Tensions rise after GAA fundraiser

A storm erupted at the Westmeath GAA County Committee meeting on Tuesday night as chairman Frank Mescall came under fire for accusing clubs of a lack of support for the ‘Win A Home In Spain’ fundraiser.

The draw, held the previous evening in Blomfield House Hotel made a profit of around €500,000, following the sale of 9,028 tickets at €100 each. However, this was only half of its €1 million target and during the live-streamed draw, the chairman expressed disappointment at the final figure, criticising the level of ticket sales from some clubs, comments which sparked a backlash at Tuesday's meeting.

After some heated exchanges, the chairman apologised to the clubs and insisted he has only the best interests of the county at heart. Westmeath GAA is planning to build its own centre of excellence, the first phase of which will cost in excess of €1m.

At the heart of the dispute was the chairman’s contention that not enough was done at club level to promote the county’s first major fundraiser for their new training centre, which will be built adjacent to the current 3G pitch at Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, at an estimated cost of €15m.

“For Westmeath, I was very disappointed in the ticket sales, not for Frank Mescall. For the future of Westmeath, that’s what I was talking about. We left 5,000 tickets behind us,” he told delegates.

However, Garrycastle delegate Michael Mannion, accused the chairman of damaging Westmeath GAA’s image. “There were more views on your speech than there were ticket sales. “You slated clubs and drove a wedge between them and the county board; Westmeath GAA is a laughing stock,” he declared.

Mr Mescall denied directly criticising any club. “I did not slate anybody. I praised clubs who sold their quota,” he replied. “I understand people may be a little bit sore, because the truth often hurts.”

However, Mr Mannion argued that tone matters. “You are the face of Westmeath GAA and you should have portrayed a positive picture, not one that created a barrier between clubs and the county board.”

SENTIMENTS

Des Cawley, a member of the management committee and Officer for Irish Language, said the tone of the chairman’s speech on the night of the draw had a negative impact.

“The narrative that should have been sold was the positive one. We were at 3,900 in ticket sales three weeks ago and ended up selling over 9,000. Although there were no untruths, what went out created a terrible negative. My phone went live with negativity,” he remarked.

Paula Finan, Westmeath LGFA, echoed those sentiments, calling it a missed opportunity: “If you want that team to come back next year and perform, you wouldn’t go into the dressing room and slate them. Our clubs feel they were slated,” she said.

Des Briody, assistant treasurer, and Derek Heffernan of Killucan also felt the chairman’s speech should have been more constructive. Mr Briody felt it was not the place for negative comments and while Mr Heffernan accepted the chairman was accurate, he said the views were not constructive.

Milltownpass delegate Shane Donoghue went further, accusing the chairman of “tarnishing Westmeath GAA as an institution”. Mr Mescall rejected this saying, “You're taking that a bit too far.”

Mr Donoghue also challenged the effectiveness of Sixtwo Digital, the agency who ran the digital marketing campaign for the draw. “They didn’t promote it properly. They have fewer than 350 Instagram followers and didn’t advertise the draw once themselves.”

The chairman defended the agency, stating: “Sixtwo Digital are a professional company who have worked on draws for Roscommon and Galway. The on-line market changed in the past 18 months.”

However, Mr Donoghue insisted that mistakes must be acknowledged. “We need to learn from this. Clubs were set unrealistic targets and felt the draw was forced on them.”

Sixtwo Digital have rejected Mr Donoghue's analysis and point out that their track record speaks for itself. When contacted, Colm Hanratty of Sixtwo Digital issued the following statement:

“Since 2018, Sixtwo Digital has helped raise over €32,000,000 for more than 50 sports clubs, charities and community groups around the country. This includes campaigns for Clare GAA, Galway GAA, Waterford GAA, Donegal GAA, the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, Croí – the Heart and Stroke Charity and more. We have a proven track record of helping fundraisers raise sums of money that they typically wouldn’t be able to raise through other, smaller fundraisers.

“I would like to thank Westmeath GAA for having Sixtwo Digital involved in their ‘Win A Home In Spain’ fundraiser which turned out to be their most successful fundraiser ever.”

Kevin Dolan (Maryland) criticised both the draw expectations and the original purchase of land for the planned Centre of Excellence. “The target of 15,000 tickets was never realistic,” he said, adding that the land acquisition was rushed and overpriced.

The chairman refuted this, pointing out negotiations took six years in total and the cost of land in the countryside is more per acre than Westmeath GAA are paying.

Despite the tension, Tony Robinson of St Loman’s, Mullingar praised the efforts of smaller clubs and noted the challenge of fundraising in a small county. “We don’t have big backers in Westmeath,” he said.

The chairman reiterated his regret to those upset by his remarks. “It certainly was not my intention to put Westmeath GAA in any bad light,” he said. “We raised €500,000 - that’s a positive - but we have to change our attitude or this will not work.”

The chairman confirmed a loan would now be required to finalise the land purchase, with future fundraisers likely. “Each year we won’t need €1m, but we will need €200,000–€300,000 annually for a few years,” he said.