Ladies Annual Congress 2005 Report

The
Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown was the venue
for the 2005 Ladies Gaelic Football Associations
Congress. The delegates from all parts of Ireland,
America and Britain started to descend from Friday
afternoon to the Tyrone venue but the action didn’t
get underway until Saturday morning as Congress
was officially opened. The most part of Saturday
was taken up with a number of different reports
outlining the year gone by of 2004. It was a year
that seen all thirty-two counties take part in
the Suzuki NFL, with six counties entering two
teams.

In her report Helen O’Rourke also outlined the
growth of our game continuing at Post Primary
schools level. The link between the Higher Education
Committee and ourselves is greater “ They are
doing a great job in catering for the needs of
so many young women who are attending our third
level institutions and colleges in the playing
and development of Ladies Gaelic Football” On
the PR side of the game the popularity of our
website increased dramatically. “There were a
total of 16,355,954 hits during the course of
2004” all of this showing the interest in Ladies
Gaelic Football both on the Nation and International
scene. In the afternoon the attention turned to
the motions and thirty in all were to be discussed
with undoubtedly the main one’s been the debate
on the presidency and the sin bin. Both the Westmeath
and Tyrone county boards put forward the motion
to allow the President to have the option to stand
for two consecutive terms. Ulster president Joe
Lagan took the hot seat for the debate as delegates
put forward their points For and Against the matter.
After a long discussion it was passed and the
rules now allow the president stand for two consecutive
terms if they do wish too.

The second big motion put forward was by the management
committee to reintroduce the Sin Bin again. Like
on the motion about the Presidency this was again
a long debated issue. The majority feeling that
it was a success in 2004 but others feeling it
didn’t work. Development officer Pat Quill spoke
on its success and was in favour of adding it
at all levels of the association. In the end that
was the outcome and the Sin Bin was given the
green light to be introduced at all levels and
grades from “Club to County” to“ Schools to Colleges”.
In all an interesting year ahead many thought
after the decision but unless these things are
tried nobody can judge if it’s a correct or wrong
move. The overall opinion from those present is
the pressure that will be put on the referee but
that if we all work together we can make it a
success.

Others motions carried also saw the Fixtures secretary
deleted and also the position as National PRO
in favour of a PR Committee. The 45m kick up to
and including U14 level will allow the player
the option to take the kick from their hands or
off the ground. Also in attendance on the Saturday
was Tyrone County Men’s chairman Pat Darcy and
also Ulster President Michael Greenan who both
addressed the Congress. After the banquet on Saturday
night it was back to business on Sunday morning
with Sean Kelly addressing the delegates before
the remainder of the motions were discussed.

Then it was down to the election of officers for
the coming year and firstly the election of our
president elect. For the first time ever it allowed
our reigning President stand again and so duly
Geraldine Giles let her name go forward and was
re-elected unopposed for a second successive term.
The ever hard working Ita Hannon was returned
as the Assistant Secretary and so too were Mick
Fitzgerald and Steven Lynch as Treasurers. Pat
Quill retained the position as Development officer
while Deirdre Quinn took over the Culture & language
Officer post from her sister Mary. The various
Committee’s were also selected with for the first
time ever a new PR Committee been added to the
association.

The weekend closed with Mary Connolly, chairperson
of the Tyrone Ladies receiving a fully deserved
standing ovation as she closed the congress with
her speech. Great credit must go to Mary and all
her executive for the wonderful work and organization
they put into the event as they hand the baton
to Westmeath for 2006.

A full list of the Officers and Committee’s is
listed below.
Officers Of Central Council 2005
President: Geraldine Giles
Assistant Secretary: Ita Hannon
Treasurers: Mick Fitzgerald & Steven Lynch
Development Officer: Pat Quill
Culture & language Officer: Deirdre Quinn
Committee’s Fixtures: Ita Hannon, Cathal Freil,
Johnny Hayes. Paddy Donnelly & Nicky White
Appeals: Michael O’ Loughin, Liz Quill, Mary Keane,
Geraldine McGovern, Kathleen Kane, Maureen Higgins
& Fr Peter Clarke
Disciplinary: Fiona McCarthy, Paul Swift, Pat
Toomey, Bill Daly, Peter Rice, Tom Madigan & Con
Moynihan
PR Committee Fr Liam Kelleher, Seamus McCabe,
Paul Swift, Alan Gunn & the Connacht PRO yet to
be selected
History: Francis Quill & Pat Chapman

Footnote; The New Issue of Peil is currently
being compiled we hope to have a broad range of
topics. Congress will get comprehensive coverage,
with a special feature on overseas activities.
Interviews. Suzuki league update. 2nd and 3rd
Level Colleges, O,Connor cup. Competition page
etc. We would like to get a brief report from
each Co. Its your magazine. so use it. Final date
for submissions for the April issue Thursday March
24th. Info to Fr.Liam Kelleher. email: liam kelleher44
@hotmail.com or alangunn@hotmail.com Editors.
The magazine will be very reasonably priced at
@ €2. You can order your copy from head office.
Special rate to clubs on bulk orders