Tullamore GAA clarify issues on parentage rule motion ahead of Offaly GAA Convention

TULLAMORE GAA Club have been told that their motion to amend the parish rule to allow sons play with the club of their parents is in order and will be put before the floor at Offaly GAA Convention on December 13.

Tullamore's attempt to introduce a new parentage rule has generated loads of debate in Offaly and it has been discussed at several club AGMs in recent days – it is known that a couple of bigger clubs are supporting the motion while a few smaller clubs have decided to vote against it.

Tullamore's motion needs a 60% majority to pass as it is amending an existing bye law. It was submitted after the County Board ruled that the parish rule be enforced and that a handful of sons of current or former Tullamore members living in the Cappincur area must be registered with the Cappincur club and play their underage football with the Daingean parish underage club, St Vincent's.

Tullamore have carried out a comprehensive canvass seeking support of the motion. They have written to all clubs while members have also followed up with personal contact with officers.

The motion featured prominently on the RTE Radio 1 sports show on Sunday with a 12 minute segment including interviews with Tullamore GAA vice chairman Tom Moloney; Cappincur chairman Rory Goggins and Raheen's John Hackett. Rory Goggins said they would make a decision at their AGM but Cappincur are cast iron certainties to oppose the motion while John Hackett said Raheen would be against it.

A number of concerns have been voiced to Tullamore GAA Club during their canvass and a spokesman clarified a number of points this week.

The full Tullamore motion proposes an amendment to Bye Law (6) Other Relevant Connection and that Bye Law 6 would read as follows –  

“Rule 6.3 T.O 2021 sets out the criteria considered to constitute “Other Relevant Connection” with a particular club. 

Tullamore propose that this be defined as follows-  

A person seeking to become a member of the Association shall be restricted to joining a club in the catchment area of his residence or a club to which he has “Other Relevant Connection” as defined below 

Other relevant connection – a member shall be regarded to having “Other Relevant Connection” with a catchment area if: 

It has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the CCCC that a strong family connection i.e. parents/guardians exists between the player and the club with which the players wishes to become a member. 

Application from a Member to become a member of a club outside his catchment area shall be submitted in writing to An Runai Chontae on or before January 28th of each year.  

This may affect Bye Laws 7 and 8 if approved.”

The Tullamore GAA spokesman said they have been delighted with the coverage and discussion about the motion around the county and have been taking on board the concerns expressed to them by those undecided or opposed to it.

He was particularly keen to stress that the motion only applies to a young person's first club – that they can't use the motion to transfer later on and it doesn't apply once they are first registered with a club. He stated that they wished to make the following clarifications about the motion:

“1 - The proposed motion will only impact on players who have not yet selected their first clubs - players yet to register with a club. 

“2 The motion allows two options in selecting the first club - your catchment area i.e. Parish Rule or the new option of showing 'Other relevant Connection'

“3 - This motion does not provide a mechanism for players to now change club using the 'other relevant connection'. Any players wishing to move club would use the player transfer system. 

“4 - The intention of this motion is to allow an option under the Other Relevant Connection Rule 6.3 T.O.2021 for the adoption of a ‘parentage’ option for joining a club. Families are the cornerstone of every club. The concept of a parentage rule would supplement the ‘Parish’ rule but not undermine it. There is a requirement for the applicant to show a ‘strong’ family connection supporting their application. We believe that this would benefit every club in the county and in particular clubs with depopulation issues. Tullamore GAA are sponsoring this motion to give three children an option to play with their family club where as per current rules they cannot do this due the catchment area that they live in.  

“5 - With significant issues around planning permission in the county the young people are finding it more difficult to live in their family parishes. This option would allow clubs to make formal application for the children to play with their club based on the parentage rule. 

“6 - The approval of any submission will be with the CCC who will set the standard of what will be acceptable as ‘strong family connection’.  

“7 - The wording submitted is as per the Monaghan GAA Bye Laws. Laois also have a parentage rule in operation for the last ten years.”

The parentage rule motion has been submitted during a busy time for Tullamore GAA Club. The long running dispute between them and the County Board ended on Friday night when members voted in favour of a revised lease agreement for O'Connor Park. The two sides had been at loggerheads over the terms of the lease for almost three years and at its height, termination was on the table as a live possibility.

Tullamore GAA own O'Connor Park but the County Board took out a long term lease in 2002, subsequently carrying out a multi-million euro development of it. The County Board's preferred option was to buy the ground outright but with Tullamore unwilling to sell, both went on war footing over the terms. It eventually went into legal arbitration and an agreement was eventually hammered out by both sides before it went into a full hearing. This agreement has seen terms of the lease altered. The yearly fee and payment terms are once again written in stone along with future increases while the main changes relate to Tullamore's powers with naming rights and staging of special events in O'Connor Park.

The revised agreement was unanimously approved by the County Board a couple of weeks ago and required sanction by Tullamore GAA Club. There was a wide ranging discussion on it with some members opposed to the agreement but it was eventually passed by a significant majority.