OFF THE BALL (COLUMN)

The Flynn Legacy and the Jason connection

It would be inaccurate to describe it as an exciting and action-packed two hours.

The Meath GAA annual convention last week was a new experience for everyone who participated with award-winning PRO Ciaran Flynn playing a crucial role.

The Flynn Legacy might be stretching as it is a bit more slow-paced that its Bourne counterpart.

There could very well be a sequel or two in the form of the Flynn Ultimatum, the Flynn Supremacy or just plain and simple - Ciaran Flynn.

Some 37 years earlier the Flynn Experience arrived at the Co Board.

Francis Flynn was elected to Meath Co Board back in 1983, Pairc Tailteann hadn't even experienced its most recent redevelopment.

Fast forward through five decades and many annual conventions to last week's inaugural online Meath GAA offering.

Despite the fact that I struggled, at times, to keep up with the agenda and to produce the incisive reporting that Meath Chronicle readers expect, the 2020 digital convention was a success.

The business of the convention was conducted in an efficient manner. The presentation was a bit of the stop-start variety, with the occasional instruction issued "unmute yourself" - "press your unmute button" or if all else failed "give a thumbs up signal" but those glitches will be resolved.

There were a number of votes required to fill positions with the outgoing assistant-treasurer Francis Flynn unsuccessful in his bid to retain his role.

Nobber's Gene Smith was first past the post in that particular race.

It was the end of an era for Franis Flynn who has served for almost 40 years in various roles on the Co Board.

There was almost a sense of relief when he delivered the customary speech of the defeated officer.

"Not before time" were the words uttered by Francis Flynn.

But the Flynn family connection will be maintained through Ciaran Flynn, son of Francis.

Ciaran is very much the 'new kid on the block' to throw out the name of an almost forgotten 1980s boy band (New Kids On The Block) - Brian Kelly could be similarly classified after he stormed home in the three-horse race for the role of assistant-secretary.

I'm not suggesting that Brian Kelly or Brendan Cummins (runner-up) or Peter O'Halloran (third or last - whichever slant you want to put on it) are horses, it's just a form of terminology.

It would probably be safer to use a different term (three-person-race - couldn't use three-man-race as that might offend the non-men) so probably just as well to stick with the horses.

I should really throw in a 'cupla focail' at this stage as an early legacy of the Flynn contribution is an ability to 'caint as Gaelige' over the public address at Pairc Tailteann, but to his credit he usually follows that 'as Bearla' for the benefit of the non-bi-lingualists, particularly those in the media centre on any given matchday.

Ciaran Flynn has played a huge part in dragging Meath Co Board into the digital arena.

At last week's convention he was credited as the driving force behind the streaming of games this year via Meath GAA TV.

The onset of Meath GAA TV had its origins in a desire by the Co Board PRO to take Meath GAA firmly into the digital age.

At monthly Co Board meetings (remember them) the report from the PRO would lead off with an update on the growing number of followers across all the Meath GAA digital platforms.

The concept of Meath GAA TV was not taken too seriously by many of the club delegates who attended those monthly meetings, but Covid-19 changed all that.

Now Meath GAA TV is forming part of a must-view platform that seems to have the potential to reel in the subscriptions with income of some €65,000 reported in the annual accounts.

It doesn't actually say that in the accounts, but it was revealed by treasurer Jim Mullery as he took the digital delegates through the figures.

Again, the streamers (people who provided the streaming service) had to work in very basic conditions from the Pairc Tailteann press box or the promptly upgraded terrace gantry opposite the main stand.

The press box hasn't changed too much since Francis Flynn was first elected to the Co Board in 1983, but there are plans for a stylish and plush media centre in the plans for the new-look Pairc Tailteann in 2021 or 2022 or 2023.

In the old days reporters were using notebooks and it could be claimed that the reporters are still using notebooks - just a different brand.

Digital is the way forward perhaps with no more monthly journeys to Duganny for the regular Co Board meetings?

Maybe it will provide an opportunity for many of the Twitterati out there who can be relied upon to make comments that are both predictable and boring.

"Some new faces are needed in there (at the Co Board)," - that's a favourite.

"Too many old delegates and they don't know what they're at, " - that's a diplomatic translation.

It's easy for those guys to use their thumbs, where would they be if the the phones weren't smart, to dissemenate sweeping comments and generalisations.

But the question must be posed - why are the delegates at Co Board meetings of the more mature variety?

That's an easy one.

The younger guys wouldn't have time to go, but they will certainly complain and whinge and point the finger at someone else - nothing new there.

One of the 'mature' guys was able to attend the meeting although he was in a nearby hospital - not saying where it is near - and he retained his position on the Co Board.

Skryne clubman and Irish officer Joseph O'Brien gave a commentary from hospital where he was recovering from illness.

Returned to serve as Irish Officier for another year he urged people to get in contact, through the use of technology, with those who are in hospital.

"It will be a great boost to anyone in hospital and I can tell you that it's very quiet here in the hospital, my wife couldn't even get in to see me today," he commented.

"It doesn't matter whether you have a lot to say or not, but it will mean so much to the person in hospital.

"Even if you were to send a short letter to someone, using old technology, like writing a note, it's just a suggestion, but I can tell you it will mean a lot.

"I am delighted to be able to take part in tonight's convention and it shows the benefits of modern technology at its best," he added.

Back to the Flynn Leagacy again.

It's likely that there will be a budget set aside for streaming services going forward and there is definitely an audience.

With Ciaran Flynn likely to maintain his link with the Co Board it might be a bit too ambitious at this time to suggest that he will surpass the 37 years that his father served.

That would take him up to about 2055.

At that stage he could very well utter the words of his father at the 2056 Meath GAA convention - "Not before time" - with another member of the Flynn family ready to carry on the legacy?

The Jason factor refers to Jason Plunkett, the Central Council representative and one of the 'younger' brigade on the Co Board at this time.

He has been spotted in recent times double-jobbing on the sideline at Pairc Tailteann.

A linesman's flag in one hand while chatting on his mobile - multi-talented appears to be a requirement for membership of Meath GAA Co Board in 2020.