Ladies Gaelic football in Mayo under threat as Mayo LGFA issues urgent plea to fill vacant roles

A temporary halt to all ladies Gaelic football activity in Mayo could be in store as the Mayo LGFA county board has issued an urgent plea to fill vacant roles on its executive committee.

In a statement issued this morning (Friday), Mayo LGFA called on volunteers to apply for the vacant positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and PRO.

It warned that failure to fill these key roles ‘will force a halt to all LGFA activities, including training and inter-county trials’.

An upcoming EGM at the Traveller’s Friend Royal Theatre in Castlebar on Tuesday at 9pm was described as ‘a critical juncture’ for the future of ladies Gaelic football in Mayo.

Des Phillips, Chairman of Mayo LGFA, said that the vacancies presented ‘a real and immediate threat’ to the sport in the county.

Voicing ‘deep concerns’, Phillips said: “The vacancies within Mayo LGFA present a real and immediate threat to the sustainability of our organisation. We’ve reached a critical juncture where the absence of key roles jeopardises the very existence of women’s football activities in Mayo. We are facing the prospect of having to turn to Croke Park and Connacht GAA to take over. We urge our community to rally behind us.”

The Kilmovee native said that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic had ‘exacerbated volunteer shortages across all levels of the game’, which had created a ‘bottleneck effect, preventing individuals from vacating roles within the clubs to step into county board positions’.

“It’s a call to action—Mayo LGFA desperately needs individuals passionate about women’s football, possessing the necessary skills or a willingness to learn, to step forward. The outgoing members are committed to supporting the transition, ensuring new members feel confident and competent in their roles,” Phillips added.

“Joining Mayo LGFA isn’t just about filling a position; it’s about safeguarding the future of women’s football in our county,” stressed Des Phillips, Mayo LGFA.

“We need the expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication of individuals to step into these roles and ensure the continuity and growth of the game we all cherish.”

Mayo LGFA previously had all its activities run by the Connacht Council from July 2020 to January 2021 following the resignation of ten members of the executive committee in March.

A total of seven positions were left unfilled following Mayo LGFA's 2022 AGM. 

Anyone interested in applying for any of the vacant roles is asked to contact Mayo LGFA on social media or contact the secretary of their local club by emailing [clubname].mayo@lgfa.ie, eg.hollymount.mayo@lgfa.ie.