FERMANAGH’S three Football Allstars are among the prominent past players who have put their name to an effort to get the county’s clubs to declare their opposition to Allianz sponsorship.
Peter McGinnity, Marty McGrath, and two-time winner Barry Owens have all backed the ‘Our Clubs, Our Voice’ campaign, along with Niall Bogue, Ryan Bogue, Ciaran Campbell, Ciaran Carey, and Shane McDermott.
Following the lead of neighbours Tyrone, the past players’ statement notes that “discussion around the Allianz sponsorship in the GAA continues.
“We are a group of former Fermanagh club and inter-county players who have come together to support contacting clubs across the county in relation to this matter.
“We believe it is essential that Fermanagh clubs have the opportunity to express their position on an issue that impacts how the Association is represented - one that goes to the core ethos of the GAA.
“You, the clubs, are the GAA.”
Fermanagh was one of 10 counties which passed a motion at its annual convention calling on the GAA to end its links with Allianz Plc (Ireland), which is wholly owned by Allianz SE, a major investor in Israel.
Offaly’s initial motion stated: “In light of the findings of the recent UN report that Allianz Insurance is profiting from the illegal occupation of Palestine, the GAA should begin the process of ending all commercial involvement with Allianz Insurance.”
Six Ulster counties passed similar motions, as did Leitrim, Roscommon, and Westmeath.
However, not a single one of those 10 motions was allowed on the agenda at Annual Congress, and not a single delegate raised the issue when the opportunity to do so arose during discussion of the GAA Director-General’s Annual Report for 2025.
The Fermanagh players have expressed their discontent with how those motions were ignored, commenting:
“We are deeply concerned by both the process and the sidelining of the views of ten counties on a matter of such importance.”
The statement reminds clubs that their “motion was not placed on the Clár for Congress but was instead referred to the GAA’s Ethics and Integrity Committee (EIC), from which two of the five members recused themselves from discussions.
“The EIC’s recommendation [to continued links with Allianz], issued on Friday 19th December, was subsequently adopted by the small Coiste Bainisti [Management Committee] without further discussion at the full Ard Chomhairle [Central Council.”
The GAA’s Rules Advisor Committee strangely decided that citing the report from United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese counted against the motions, rather than strengthening their case.
The former Fermanagh players note that “as a result, Offaly’s motion - along with supporting motions from nine other counties, including Fermanagh - was ruled ‘out of order’…
“To ensure we understand the current position of Fermanagh clubs, we are asking each club to consider the issue and submit their response via the short Microsoft Form.”
Clubs have until next Wednesday, April 15, to submit their views on this matter.
