FAI 'no home for women' – Kathy Taaffe

Kathy Taaffe offered a stinging snapshot of the workings of the Football Association of Ireland in her final address as the secretary of Finn Harps.

At Sunday's annual general meeting of the Finn Harps Co-Operative Society Ltd, Taaffe said the FAI was 'no home for women'.

Following the controversial departure of John Delaney in 2019, it seemed as if the FAI was to reform.

In 2020, Mark Scanlon was appointed as the new Airtricity League Director while Jonathan Hill took over as Chief Executive in late 2020 and Ger McDermott was elevated to the Head of Grassroots position as part of the restructure.

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Taaffe vacated the secretary's post, while Lorna McHugh has left the treasurer's role after nine years.

The departing secretary hit out at the FAI.

“It feels like John Delaney mark two,” Taaffe told Sunday's AGM in Jackson's Hotel.

“There is a real lack of leadership and a lack of support and concern for clubs.

“That has been my experience – and it is certainly no home for women.”

Taaffe took over from John Campbell as Harps secretary in December 2019 having previously acted as match night coordinator.

In spite of her experience with Irish football's hierarchy, Taaffe says her time in the position was 'brilliant'.

“It was a unique experience and it was all-consuming,” she said.

Club Chairperson Ian Harkin paid tribute to both departing Directors and also acknowledged the input of Ivan Harvey, who recently stepped down from the Board. Tributes were also paid to long-serving Directors Sean Quinn and Derek Wilkinson, who left their roles earlier this year.

Presentations were paid to Taaffe and McHugh with the other six Directors – Harkin, James Rodgers, Aidan Campbell, Aidan McNelis, Tommy Keys and Ethan Lee – were re-elected.

The Harps Board will now look to co-opt new blood to fill the four vacancies.

Harps have stated an aim that 40 per cent of the Board will be made up of females in the coming years with the club working on a five-year strategic plan.

For the year ending in November, 2021, Harps recorded an operating surplus of €3,630. The previous year, largely aided by significant Covid-19 grant assistance, the club showed a surplus of €146,714.

Guild have ended their term as the club's main sponsor and won't be renewing for 2023.

In 2021, Harps' expenditure rose to €915,010 with wages and salaries accounting for €408,504 of that. The treasurer confirmed that the playing budget was increased by around €2,000 per week in 2021.

Harps dished out €39,000 on accommodation in 2021 with €40,000 on meals, travel and hotels.

A drop of €18,000 in sponsorship revenue in 2021 was put down to the Covid-19 closures with general manager Aidan Campbell indicating that the 2022 figures would show a return to expected levels.