Big surprise as Tullamore GAA withdraw Offaly parentage rule motion

TULLAMORE GAA Club have produced a major surprise by withdrawing a motion aimed at introducing a new parentage rule into Offaly GAA.

The club had sought to amend one of Offaly's longest standing bye laws, the parish rule by allowing children of parents with a strong connection to a club in another parish to play with them.

They had carried out a comprehensive canvass seeking support for the motion and outlining their reasons for it as well as clarifying their stance publically through the media.

On Monday evening, however, they dropped a bombshell by withdrawing the motion. They had been told that their motion was in order but clubs were informed on Monday evening that they were withdrawing it.

In correspondence to clubs, Tullamore confirmed that they were withdrawing the motion and thanking them for taking calls and engaging with them on the issue.

They expanded further in a statement released to the Tribune on Monday evening. Their statement said:

“Tullamore GAA have decided to withdraw their proposed motion around the parentage rule.

“The club is committed to supporting the three children who currently cannot be members of Tullamore GAA because they live outside the club catchment area. Their parents are members of Tullamore GAA and their families wish for their sons to be members of Tullamore and wear the Tullamore jersey. We feel that this can be achieved within the Official Rules and within the Ethos of the Association. Tullamore GAA want to put it on the record that the proposed parentage rule was never aimed at Tullamore GAA club taking players from other clubs. There are a significant number of players living in the Tullamore catchment and playing with their parent's club outside the catchment. As family centred club Tullamore respect that position which has been facilitated by the County Board.”

The Tullamore motion had been submitted after the County Board had been asked by Cappincur to deal with the legality of some young players living in their area. The board ruled that they could not play with Tullamore, that they must be registered with Cappincur and play their underage football with St Vincent's (the Daingean parish underage club) and that the parish rule must be enforced.

Announcing their intention to submit the motion a few weeks ago, club chairman Paul Dillane had estimated that there are at least 28 players born and living in Tullamore but playing with clubs outside the parish while they stressed that they were not trying to take players from other clubs – but wanted to facilitate the children of parents who had a strong connection with them and had played with them.

Tullamore have repeated this general thrust in their statement this evening while they have said they believe the three children at the centre of their motion can play with them under the “rules and ethos” of the association.

Tullamore will be exploring avenues relating to this in the coming weeks but will abide by the rules of the GAA and Offaly.

In their statement, they have also stated that players living in Tullamore and playing illegally with other clubs has been “faciltated by the County Board”.

Their motion had received a mixed response in the county. While a couple of big clubs and others had backed it – clubs with similar issues to Tullamore -, several small to medium clubs had taken decisions to oppose it. There was also a lot of confusion surrounding it and what it would entail, even though Tullamore had explained their position clearly and their motion was fairly clearcut.

However, in recent days it had become clear that their motion was almost certain not to receive the 60% majority it would need to pass and they have withdrawn it in the wake of all this. Several clubs have held AGMs in recent weeks, discussing their stance at these and as word of decisions emerged, it was evident that an uphill battle was growing steeper by the day. However, they have pledged to continue to support the three children and their families at the centre of the motion and to explore all options to allow them to play with Tullamore.

The full Tullamore motion proposed 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.”