New Wexford GAA chairman all but confirmed as Bobby Goff rules himself out

Wexford GAA’s new chairman is all but confirmed…

Wexford GAA’s current chairman, Micháel Martin, was Wexford’s chairman since 2021. Under his tenure with Wexford GAA, he oversaw the development of the Ferns Centre of Excellence, the re-development of Wexford Park, and helped to bring Wexford GAA TV and live-streaming to the fore to name just a few.

Originally, two people were nominated to become the next Wexford GAA chairperson. As two people were nominated, a vote at the County Convention would have been needed to decide the next Chairperson.

The nominations were Bobby Goff and John Kenny.

However, Bobby Goff has since ruled himself out of contention. This means that the nomination of Horsewood clubman John Kenny will go unchallenged and he will be ratified as the new Wexford GAA chairman at the upcoming Wexford GAA County Convention.

Bobby Goff released a statement via Wexford GAA on Saturday, highlighting that he would not have the required energy to fulfil the demanding role to the standards needed.

“I have come to decide, after a lot of thought, to withdraw my nomination for the position of Cathaoirleach of Cumann Luthchleas Gael Loch Garman.

The reason I have decided to withdraw is I am feeling completely burnt out after the last 12 years serving on management, and particularly the last four years as chairman of the CCC, with fixture plans being changed due to COVID, the split season etc. The pressure with all of these is the reason that I know I could not give the position of Chairman the 100% energy that it needs, and that I have given in every position that I have held to date.

I know that it may be said I’m afraid of the election, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have never shirked responsibility on making hard decisions, and this is the hardest GAA decision I have ever made, but I know that along with the 15 days of “celebrity” that there is being chairman, there are 350 days of hard graft.

I would like to thank my club Glynn-Barntown for nominating me, my fellow officers who I have served with over the past 12 years, clubs for their help and cooperation, the many people I have received help from in Leinster Council and Croke Park, and the staff in Wexford GAA who have always helped me above and beyond their call of duty.

I am taking a big chance in naming a few people whom I worked with from the start, and who have always stood by me, but I thank the outgoing County Chairman Micheál Martin, David Tobin, Marion Doyle and John O’Neill for all their help and support, and lastly my patient and loyal best friend and wife Suzanne,” Bobby Goff’s statement reads.

Wexford GAA’s outgoing chairman is Micháel Martin. Although Martin’s tenure as Wexford GAA chairman is coming to an end, he will be taking on a new venture with the GAA’s Central Council.

The Wexford GAA County Convention, which will take place on Monday 2^nd December 2024 at 7 p.m. in Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford, will ratify John Kenny as the new chairman of Wexford GAA. It will also ratify the other members in an array of different positions, which can be seen below.

Nominations

Chairperson: John Kenny
Vice Chairperson: Cathal Byrne, Dermot Howlin
Secretary: Aoife Parle
Assistant Secretary: Brian Molloy
Treasurer: Brian McDonald
Coaching Officer: Kevin Doyle
Offigeach Gaeilge & Cultúr: Tony Dempsey
PRO: Colm Lambert
Leinster Council (2): Ger Carthy; Michael Hennesy-Cullen; Dermot Howlin; PJ Howlin
Central Council: Micheál Martin
Delegates to Attend Congress:
Delegates to attend Leinster Convention: Dermot Howlin