Former GAA president John Horan has been announced as the new chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration, replacing Dr Mary McAleese who recently stepped down from the role. GAA president Jarlath Burns said last week that he believes the former President of Ireland resigned as chairperson of the integration steering group because the deadline was going to be missed.
At an Oireachtas Committee meeting last week Burns said: “I think Mrs McAleese resigned because she was very adamant that we were going to reach every deadline that we had. And that once she realised that we were going to miss the first deadline, I think she decided then that she wanted to walk away from the process, which was very disappointing for us, and we regret that deeply. But we are still very much committed to integration. And it is up to us to make it happen, but we will make it happen in a way that our members are comfortable with and we’re going for it.” I think it became clear to most officials in the GAA in recent months, prior to McAleese’s resignation, that the deadline of April 2027 set by the Steering Group was not going to be met.
Answering a question from a Committee member GAA Director General Tom Ryan said: ‘‘This is a huge undertaking. This is the biggest thing that our organization has done since its inception 140 years ago. At Congress next year we will set out what needs to happen and when it needs to happen. I think this is a process that will take a number of years.’’
WEEKEND GAA
A busy weekend around the country with 12 finals in hurling and football. In hurling Inagh-Kilnamona secured their first Clare county title win since amalgamating in 2008, beating Kilmaley 2-18 to 1-14 in Ennis. In Tipperary Thurles Sarsfields clocked up their 37th win with an eight-point margin over Moycarkey-Borris. Former Tipp star Padraic Maher, who was captain when Thurles last won the Dan Breen Cup nine years ago, was manager this time. In football An Tochar from Roundwood won the Wicklow final for the first time since 1995, beating Blessington in Aughrim. |Clonduff won their first Down final in 26 years, beating Burren in the final in Newry. Tullamore beat Ferbane in the Offaly final for the fourth year in-a-row and Portarlington won the Laois final for the sixth time in seven year, beating Courtwood in O’Moore Park.
Westmeath SFC final
The Downs 1-18 St Loman's 0-20, TEG Cusack Park
Wicklow SFC final
An Tóchar 0-21 Blessington 1-7, Echelon Park
Meath SHC final
Kilmessan 0-22 Kiltale 0-15, St Loman’s Park, Trim
Roscommon SHC final
Four Roads 1-14 St Dominic’s 2-10, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park
Leitrim SFC final
Ballinamore SOH 1-14 Fenagh St Caillins 2-11, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada
Sligo SFC final
St Mary’s 1-12 Shamrock Gaels 1-10, Markievicz Park
Laois SFC final
Portarlington 1-19 Courtwood 0-8, O’Moore Park
Offaly SFC final
Tullamore 2-16 Ferbane 1-13, Glenisk O’Connor Park
Down SFC final
Clonduff 1-14 Burren 1-10, Páirc Esler
Longford SFC final
Clonguish 1-20 Killoe Young Emmets 1-6, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
Tipperary SHC final
Thurles Sarsfields 1-19 Moycarkey-Borris 1-11, FBD Semple Stadium
Clare SHC final
Inagh-Kilnamona 2-18 Kilmaley 1-14, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg
