Female elected to top table at GAA convention

History and longevity were high on the agenda at the Meath Co Committee convention at Simonstown on Sunday as delegates elected a woman as an officer of the board for the first time. Popular Dunshaughlin official Mairead Delaney took the position of Development Officer, which was vacated by Enda Smith who was successful in his bid for the position of vice-chairman. Delaney had to win a vote as she was opposed by Richard Harrahill from nearby Dunsany. Delaney is a vastly experienced official who previously was a member of the management committee and is currently the secretary of Dunshaughlin GAA club. Delaney secured the position of Development Officer and her place in local GAA history when she defeated Harrahill by 108-39. In making her speech, Delaney thanked all those who had voted for her. She said that she was the first female to achieve this feat 90 years to the day since Countess Markievicz was first elected to the Dail. The Dunshaughlin official also said that she had a difficult act following Smith who had occupied the position with great efficiency for the previous four years. Barney Allen retained his position and embarked on his 32nd year as an officer of the Meath Co Committee when he was re-elected chairman for a second term. The vast majority of the delegates who made their way to Simonstown gave Allen the green light to continue for a second year in the position with a whopping 46-vote majority over his only rival Brendan Dempsey. Allen"s popularity in Meath GAA circles was underlined with his 108 to 62 victory. Those who predicted that the race would be close or that even Dempsey might achieve a win were proved off the mark with the controversy stirred up during the protracted search for a new manager causing only minimal damage to his efforts to be re-elected. The previous year Allen had succeeded Dempsey with a vote of 107 to 70. Allen accepted that there was a 'blip' in the process to find a new senior team manager to replace Colm Coyle. He felt that the delay in finding the new man was less harmful than was painted in sections of the local press. He said that he had been attending conventions since 1964 and that he was delighted and honoured to be elected to the position of chairman for a second term. Enda Smith won the race for the position of vice-chairman. The vote proved one of the most competitive of the day and had to go to two counts with Richard Harrahill and Peter O"Halloran eliminated in the first count, leaving Smith and Tommy Mulvaney to fight it out for the post. Smith won by 84 to 71. Smith provoked the biggest response of the day when he said that he hasn"t always 'seen eye to eye' with Allen in the past, but he felt confident that they would work very well together in the coming year. Cyril Creavin, Francis Flynn, Colm Gannon, Brendan Cummins, Brian Carberry and Pat Clerkin were re-elected unopposed to the positions of secretary, assistant-secretary, assistant-treasurer, PRO, coaching officer and treasurer respectively. Michael Gallagher edged out Harrahill for the position of Irish officer by 89 to 48. There was some compensation for Dempsey when he was elected as Central Council delegate, defeating Fintan Ginnity, 83-66. Cathal Seoighe was ineligible due to the five-year rule to go forward again for the position of vice-chairman. He ensured he would be involved again, as he was elected to the position of Leinster Council delegate, at the expense of Kiltale"s Paddy Kelly, along with Dunshaughlin"s Paddy O"Dwyer who was re-elected. Seoighe picked up 100 votes with O"Dwyer attracting 82 with Kelly and Ultan Fitzpatrick losing out. Outgoing youth officer Peter O"Halloran held onto his position in the last issue of the day to be decided when he defeated Bea O"Reilly by 74-56. Well known referee and Dunshaughlin official Jim Smith said that the election of Delaney, O"Dwyer and Creavin made it a proud day for his club with three prominent positions on the executive now filled by club members. Meath Co Committee: chairman - Barney Allen (Rathkenny); vice-chairman - Enda Smith (Blackhall Gaels); secretary - Cyril Creavin (Dunshaughlin); assistant-secretary - Francis Flynn (Seneschalstown); treasurer - Pat Clerkin (Clann na nGael); assistant-treasurer - Colm Gannon (Summerhill); Central Council delegate - Brendan Dempsey (Trim); Leinster Council delegates - Cathal Seoighe (Clann na nGael), Paddy O"Dwyer (Dunshaughlin); PRO - Brendan Cummins (Dunsany); development officer - Mairead Delaney (Dunshaughlin); Irish officer - Michael Gallagher (Drumconrath); youth officer - Peter O"Halloran (Drumconrath); coaching officer - Brian Carberry (St Vincent"s).