LGFA Annual Congress Day 2 Draws to a Close

The Annual Congress of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association drew to a close this afternoon following a day of debate and rule changes with the highlight being the final address to National Congress by Pat Quill as the president of the LGFA.

Some of the biggest changes to the rules of the LGFA that were confirmed on the second day of the annual congress included a change to Rule 273 meaning that any players or officials that use threatening of abusive language will serve a minimum of 4 weeks of a suspension which has been raised from the 2 weeks previously.

Changes to Rule 139 sees the introduction of a maximum number of Permission to Play for clubs to be limited to 3 for adult players with confirmation of the permission needed 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the competition or by March 31st.

A significant change to the structure of provincial councils was also confirmed with Provincial Council Presidents confirmed to serve a 3 year term and that election of provincial president’s will take place one year before their terms begin.

County Conventions must now be held no later than January 1st with club AGM’s  needing to be held by December 1st. A further important change sees paid officials prohibited from voting at club, county provincial or central council except in their own clubs if they are not a paid member of staff.

After lunch the LGFA president, Pat Quill, made a mark of respect to Lisa Orsi, the young Derry native who died after a brief illness when travelling abroad. The outgoing president then delivered his final address as president to the congress as he thanked all his colleagues for their help and reflected on his 6 year term as president. Marie Hickey will now take over as president following her inauguration tomorrow morning.