Donegal GAA Convention votes to relax 'Parish Rule'

Donegal GAA's annual Convention took a particularly significant vote on Wednesday night which will relax the so-called Parish Rule and permit first time members to play for a club outside their area of residence.

The Glenfin club proposed that players – children, predominantly – registering with the GAA for the first time should be allowed to join their father or mother’s home club.

Club chairman Paddy Doherty said falling population in the Glenfin parish and the reducing number of children attending local primary schools was an existential issue which could jeopardise the very survival of his club and others in similar circumstances across the county.

He said a relaxed eligibility rule for children would give clubs a better chance to survive into the future.

The Red Hugh’s club has submitted a similar motion, but withdrew theirs in order to support Glenfin's.

Mac Cumhaill’s club delegate Alan Martin argued that the Glenfin motion should be withdrawn and not decided upon by Convention until Donegal County Committee approved club boundaries. A report on club boundaries has been knocking around since before the pandemic, but has not been approved by the County Committee.

Glenfin rejected the call to withdraw the motion, and Cathaoirleach Mary Coughlan said its validity had been approved by the GAA's Rule Advisory Committee, and the vote proceeded with paper ballots being cast rather than with a show of hands.

Read more: Donegal demographics officer outlines plight of rural clubs in report to Convention

This ‘relevant connection’ rule has been voted down repeatedly at County Conventions over the past decade and more, but on this occasion it secured just enough support to pass. The proposal received 101 votes in favour, 63 against, with five abstentions - landing precisely on the 60% threshold required.

The new bye-law means a child can be registered with a club if either parent was previously a member of that club, or if that parent previously resided there permanently.

The issue of eligibility and the long-term sustainability of clubs has been a hot topic within the GAA in recent times.

A national demographics report published by Croke Park last week raised alarm bells, noting that falling birth rates and population drift towards the east coast mean the Association’s rules and competition structures will require amendment if the rural decline - which has already decimated many communities, including previously thriving towns and villages - is not to threaten the future of GAA clubs too.