Tradition out the window as Kildare Board chairman calls for improvement

Kildare County Board's monthly, or near monthly, gatherings continued on tour last week with the February affair being held in the home of the Intermediate and Leinster champions, Allenwood, last Tuesday evening.

It was the first meeting of 2024 and so with it some new club delegates who were meeting up for the first time, along with, I hasten to add, some of the hardy souls who have been attending these meetings nearly as long as this writer.

The top table was full to the gills, all the officers in place as proceedings got under, as usual on time, under chairman Gorman.

As most of you know at this stage the chairman is not one to hang around; get in, get the business done and get out, a long way from the days that the clock would be well on its way past eleven bells in St Conleth's Park.

I think the present chairman has an aim that no matter how quick, or how short, the last meeting was his aim is to beat that next time around.

And on Tuesday in Sean Malone's club Mick Gorman came in under the 60 minutes, albeit by just two but nevertheless everything done and dusted 58 minutes.

There was a time when some delegates looked upon a county board monthly meeting as a bit of a night out, well not any more.

I have been going to these gatherings now for longer than I care to remember and, if my memory is correct, last week's proceedings was the first time a chairman, not only allowed discussion on the fortunes of the senior footballers but actually instigated the debate.

In times past if a delegate attempted to bring up such a matter the chair has always ruled that such an issue would be discussed when the league or the championship was over and not before that and certainly not after just two rounds of the Allianz Football League.

Times they are a changing.

Mr Gorman told the gathering that not only was he disappointed with the start that has seen Kildare lose their opening two games against Cavan and Fermanagh but that the “displays were not acceptable and results must improve.”

He informed delegates that he had had a long conversation with the manager, Glenn Ryan, early in the day and said he left him in ho doubt about his feelings and his disappointment both to the management and the players.

There is little doubt that the chairman has been getting an earful from Kildare fans and supporters and in fairness was only relaying the disappointment, even the anger of many out there.

There is little doubt also that Glenn, and his management team, need little reminding of the poor start. These lads have been around in all capacities for some years and are more than aware of the situation.

Rathcoffey delegate John Flood said he felt it was a healthy thing to have a discussion, he did admit that regardless there would be no changes, in his opinion, in the present set-up.

Tom Cross, never a man to mince his words also got in on the discussion posing the question “is there something being done that should not be done or is there something not being done that should be done?”

Needless to say there were no answers to Tom's queries, no answers from the top table or indeed from the general body of the meeting.

Others Items
While Allenwood Chairman Sean Malone welcomed one and all, Alan Dunney, Treasurer informed delegates that monies were tight with the ongoing redevelopment of Cedral St Conleth's Park making great progress, thus necessating the drawing down of monies as the project continues to evolve, with at this stage a surplus of some €275k on the books.

Mick Mullin, Chairman of the CCC informed delegates that a slight change to the senior and intermediate championships this year will see the groups being drawn only after the preliminary round, unlike in previous years.

Despite being told initially that it was hoped to play the SFC and the SHC on the say day, the opening day of Conleth's, it now seems that has been changed with the finals planned for separate days in late October.

The opening rounds of the Leinster club have been pushed forward to the 132 and 19 November (football and hurling) give the calendar an extra week or two.

Interesting note from Leinster Council delegate Larry Curtin who informed the meeting that Galway, who now of course play their senior hurling in Leinster are looking for a contribution from the Leinster Council like the rest of the Leinster counties.
That suggestion did not go down particularly well with the Leinster Council but a final decision will be made later in the year.
The new Irish Officer, Milltown's Paul O'Delahunty is on the look out for more participation from clubs in the Scór competitions.

Health & Safety
Niall Sheridan, Health & Safety Officer, now in his third year, had a few delegates getting somewhat hot under their collective collars when he informed one and all that every event — that is an event outside of the regular GAA events — from First Communion or Confirmation gatherings, Field Days, etc, etc that the section that deals with insurance in Croke must be informed prior to the event taking place.

Niall added that if an event is held and Croke Park is not informed before it gets under way then there is no insurance cover.
And even more worrying Mr Sheridan said that that that has been the way since he took up his position as Safety and Facilities Officer and while he did say he would get back to Croke Park on the matter, he certainly was not suggesting there would be any change in that particular policy.

Sean Malone said he felt the whole thing was “really ridiculous” adding that “rural clubs in particular are all part of the community and this would make life very difficult.”

The chairman said that incoming President Jarlath Burns was a recent visitor to see the progress of St Conleth's Park and said he felt the incoming president would be very supportive of the development.

St Conleth's Park update
As for the progress of the redevelopment the next major step is the tendering progress for the seeding of the pitch which will be sought in the coming weeks.

The chair also reminded delegates that while the minor football league is about to get under way players who are part of the county minor panel will only be released at the discretion of the county minor manager.

A statement that did not go down too well as the meeting came to a close and delegates headed back to their respective clubs throughout the county.