Former GAA President appointed CEO of amalgamated VE

Former GAA President appointed CEO of amalgamated VECs


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

The former GAA President, Joe McDonagh has been appointed as the new CEO of the amalgamated Mayo/Leitrim/Sligo Education and Training Board’s which will replace the three VECs.
The former Galway hurler and GAA President is the current CEO of Co Galway VEC and is expected to take up his new role when it comes into existence in the New Year. Mr McDonagh served as President of the GAA from 1997 to 2000.
The Mayo/Leitrim/Sligo Education and Training Board was formed as a resulted of the amalgamations of the Mayo, Leitrim and Sligo VECs into a single body under the Education and Training Bill. The bill has yet to be enacted by the Oireachtas and the new CEO position will only come into effect when that bill is enacted. The headquarters of the new board will remain in Castlebar.
The current CEO of Mayo VEC, Dr Katie Sweeney had expressed her preference in the past to remain as CEO of the newly amalgamated board. However, she will remain as CEO of Mayo VEC until such time as the new board comes into effect, and it is understood she will remain on in a different position within the new board.
Chairman of Mayo VEC, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly told The Mayo News that he was not officially informed of the appointment of Mr McDonagh but is aware of it. He said he understood that the appointment was based on seniority and believed that both Dr Sweeney and Mr McDonagh were capable of serving as CEO.
“Katie Sweeney is a capable CEO in Mayo and Joe McDonagh was also a CEO in Galway and each did their job very well. It is understood that the appointment was based on seniority and if Katie Sweeney had been in her position for longer, she would have got the position. Both served as CEO’s of a VEC and both could have done the job,” he said.
Cllr Munnelly added that they ‘don’t have a clue’ when Mayo VEC will no longer exist and were waiting for the bill to be enacted before the Minister for Education announces the date.

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