Halpenny elected new Louth County Board chairman

New County Board chairman Des Halpenny

Des Halpenny was last night elected the new chairman of the Louth County Board at its annual convention in The Fairways Hotel.

The John Mitchels clubman, who has served as secretary for the past five years, won the vote to succeed Padraig O’Connor after pipping outgoing vice chairman Declan Byrne 95-25.

Meanwhile, Clan na Gael’s Fra Kieran was elected the new County Board secretary on the night after defeating Bob Doheny by 68 votes to 53, with the latter later being returned to his outgoing position of PRO.

The new make up of the County Board is as follows:

• Chairman: Des Halpenny (John Mitchels)
• Vice chairman: Peter Moore (O Raghallaigh’s)
• Secretary: Fra Kieran (Clan na Gael)
• Assistant Secretary: Sean Carroll (St Mary’s)
• Treasurer: Aidan Berrill (Naomh Mairtin)
• PRO: Bob Doheny (St Kevin’s)
• Coaching Officer: John Grogan (St Patrick’s)
• Development Officer: Tomás O hEocaidh (Oliver Plunketts)
• Central Council delegate: Paddy Oliver (St Patrick’s)
• Leinster Council delegates: Paddy McMahon (Sean O’Mahony’s) and Padraig O’Connor (St Patrick’s)
• Children’s Officer: Stephen O’Connor (St Patrick’s)
• Delegates to Leinster Convention: Des Halpenny (John Mitchels), Declan Byrne (O’Connells), Bob Doheny (St Kevin’s), AN Other (to be elected in January)
• Delegates to Congress: Aidan Berrill (Naomh Mairtin), David Rogers (St Kevin’s)

Halpenny and Byrne in the running for Louth County Board chairman’s position

Current Louth GAA secretary Des Halpenny and vice chairman Declan Byrne will battle it out to succeed Padraig O’Connor as chairman of the County Board at next month’s annual convention.

The duo have both been put forward for the role, with St Patrick’s clubman O’Connor having to step down having served five years in the role after succeeding Paddy Oliver.

Meanwhile, Halpenny also has to vacate the secretary’s role with current PRO Bob Doheny and Clan na Gael clubman Fra Kieran in the running to replace him.

The annual convention will take place on Monday December 8^th in the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver.

Little change on Louth County Board

There will be little or no change on the Louth County Board next year with all the major players set to return to their positions unopposed.

The nominations for Monday week’s annual Convention were released earlier today with chairman Padraig O’Connor, secretary Des Halpenny, treasurer Aidan Halpin and all of their assistants set to be returned unopposed.

The only major change will be the appointment of Bob Doheny of St Kevin’s as PRO.

Murphy earns shot at Poc Fada title

Diarmuid Murphy, Naomh Moninne is presented with his first prize for winning the Louth Poc Fada final by Paraic O’Connor, Chairman of Louth County Board, Also in photo from left, Padraig Rath, Francis McMullen, Shane Lennon, (all Louth Coaching & Games) and John Grogan Louth Coaching and Games Officer.

Naomh Moninne’s Diarmuid Murphy will represent Louth in this year’s All-Ireland Poc Fada on Annaverna on the August Bank Holiday weekend after winning the Louth finals in Clogherhead last night.

The former county captain seen off competition from a host of other competitors from around the county to land the coveted place in the Poc Fada 10 years on from when Paul Dunne became the first and last Louth man to win the title.

Meanwhile, in other GAA news last night, Mattock Rangers clubwoman Ann Meade became the new chairperson of the Louth Ladies County Board after beating outgoing chairman Dermot Woods of Naomh Malachi by 33 votes to 27.