Riordan Squeezes Into Top Job

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Irish Voice Sport

Riordan Squeezes Into Top Job

January 14, 2008

By Eugene Kyne

IN an extremely tight race with heart stopping aplomb, John Riordan from Kerry finally reached the crescendo of New York GAA circles when he was victorious in the elections held this past Sunday and succeeds Seamus Dooley as chairman of the association for 2008.

He was made to fight all the way, however, as the final tally was 35 votes to 33 against Limerick native and former second vice chair Brendan O’Sullivan.

Predictions are extremely hard in the local elections, but even the most seasoned observers were surprised that the association was practically split down the center in the results. It was akin to Riordan’s last run for the top office when he lost out by a narrow margin to Dooley three years ago.

O’Sullivan was gracious in his speech after the results were announced and remarked that work is ahead of the association in the coming year, but that it must be united as it faces into crucial times. A fact that reflects this point is the amount of teams that were eligible to vote this year, 34 versus the 40 of three years previous.

Certainly the continued growth of Gaelic Park will be high on the list of chores, but again the possible loss of teams will be paramount on the new chairman’s agenda. Riordan stated that he hopes to help to strengthen the existing clubs with help from the board.

The winner reminded the delegates of a number of former officers when he told of his rivals when he first ran for election as a trustee. Matt Higgins (Donegal) and John Nolan (Offaly) were his opponents when he first joined the Board in 1968, a point made all the more poignant when it was announced that former chairman Patrick McMahon had passed away at the weekend at the age of 99.

Other elections on Sunday had John Fitzpatrick (Rockland, 54 votes) Paul Levins (Roscommon, 58 votes) and Peter McKiernan (Cavan, 59 votes) getting installed as auditors for the upcoming year. Levins and McKiernan were outgoing officers, with the popular ref from Rockland joining the inner sanctum this year.

Frank Molloy from Donegal was the odd man out on this occasion with 27 votes. As well as participating in the weekly running of the GAA, the auditors also review the financial records twice a year.

The final post installed during the two hour window was the role of vice chairman, a critical position that puts the holder in charge of the executive committee which oversees objections, rule changes and transfer disputes among other roles.

Liam Bermingham (Cork, 47 votes) the former chairman from 2003-’04, returns to the GAA Board by virtue of his win over Mark McAllister from Armagh, who garnered 21 votes.

With two years of experience as an officer in his home county of Kildare in the recent past and a resume that includes time on the overseas committee, Bermingham brings valuable assists to the table. In an interview with the Irish Voice he was open about the direction and time frames that need to be adhered to as the association looks to the future.

“The association needs a long term plan in place to see where it will be. While a ten year plan should be prescribed to, the 100th anniversary of the New York GAA in 2015 is a time that we have to look at now as a barometer of where we want to be when that time arrives,” he said.

“A five year plan will be a step in that direction. We sometimes have a tendency to react to problems and directions that arrive, whereas we should be proactive and already have plans in place for as many occurrences as can be expected, be it player availability, inter county competition and club survival.

“The long season and the amount of money required to bring back summer players in flights alone is something that needs addressing with a season akin to the North American Board a possible alternative.” Involve-ment of American born players was another subject touched on in an informative conversation, with a suggestion of a rule where each club needs a certain amount of players from the U.S. or Minor Board at junior level on a trail basis one that certainly merits consideration.

“The GAA in Ireland has introduced schools of excellence in the majority of counties, and this is something that New York needs to look at alongside the possible introduction of a strategic development officer.”

The full list of officers for 2008 is as follows:

Chairman, John Riordan (Kerry); Vice chairman, Liam Bermingham (Cork); second vice chair, John Larkin (Offaly); treasurer, John Phelan (Rangers); secretary, Larry McCarthy (Sligo); assistant secretary, Geraldine O’Brien (Long Island); registrar, Joan Henchy (Kerry); financial officer, Tom Nugent (Galway); sergeant of arms, Joe Prunty (Leitrim); trustees, Tom Lilly (Donegal), Tom Fahey (Galway), Donie O’Sullivan (Cork); auditors, Paul Levins (Roscommon), John Fitzpatrick (Rockland), Peter McKiernan (Cavan); development, Paddy Gormley (Leitrim).

The PRO is still to be elected, as is the custodian.

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