Quiet Leitrim GAA Convention passes without much debate as Board reveals GAA engaging with Revenue Commissioners over tax issues

With no elections on the Clar or motions down for discussion, last week's Leitrim GAA County Board Convention in the Bush Hotel was a very quiet affair.

The only item of significant interest, although it has been well signalled in the national media, came when Treasurer Martin McCartin told delegates that the GAA was engaging with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the payment of services.

With high profile cases in Mayo, Wexford and Galway attracting attention, Mr McCartin told delegates that the accounts before them had been signed off on December 5, before the Board were of engagement with the Revenue Commissioners in several counties. 

The Treasurer said that the GAA were now engaging with the Revenue Commissioners to provide a framework document so that each county could carry out a self-assessment for the last four year. Mr McCartin said there was no possibility at the moment to evaluate if the Board had any liabilities but he promised to keep delegates updated.

One of the issues reportedly being looked at by the Revenue Commissioners is referee's expenses and the issue came up when Mohill delegate Stephen Flynn suggested that the remuneration for referees was not high enough, suggesting that referees be paid at least €100 per match.

LEITRIM GAA SECRETARY DECLAN BOHAN HAILS A YEAR OF GREAT DEVELOPMENTS

Outgoing chairman Enda Stenson said it was not a subject people like talking about and it was not easy for some young lad to go out officiating and “get the head eaten off them” but he stressed that clubs would have to pay any increased referees' fees.

Gerry McGovern asked if Leitrim could receive a derogation for one year from implementing the new rules, arguing that the Board would have to make a serious effort to recruit and train new officials.

Mr Stenson agreed the new rules would be very challenging and that clubs needed to provide more referees urgently but he did not see the prospect of a derogation from the rules as possible.

Also in the Treasurer's report, Mr McCartin paid tribute to the Hurling Board and Leitrim Senior Hurling team for reducing their mileage costs and also undertaking a fundraising drive. He revealed that main jersey sponsor Pat Gallagher was contributing €30,000 per year to the Board.

He also pointed out that fundraising was an integral part of the Board's finances, noting that in his seven years as Treasurer, fundraising had just crossed the €2.1 million mark, accounting for nearly 35% of the Board's income over those seven years.

He also paid tribute to the Leitrim Supporters Club for their efforts, pointing out that they don't seem to suffer from burnout because they are there year after year, raising money for Leitrim GAA.

Mr McCartin also paid tribute to the late Tony McGovern who was synonymous with Leitrim GAA and a “gentleman to deal with” while he also paid tribute to the late Joey Smith who had passed away the night before Convention, one of the Board's main sponsors down through the years.

In his report, Mr McCartin revealed that while income was down over almost a third of a million euro, Leitrim GAA still returned a surplus of €61,406 for the year, down from a surplus of €254,195 the previous year. 

The drop was accounted for by a fall off almost all areas of income including fundraising activities, match day income and commercial revenue. Income came to a total of €1,583,951, down from €1,914,348 in 2023

Commercial income showed a drop of just over €30,000 while fundraising activities, which accounted for over 20% of the Board's entire income for the past year, dropped from €492,516 in 2023 to €364,680 last year. 

Expenditure also showed a major decrease, dropping from €1,610,401 in 2023 to €1,475,777 in 2024, a drop of €134,624. Most of that decrease was achieved in the area of County Team Administration costs which dropped from €960,762 the previous year to €791,748 in 2024.

Player's kilometre expenses came of €154,861, down from €183,321 the previous year while Team Manager and Selectors expenses came in at €151,369 down from €163,057. 

BOHAN REFLECTS ON A YEAR OF THREE LEITRIM MANAGERS

Concluding the Convention, incoming chairman Declan Bohan thanked delegates for electing him, describing it as a “singular honour” joking that it was akin to passing over a life of suffering from one person to another.

Mr Bohan said that the demands for voluntary officials were increasing and that the workload in an ambitious club rivalled that of County teams 20 years ago. He said that Leitrim were blessed with the highest proportion of volunteers per head of capita in the country which was a great sign.

It was his pleasure to serve as Secretary for the last five years but that was due to the great people provided by the Clubs to the board, that the Board were only as good as what the Clubs provide them with and there was a duty on Club and County to remain as vibrant as they can.

Mr Bohan finished saying it was only fitting to remember the late Tony McGowan, the only other man to serve as both chairman and secretary of the County Board. He knows the task is going to be difficult but he would do his best to keep the show moving in a positive frame of mind.