Hollymount-Carramore merger fails by one vote

Hollymount-Carramore merger fails by one vote


Daniel Carey

A GROUND-BREAKING amalgamation between two neighbouring GAA clubs in south Mayo fell short by just one vote on Friday night.
Members of Hollymount and Carramore GAA clubs were asked to vote on a merger at simultaneous meetings overseen by officers of Mayo GAA Board. Seventy-five per cent of members in both clubs had to vote in favour in order for the amalgamation to go ahead.
While an overwhelming 87 per cent – 61 out of 70 – backed the move in Carramore, Hollymount fell one short of the three-quarters they needed for approval, with 19 of their 73 members rejecting it.
Central Council delegate Jerry Henry and Mayo GAA Board Paddy McNicholas presided at the votes, which took place in Taugheen Hall and the Hollymount GAA Club dressing-rooms on the same day as the general election.
The Mayo News understands that another club meeting was called in Hollymount last night (Monday), and the issue may be revisited.
Negotiations have been ongoing for some months between the clubs over the finer details of the proposal, such as finance and a name for the new entity – Hollymount-Carramore was finally agreed upon. Lengthy discussions have also taken place within both clubs to ‘clear the ground’ for a vote, which was originally due to held in December and again in January.
The two clubs already play together up to U-21 level under the name St Gerard’s, who have enjoyed much success at county ‘B’ level in recent years at under-14, under-16, minor and under-21 grades.
Hollymount was founded back in 1954, while Carramore was re-formed in 1975. Hollymount have won back-to-back county senior titles – in 1990, 1991 – and their last Moclair Cup came in 1994. Carramore’s greatest achievement came in 1982, when they beat Glenamoy in the county junior final on a unique scoreline – 0-4 to 0-0. They also won an O’Mara Cup in 1985 – ironically, defeating Hollymount in the final.
There was, apparently, a 95 per cent turnout in Taugheen Hall – a much larger percentage than made the journey to nearby Taugheen school to cast their ballots in the election. The clubs were told that members of the St Gerard’s minor team were not allowed to vote on the matter, so – as one wag put it – “some lads could vote for the Taoiseach but not on the amalgamation”.
The players of both clubs are believed to be heavily in favour of amalgamating, and concerns have been expressed in some quarters about the implications of the vote in both clubs – and, indeed, for St Gerard’s.
Emotions ran high when the result become known, with proponents of the merger in both clubs expressing ‘huge disappointment’.
Kilmaine and Garrymore GAA clubs amalgamated up to minor level last year under the name Carras, while proposals from Balla and Parke, and Ardnaree and Bonniconlon, to form independent minor teams are due to be discussed at Thursday’s County Board meeting.