Wednesday night’s Wexford GAA Convention at Riverside Park Hotel was all about Secretaries as former County Secretary Michael Kinsella was unanimously elected as President for the next 2 years and standing ovations and tributes were the order of the evening for outgoing Secretary Margaret Doyle on her retirement and welcomes and introductions were made to and by the incoming Secretary Gearoid Devitt.
With no contest for election of Officers and nothing controversial on the Clar and county finances in a healthier position than ever before the night really belonged as the Chairman Derek Kent said to Margaret Doyle who received tributes from clubs around the county for her 27 years of diligent and honest service to Wexford GAA.
In his address Chairman Kent was lavish in his praise for both Michael Kinsella and Margaret and called on Central Council Representative Tony Dempsey who spoke at length about her tremendous contribution to the county and her marvellous work ethic and integrity and the passion that she brought to the job over the years saying that she had earned the respect of every club in the county as well as being very well thought of in Croke Park.
Treasurer Andrew Nolan produced a most welcome and well received set of accounts with Gate Receipts up €41,296 on last year, share of the National League up a staggering €79,174 on 2017 and fundraising activities up to €397,988 in 2018 from €333,235 in the previous 12 months.
Even more amazing was the reduction in Teams Expenses from €945,224 in 2017 to €850,144 this year, down an incredible €95,000, cost of staging games was also down along with Maintenance of Grounds resulting in the happy position of a fantastic turnaround with coiffeurs up approximately €300,000 on last year`s figures and instead of being in a minus situation in 2017 to the tune of €203, 042 that debt has now been cleared and there is a surplus of approximately €95,000.
Derek Kent thanked Andrew and his team saying that these reductions were down to good management and stringent controls and he paid tribute to new Commercial Manager Eanna Martin and the new Commercial Committee, an amalgamation of Wexford Supporters Club, Dublin Supporters Club and Club Wexford under Chairman Miceal Mahon who raised an unbelievable €415,151 as opposed to €193,845 the previous year.
Miceal Mahon then gave a detailed presentation of all monies raised paying particular attention to both the New York and Boston trips – New York coming in at just over €40,000 and Boston to be included in next year`s figures as it occurred after 31st October deadline but bringing in another €20,000. New York Miceal said was a major success with two new investors in Wexford GAA coming onboard in the past few days.
In February Wexford Footballers will take on London in London and plans are already in train to emulate the success of the New York trip with a weekend of activity scheduled around the fixture.
Vice Chair Miceal Martin made a presentation on Games Development Staff Structure and the GPO Scheme stating that 13 clubs are already availing of the scheme with 2 more hoping to join in 2019. Miceal announced that the Sam McCauley Group have made a donation of €25,000 to the Scheme for 2019.
Philip Howlin outlined a comprehensive and well thought out Development Plan for Referees including Referee Grading, Referee Fitness & Training, Referee Assessment, Structures & Branding and a Ring Fenced Budget to implement the innovative scheme.
Convention ended with a presentation to both Margaret Doyle and her husband Jim by Chairman Derek Kent for all the wonderful work they have both contributed over the years at Innovate Wexford Park.
Report By Maria Nolan