Hope may sustain us as Mayo finances hit

The cost of repaying loans for the redevelopment of McHale Park, Castlebar has left a significant mark on the Mayo GAA Board’s balance sheet.

Hope may sustain us as figures look bleak


Mayo boss goes positive as GAA Board count cost

Daniel carey

MAYO manager James Horan says GAA fans can look to the future with hope – but audited accounts just published show that the County Board are feeling the pinch in the downturn.
While the weather prevented any sporting activity from taking place within the county last weekend, there was much off the field for Mayo GAA supporters to ponder ahead of tonight’s County Convention in Julian’s of Midfield.
Horan struck an optimistic note at Friday’s Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars Charity Banquet, and said there’s a “huge amount” of talented footballers in the county. Asked what Mayo people can expect from his team, Horan said: “Hope would be one thing … There’s a huge amount of talented players in Mayo, there’s no doubt about that”.
Accepting the Manager of the Year award for his success with the Ballintubber club, Horan said that talent would have to be combined with “work and commitment”, a theme he touched on more than once during his question-and-answer session with Master of Ceremonies Liam Horan.
Noting that things had “snowballed very quickly” during a “very good year” with Ballintubber, the two-time All Star said he was “privileged” to be offered the Mayo job, and “delighted” to get it.
Reflecting on a “super” year with his club, Horan identified hard work as the main ingredient in their success. “I’m convinced we’re the hardest-working team out there,” he said, praising the “amount of effort” put in by the players.

MEANWHILE, Mayo GAA Board’s income fell by over €400,000 in 2010. Accounts prepared for tonight’s scheduled Convention confirm that the County Board brought in €1,494,301 this year, a decrease of approximately €430,000.
But with expenditure down by almost €80,000, Treasurer JP Lambe will still be announcing a surplus, though that figure has fallen by around €340,000 to €115,956.
The figures will cause concern among Mayo GAA supporters, particularly given that the County Board will have to raise almost €760,000 next year to meet repayments on the McHale Park redevelopment.

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