All change at Kilkenny GAA top table ahead of convention

Kilkenny GAA’s annual convention will feature a number of changes when delegates travel to the O’Loughlin Gaels GAA club on Monday.

It will be the first time since the covid pandemic that the get together will take place in person and it looks set to be a busy night.

Proceedings have been carried out over zoom in the last two years but it will be a return to some sort of normality this year.

Unlike in previous years, there is set to be a number of changes among the County Board with four officers vacating their positions due to the five year rule.

This rule forces officers in the GAA to resign their position when they have served five successive years in office.

Jimmy Walsh is departing his role as county chairman and will be replaced by the outgoing vice-chairman PJ Kenny (Lisdowney).

Walsh, who previously worked as the county secretary, was the first Windgap man to take either role at the top level.

The new chairman, PJ Kenny, also served as Fixtures Chairman during his time as vice-chair where he kept a good handle on one of the more difficult parts in the organisation.

With the Lisdowney native making the step up to the main position, it left a vacancy at vice-chairman. This is a role that will be contested on the night by both Jim Fennelly (Danesfort) and John Lanigan (Thomastown) in what is sure to be a much debated contest.

The third man to leave his role will be the outgoing secretary Conor Denieffe (O’Loughlin Gaels). He will be replaced by Seamus Reade, who was the Public Relations Officer in the past.

While Denieffe is leaving his role as Secretary he will still be involved in a Co Board capacity as the Central Council delegate.

Seamus Reade, on the other hand, had been serving as a very capable and efficient Event Controller and County Planning and Training Officer.

The outgoing PRO Paul Fitzgerald (Fenians) will be the last of the officials to leave his role under the five year rule. Like the vice-chairman, it’s a role that will be decided on the night.
The three nominees to contest the election will be Caroline Clifford (Clara), Shane Kavanagh (Dicksboro) and Mary Morgan (Piltown).

All three candidates are worthy of their nominations and have already been in prominent roles with Caroline Clifford working as the current children’s officer. Shane Kavanagh is the current secretary at his club Dicksboro while Mary Morgan is the current PRO of the Kilkenny Junior Board.

Like in 2017, the treasurer Barry Hickey (John Lockes) has been given an exemption to continue in his current role with the bye-laws allowing the treasurer to do so.