October 28 2008
Michael McLoone, Chairman.
Club Dhún na nGall Corporate Membership,
Donegal Council,
Lifford,
Co. Donegal.

Michael, a chara,
Further to your letter of October 06th 2008, our Management Committee have now had an opportunity to consider the points raised in your letter. I am setting out below the response of the County Management Committee to the points raised by you and trust that all of the matters are dealt with comprehensively. Please feel free to revert to me if there is any issue with which I have not dealt with satisfactorily.

Firstly, Corporate Club Donegal is viewed as a critical part of the GAA infrastructure for the County in order to support the creation of training and coaching structures for all County teams from minor upwards. While present Corporate Club Donegal was set up for a three year period up to and including the end of the 2009 season, it is our view that Corporate Club Donegal has a significant contribution to make, on a rolling basis, long into the future. Everyone involved in the GAA in Donegal respects the contribution being made by Corporate Club Donegal and acknowledges the very significant support which has been provided during the two seasons to date. If Donegal teams are to be successful, it is widely appreciated that the whole County must get behind the teams, the team Managements involved, the County Board and all other supportive structures including Club Donegal. So far Corporate Club Donegal has given significant leadership in terms of bringing the business community in behind this combined effort and it is something that we wish to continue on an ongoing basis. We believe our best hopes of team success are grounded in having all Donegal people, from all sections of the community support all of our teams, all of the time.

The innuendo that appeared in certain sections of the local media suggesting that Club Donegal exercised a role in the making of decisions in the selection of a senior team manager are untrue and without foundation. Donegal County Board C.L.G. wishes to clarify that Corporate Club Donegal has and had no role in selecting or influencing the selection of the senior team manager and never sought to exercise such a role.

The county Board can also state clearly that the funds received from Corporate Club Donegal have been expended in compliance with GAA rules.

Furthermore, the County Board completely understands the annoyance and frustration of the members of Corporate Club Donegal at this innuendo and, with the benefit of hind-sight it is something that we should have been dispelled at a much earlier stage. Donegal County Board C.L.G. would be very pleased to meet with the members of Corporate Club Donegal in the near future with a view to consolidating the role of Club Donegal during the coming years. That forum will provide an opportunity to discuss all of these issues raised by you. Hopefully the reassurances from our Coiste in relation to our wish to sustain Club Donegal and to retain a positive working relationship into the future will put to rest any concerns you may have.

As requested by you your letter was read to members at the County Board Meeting of October 22nd and then released to the media so that any misconceptions or misunderstandings which are out there can be addressed.

Coiste Chontae CLG Dhún na nGall respect and appreciate the financial support your members have provided for the training of our county teams in the last two years. It is our sincere hope that this support can be maintained and that together we can leave no stone unturned in our quest for success for all our Donegal teams.

Is Mise
le meas mór,
Charlie Ó Dónaill,
Rúnaí CLG Dhún na nGall

CC:
Michael Mc Ginley
Patrick Doherty
Feda O’ Donnell
Liam Clancy
Barry Jackson