TWO NEW faces were elected onto the Donegal County Executive this afternoon and it’s largely a case of ‘as you were’ at the top table.
St Mary’s Convoy clubman Conor McDermott takes over as Coaching Officer while St Michael’s man Liam McElhinney was elected as one of the Ulster Council delegates.
McDermott is the new Coaching Officer as he succeeds from Anthony Harkin, who completed a five-year term in the position at this afternoon’s County Convention in Donegal town.
McDermott was elected unopposed to the post after Mick McGrath and Pauric Harvey withdrew their names from the race.
[adrotate group=”88″]McElhinney returns to the top table again as he was successful in the election for Ulster Council posts.
Killybegs’ Pat Conaghan – first elected to the Donegal GAA Management Committee in 1971, some 45 years ago – completed his term as an Ulster Council delegate and vacated the role.
PJ McGowan was comfortably elected on the first count to retain his Ulster Council delegate position, taking 78 first preferences, easily exceeding the quota of 54.
McElhinney, Brendan Kelly (St Mary’s Convoy) and Denis Ellis (Naomh Columba) were left vying for the other seat.
[adrotate group=”53″]Ellis was eliminated on the second count, having claimed 12 first preference votes and, in the end, McElhinney (53) defeated Kelly (48) by five votes and was deemed elected without having reached the quota.
Sean Dunnion (pictured) was elected to get a fifth – and final – year as Donegal GAA Chairman.
[adrotate group=”46″]Frankie Doherty (Vice Chairman), Aideen Gillen (Secretary), Declan Martin (Assistant Secretary), Cieran Kelly (Treasurer), Paddy Tinney (Assistant Treasurer), Ed Byrne (PRO), Seamus Ó Domhnaill (Central Council Delegate) David McLoone (Development Officer) and Fergus Mac Aoidh (Oifigeach Gaeilge agus Cultúir) all retained their portfolios without opposition.
Gary Duffy has already been appointed to succeed Mick McGrath in the role of Children’s Officer, a position that is nominated prior to rather than elected at Convention.
