A regrettable sideshow to what was a philanthropic endeavour, the Donegal club Naomh Colmcille have opted to appeal an eight-week ban from adult competitions for hosting an 'unauthorised tournament' on their grounds.
The subject of a complaint(s) after the club's second pitch was used for purposes not directly pertaining to Gaelic games, journalist Chris McNulty outlined on Wednesday's OTB AM the exact nature of what had been a fundraising event for a former player and coach of the Donegal club.
"There was a fundraising drive back in February," McNulty outlined, "a weekend long series of events to raise money to refurbish the home of Paul Dillon."
Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease late last year, McNulty described Dillon as being a central figure within the GAA club.
"As part of this weekend's long fundraising drive there was a tournament organised by an independent local committee," explained McNulty, "headed up by the local Councillor Paul Canning."
"[He'd] sought permission from the GAA club to use their facilities at Pairc Colmcille, and the club had sought permission initially from Croke Park and were turned down late in that week.
"At some point on the weekend, I think the club decided to do the neighbourly thing [and allow the grounds to be used]."
Beyond the initial issue of allowing the fundraising event to go ahead without the GAA's authorisation, McNulty also outlined a further issue the organisation had taken with Naomh Colmcille's decision.
"What I'm lead to believe," McNulty outlined, "is it was turned down on the basis that it wasn't a GAA fundraiser."
"So it was [regarded as] a fundraiser for an external body."
Contravening the alteration afforded to county boards by the GAA in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Liam Miller fundraising event in Cork's Pairc Ui Chaoimh, grounds such as those used by the Donegal club are not available for similar, non-GAA related events.
Although opinions are divided as to whether GAA officials were correct to implement what was one of their own rules, there is a general consensus that those who forced the hands of these officials - those making the complaints - are to be heavily criticised.
"The rule book is one things," said McNulty, "the rule and the archaic way it is written in the official guide is a problem."
"But this is only a problem because its head has been raised by someone or some people to the county board.
"It's maybe a very Irish thing to say, and a very local thing to say, 'Ah, we should have just turned a blind eye.'
"In reality, there was a guy here who gave his life and soul to this community, this parish and this club, and he received such a devastating illness.
"This guy is the butcher in the local shop and he's just your quintessential Irish GAA man."
In a demonstration of warmth and good-feeling toward Dillon, McNulty pointed out how the fundraising efforts had thus far raised over €85,000 for the necessary refurbishment of his home.
"Now we're talking about him and his name is in headlines for all the wrong reasons," McNulty lamented.
"The unwritten rule of common sense should have come into play."
Speaking on the matter in the OTB AM studio, host David McIntyre summarised the situation surrounding the Donegal club in similarly disgruntled fashion: "I blame the person or persons who have made this complaint, and I wonder how they're sleeping at night when they hear this story being discussed ... and see what they've caused with this petty complaint."
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