Big shake up in paid Offaly GAA personnel
A FAIRLY big shake up in the paid Offaly GAA coaching and administrative staff is ongoing. Chairman Michael Duignan told a meeting of the County Board on Tuesday night that it is hoped to have all positions filled in the coming weeks and some of them have been advertised.
The big surprise is the departure of the Head of Operations, Damien Coleman just a few months into his role. The Head of Operations is the key paid role in the Offaly GAA County Board and the Galway man had only been announced in December, after a prolonged search for a successor to Tullamore GAA member, Tom Moloney – Coleman had worked as for Connacht GAA as a Sports Development Manager (Provincial Hurling Director), and Galway Games Manager over a 28 year period. These roles covered national, provincial and county personnel and projects management, strategies and operations.
Michael Duignan told clubs on Tuesday evening that Coleman had been appointed on a twelve month contract but they were aware that he had other options and his term could be shorter. The Head of Operations job was advertised recently.
The Offaly GAA Games Manager, Michael Cleary is also leaving to take up a job with the Civil Service. Games Manager oversees the Offaly coaching and games programme and Cleary is being replaced by St Rynagh's club man Adrian Clancy.
Adrian Clancy was formerly a full time Games Promotion Officer for Birr, Drumcullen and Seir Kieran GAA Clubs and Mr Duignan revealed that there is other movement in GPOs with positions to be filled.
A Shannon Harbour man, Gary Flannery has been appointed as Offaly GAA Head of Performance. He has previously filled this role with Roscommon GAA and he is a sports scientist and strength and conditioning specialist – he is a committed endurance athlete himself, having completed two ironmen triathlons and several marathons. He has been with Roscommon GAA since 2020 and has also been a running coach in Athlone, among other roles.
Mr Duignan stated that Flannery has a “fantastic CV” and he noted that he had already done work on a voluntary basis with development squads and the Offaly minor footballers before officially taking up his role.
An Offaly GAA strength and conditioning coach, Conal Mahon has left to work with Olympic athletes in the USA. The Tullamore man has won widespread praise for his work with Offaly development squads and underage teams in recent years and he was involved with the Offaly side that won the All-Ireland U-20 Football Championship in 2021. Mr Duignan hoped that he would resume his work with Offaly GAA when he returns from the USA.
The other position to be filled is a part time administrator. This role is for 20 hours a week and the person will help out with the financial accounts and general administration – Ballinamere GAA official Carina Carroll is currently helping out in this area on a voluntary basis.
Compared to years ago when the GAA was almost a voluntary run organisation – apart from the hairy subject of payment to managers -, there is now considerable financial supports from Leinster and Central Council for paid coaching and administration staff. These roles are key for all County Boards and Offaly have a number of personnel on board.
An increase in the number of coaches and getting them into schools and clubs has been a pivotal focus of the Michael Duignan led County Board as they bid to improve football and hurling standards from a young age.