LONGFORD’S MARTIN SKELLY has confirmed that he wants to succeed Aogan O’Fearghail as GAA President.
Skelly was put forward for the position as Longford county board convention last week and is the first confirmed candidate for the next Presidential election in February 2017.
“After serving as both chairman of my own county and chairman of the province, the next logical move was to consider running for President of the GAA,” Skelly told The42 this afternoon.
“I just feel that my work would be unfinished if I didn’t give it a shot.
“I started at 16, became secretary of my own minor club (Newtowncashel), more by accident than design.
“I’ve been in various roles throughout the Association ever since. This would seem to be the final leg of the journey.
“If it works out, it works out. A lot of people were asking me if I was going to run so it was time to answer the question and take the uncertainty out of the air.
I’ve made a decision once and for all. I didn’t run on the last occasion but I’ve made up my mind that I will be letting my name go forward.
“I was proudly nominated by my county last Thursday night at convention in Longford and that was seconded by the chairman of my own club, Jack ‘Dinny’ Bannon.”
A few months before the 2014 election, Skelly withdrew his name from the race before O’Fearghail was elected.
But this time, he’s keen to make a go of it, while at the same time realising the huge amount of work involved on the campaign trail.
“Absolutely. The GAA constituency now is massive, with our games on a worldwide stage.
“We have to continue that work and whoever is going to be the next Uachtarán not only has to concentrate on the the Gaels and the problems that are there in the running the games at home, but we also have a huge number of people involved in the Association outside of Ireland.
“They obviously have to be very close to our thoughts and very much part of any decisions that will be ultimately made for the betterment of the Association.”
Skelly is renowned as a man with a real passion for grassroots GAA, having managed his home club this year, while also serving as Longford senior football selector in the past alongside then boss Luke Dempsey.
“The games are very special and for the progression of our sport, it’s important that they are retained as number one in the hearts and minds of Irish people, and that they’re presented in a proper manner.
“I think our games are fantastic games – we have a wonderful product and while administration is very important, the ongoing success of our games as spectacles for spectators and in terms of enjoyment for players is key and paramount to anything the Association would do in the future.”
