A GROUP of Antrim Gaels calling themselves ‘Saffron Vision’ have come together in a bid to oust the existing county board ahead of this year’s county convention.
In a statement, ‘Saffron Vision – A New Future for GAA in Antrim’, the group will put eight names forward at the December 7 convention for various posts on the county board. Colin Donnelly, Terry Reilly, Brendan Mulgrew, Philip Christie, Malachy Delargy, Pól Mac Cana, Alec McQuillan and John Hart make up ‘Saffron Vision’ and have urged Antrim Gaels to vote for change.
In the two-page statement, the group is of the “firm belief” that a new county board is required in order to “lift Antrim to a new level”, adding that the “current structures operating within Antrim GAA are not serving the county well and we want to change that”.
The group’s mission statement is to improve Gaelic games at “every level”, “secure the necessary financial resources” to support the county’s development squads and to review “our strategy and tactical approach” towards the stalled Dunsilly and Casement Park projects.
“The time has come to change Antrim GAA,” the statement read, “to put structures in place which help ensure that we are successful as we can be, and our ambition knows no limits.”
It added: “Frustration has been aired by Antrim followers, members and clubs in recent years, along with the general call for ‘change’. We are engaging in the democratic structures of our organistion to bring about that change.”
‘Saffron Vision’ cites the huge success Antrim clubs have experienced on a provincial and national level in both hurling and football at all levels.
“We want to pool the expertise and commitment of Antrim Gaels and direct that towards making Antrim a success. We believe that a successful Antrim county side can operate alongside successful clubs and, in fact, each can support the other.”
The current incumbents of the county board have endured fierce criticism on a number of fronts. There have been some high-profile fixture issues, something ‘Saffron Vision’ is keen to address, while the general performances of the county teams have been disappointing.
The senior footballers face another campaign in Division Four and have not made an impact on the Championship stage since 2009, when they reached the Ulster final. The county’s senior hurlers suffered league and Championship relegations in 2015, while manager Kevin Ryan decried the preparations for the county’s U21 All-Ireland semi-final against Wexford before quitting.
“We will seek to manage our fixtures in a way which schedules club games throughout the county, covering all age groups and across both codes,” the statement continued.
“We believe this can be done in a way which accommodates and supports our county teams, including minor and U21 hurling and football teams.”
County chairman Jim Murray is currently abroad and was unavailable for comment on Monday night, although earlier this year the Belfast man took to Twitter to encourage the county board’s critics to put themselves forward for office at county convention.
In April, Murray tweeted: "Where are all the Antrim critics at County Convention every year when all the positions are up for grabs?"
Murray will have served his five-year term as chairman and will step down from the position in December, with CCC chief Joe Edwards anticipated to run for the vacancy. Edwards, though, will face competition from ‘Saffron Vision’ member Colin Donnelly of St John’s. Brendan Mulgrew, a former county board PRO, is seeking the same position under the ‘Saffron Vision’ banner.
Delargy will run for vice-chair. McQuillan will seek the position of Ulster delegate. Terry Reilly of Gort na Móna will run for assistant secretary, Christie, the Central Council delegate position, while Mac Cana eyes the position of treasurer and Hart, cultural officer.
