This article is from page 62 of the 2011-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
CLARE GAA should embark on a public relations offensive to win the support of the grassroots on the association in the county, one delegate claimed in a colourful contribution to the November monthly meeting of the county board on Tuesday last.
Kildysart delegate, John Meade, who is also a match day steward in Cusack Park, proposed that a series of regional meetings between the board and clubs take place.
“There’s an attitude out there that the county board and the executive of the county board are away from the grassroots of the GAA,” said Meade.
“I see it in my own club – they don’t realise that the clubs are the county board. Maybe it’s time to have regional meetings and meet the clubs and maybe. There is an awful stigma out there with the officers of the county board,” he added.
“Everybody involved in the county board and county board are very or- dinary people,” said board chairman, Michael O’Neill. “We all come from the background of a club,” added the Ballyea clubman.
“I know that,” said Meade, “but that’s what’s out there. I told you last year people were saying to me ‘what the f**** are you involved with that shower of c****’,” he added to roars of laughter from fellow delegates.
In contributing to the debate, board secretary Pat Fitzgerald said, “I know people are saying ‘you are being paid by the board’. But what they don’t realise is that I’m putting in another 45 hours. I have no problem if someone gives me a job and I will still do my 45 hours.”