stint as Development Officer came to an end.

Convention ended with the chairman wishing everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Kildare GAA election of Officers for 2024

CHAIRMAN:

Mick Gorman St Laurence's (outgoing, unopposed);

Vice-Chairman:

Colm Farrell, Johnstownbridge (outgoing, unopposed);

Secretary:

Christine Murray, Moorefield (outgoing, unopposed);

Treasurer:

Alan Dunney, Caragh (outgoing, unopposed);

PRO:

Lorraine Wolfe, Naas (outgoing, unopposed);

Coaching Officer:

Eamonn Costello, Kilcock (unopposed);

Irish Officer:

Paul O'Delahunty, Milltown (unopposed);

Leinster Council Delegates:

Larry Curtin, Rathangan (outgoing); Séamus Ó Midheach, Ardclough.

Central Council Delegates:

Ger Donnelly, Castlemitchell (outgoing, unopposed).