The Irish Independent are reporting that Rory Gallagher has threatened legal action if GAA President Jarlath Burns fails to withdraw the email he sent to the Naas club in Kildare pertaining to the Fermanagh native’s proposed assuming of a coaching role with the serial Lilywhite county champions.
News broke on Sunday evening that Mr Gallagher – who stood down as Derry senior football boss in midsummer 2023 on foot of domestic abuse allegations aired by his estranged wife Nicola and which he “Categorically denies” – was to be part of Joe Murphy’s backroom team as the blue and white hoops go in search of a sixth consecutive success in the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare SFC. While at the same time they will be on the trail of a seventh SHC on the spin. Making them surely one of the most successful clubs in recent GAA history.
However, by Monday morning, it emerged the club had performed a dramatic U-turn, withdrawing the proposal to add the former Fermanagh and Cavan forward to their entourage. Initially, it was understood the climbdown was prompted by misgivings of their own members and supporters – probably particularly the female Populus thereof. It would be wholly understandable too if so.
Mind you, it has since emerged that the change of tack from the town club was most likely prompted by the intervention of Uachtarain CLG Jarlath Burns. Though with regard to the same, one cannot help thinking of the now famous phrase when killer Malcolm McArthur was found holed up in a politician’s house.
In the email communication, Mr Burns is quoted as saying he had “concerns at the prospective appointment of Gallagher, in light of the division it would potentially cause in the club and the wider implications it could have for the GAA”. That said, he went on to say that (Naas had) “the right and the independence to proceed with the appointment”.
But in offering his perspective he specifically referenced the GAA’s role, together with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Camogie Association, in the launch of Game Changer last November, a collaboration with Ruhama and White Ribbon aimed at raising awareness and action through sport to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).
Mr Gallagher, though, has since issued a stinging rebuttal to the Armagh man’s interjection. Through his legal team, the former Fermanagh, Donegal and Derry boss riposted: “The GAA President has engaged in an “unprecedented move in an effort to sabotage my potential appointment”. Before the statement went on “With great power comes great responsibility. Mr Burns’ actions are premised on a misguided and self-serving compulsion to share his concern”.
The current Corduff, Co Monaghan coach* continued “Regrettably, whilst this is the first time Mr Burns’ actions have been made public, this is not the first time that I have been informed that he has taken matters into his own hands with respect to me and my family life”.
While I would in no way be as blasé in summarising Mr Burns’ intentions in intervening in the case, he has, it must be conceded, potentially opened a serious can of worms, both for himself personally and the Association. Particularly when evaluated against the backdrop of other matters involving high profile GAA personalities with regard to which, compared to the situation at hand here, the silence has been deafening. I am a fervent believer in less said, soonest mended, but, it’s hard to reconcile the GAA hierarchy’s determination to stay schtum on one topic (as referenced in the article on this site linked above) whilst delivering very public utterances in relation to the currently pertinent matter.
You suspect that was what Gallagher was hinting at when he stated “I await with interest to see if Mr Burns takes such direct personal action against others who find their private life the subject of social media commentary and hyperbole”.
“The chilling effect of these actions cannot be greater. Mr Burns’ actions not only undermine the very principles of fairness and equality to which the GAA is premised, but it sends a clear message that such dictatorial action can and will be taken, when the president sees fit”
Mr Gallagher’s broadside at the GAA President concluded as follows:
“I have never asked for sympathy or support. I do, however, ask that this action is formally withdrawn and the contents of the correspondence is retracted. The president should lead by example and accept when he has overstepped the mark.
“Absent such a retraction, I will have no other alternative but to take legal action to cure the irreparable damage done to me and my family in my ability to continue to work as a manager in the years ahead.”
* It remains to be seen when, or if, Mr Burns will respond to the comments raised in Mr Gallagher’s communique, but from his own perspective, it would surely be in his best interests to say something, given that it being glaringly obvious no comment has been made with regard to his previous and ongoing involvement with Corduff must mean there are plenty more questions to be asked.
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