Strong female representation in nominations for key Mayo GAA board roles
by Aiden Henry
When nominations closed on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. for the annual Mayo County Board Convention which will be held in McWilliam Park, Claremorris, on Sunday, December 11, they threw up the strong possibility of having three women holding top positions on the board.
With current treasurer Valerie Murphy unopposed, she will be at the top table and could be joined by nominee for secretary, Mary Prenty from Ballyhaunis, while Breaffy’s Celia Rattigan has been nominated for the assistant secretary's position.
With present secretary Dermot Butler’s five-term at an end, there will be two contestants on the ballot sheet to fill his position.
They are the already mentioned Mary Prenty, who held the position of secretary of the east Mayo GAA Board for a five-year term, two years as Mayo Development Officer and is presently the county board planning and training officer, and the present county board assistant secretary Ronan Kirrane, Davitts.
There will also be a straight run-off for the assistant secretary between the afford mentioned Celia Rattigan and the south Mayo GAA Board secretary, Brian O’Malley, The Neale.
Should Mary Prenty and Celia Rattigan win their respective contests, it would bring to three the number of ladies holding top positions within Mayo GAA County Board.
The other main officers - chairman Seamus Tuohy, treasurer, Valerie Murphy, PRO John Walker, assistant chairman Con Moynihan and assistant treasurer Michael Diskin - are all unopposed.
Meanwhile, there could be a battle royale for the two Connaught GAA Council delegates positions and the Central Council position.
With Johnny Hopkins term up as Connaught Council delegate there will be three candidates in the race for the two positions.
The three are present delegate Paul Cunnane, former county board chairman Liam Moffatt and Willie Feeley, Claremorris.
Should all three stay in the contest this could turn out to be a great battle.
There is one Central Council delegate position.
Former Mayo County Board chairman, Paddy McNicholas holds the position presently and has one year left.
However, he is going to be challenged for this position by current secretary Dermot Butler.
Butler’s five-year term as secretary comes to an end this year.