Longford GAA collect record breaking gate receipts totalling €260,607
Club Longford raise the major sum of around €143,000 profit in 2022
There was a feelgood factor as sport returned to normal and this was clearly reflected in the County Board financial matters in the collection of record breaking 2022 gate receipts totalling €260,607 which were revealed at the annual Convention in Backstage Theatre at the Longford Slashers complex on Thursday night last.
With the income account ending on September 30, the money from the Senior (Colmcille v Mullinalaghta) and Intermediate (Ballymahon v Fr Manning Gaels) football championship finals is not included in this year’s excellent gate receipts so great credit is due to Treasurer Eugene Quaine (Carrickedmond) and his team of volunteers at the turnstiles.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped me out (at the games) from start to finish and hopefully the same help will be there again next year,” said Eugene.
The gate receipts from the Covid delayed 2021 senior, intermediate and junior football championship finals are pitched into the 2022 gate receipts.
The Longford Lunch, resurrected by the main sponsors Glennon Brothers, was a wonderful success and the substantial profit from that corporate fundraiser in November is also not included in the 2022 Financial Statements.
Club Longford continue to play a major role in boosting the finances. The Longford GAA Supporters Club raised the fantastic sum of around €143,000 profit this year and the bulk of this figure was generated through the Monster Draw.
The annual Golf Classic along with Pitch Advertising at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and Supporters Club Membership are other sources of income generated by Club Longford.
Club Longford Treasurer John Finn, the Lanesboro native who created an excellent slideshow presentation of their accounts at the Convention, stated that there was a “huge amount of goodwill in the county and it was there to be tapped.”
The return of the Race Day in Punchestown for the first time since 2019 due to Covid restrictions was a huge success with €87,640 raised from this major social event.
In another big boost for Longford GAA, the Chairperson Albert Cooney (returned unopposed for a fourth year) announced in his address at the Convention that Glennon Brothers were extending their major sponsorship deal for another three years and he “thanked them most sincerely.”
Cooney praised Club Longford for their fantastic efforts in the fundraising department and the Rathcline clubman availed of the opportunity to wish the Longford Slashers ladies the very best of luck in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park this Saturday.
€688,302 the cost of running the various county teams
On the expenditure side of the financial statements, the cost of running the various county teams in 2022 was €688,302 and the breakdown is as follows:
Players Travel & Team Expenses - €374,750
Catering - €106,480
Medical & Physiotherapy - €61,836
Gym & Pitch Hire - €58,602
Sportsgear & Equipment - €86,634
The total figure covers the senior, U-20, minor (U-17), U-16 football and senior hurling squads this year as the GAA returned to normal in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Colm Harte a new face on the executive
With the outgoing Children’s Officer Patrick Maguire (St Mary’s Granard) stepping down, Colm Harte (Killoe Emmet Og) is a new face on the Longford GAA Executive.
Colm was elected at the Convention on the recommendation of the outgoing County Committee.
Finbar Meehan relinquished the post of Coaching & Games Development Officer, having completed the maximum five year term in the position.
Mullinalaghta clubman Meehan will be replaced by former County Board PRO Tommy McLoughin (Mostrim), who was the only nomination for the Coaching & Games Development Officer.
Meehan will be making an immediate return to the executive in the position of Assistant Secretary which was vacated by the outgoing officer Gary Toher (St Brigid’s Killashee) who did not seek re-election.
Finbar was elected unopposed as the other nominee Kevin Hourican (Dromard) withdrew.
There was only one contest at the quiet Convention with Derek Fahy (Ballymore), Seamus McRory (Longford Slashers), Finbar Meehan and Gerry Sheridan (Dromard) in the race for the two delegates for Congress.
Fahy and McRory were elected and will join the Chairperson Albert Cooney, Secretary Peter O’Reilly and Central Council Representative James Clarke at the annual GAA Congress in Croke Park on February 17th/18th.
Longford GAA Officers for 2023
Chairperson: Albert Cooney (Rathcline)
Vice-Chairperson: Derek Fahy (Ballymore)
Secretary (full-time): Peter O’Reilly (Abbeylara)
Assistant Secretary: Finbar Meehan (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
Treasurer: Eugene Quaine (Carrickedmond)
Assistant Treasurer: Marie O’Reilly Keenan (Colmcille)
Coaching & Games Development Officer: Tommy McLoughlin (Mostrim)
PRO: Gerry Forde (Ardagh Moydow)
Club Development/Health & Safety Officer: Michael Mulleady (Fr Manning Gaels)
Central Council Representative: James Clarke (Clonguish)
Leinster Council Representatives (2): Damien Edgeworth (St Brigid’s Killashee) and Eamon Brennan (Young Grattans)
Irish Language and Cultural Officer: Lorraine Corrigan (Fr Manning Gaels)
Children’s Officer: Colm Harte (Killoe Emmet Og)