ONE OF the key factors in holding an annual County Convention is to discuss the affairs of the G.A.A. in the county.

Alarm bells rang out at the gathering of Wexford Gaels in the Talbot Hotel on Monday night last when outgoing President, John Curtis, questioned the lack of debate on pages of officer reports and also the detailed financial breakdown.

Not a single question was raised relating to the officer reports, while Clonard delegate Joe Sheehan was the sole speaker on matters relating to finance.

As a result, all the reports were adopted without any discussion which must be somewhat alarming since this is the platform for clubs through their delegates to make their feelings known on the overall welfare of the Association in the county.

The matters need not have been negative as there was ample opportunity to put a positive light on affairs, given that they had enjoyed a surplus of ¤164,715 for the year compared to losses for the previous two years.

Having spoken of his enjoyment from his two-year term as President, John Curtis informed delegates that he had been attending the annual Convention since 1961.

'During the intervening years I have witnessed hours of debate dealing with the various reports, Secretary's report, Treasurer's report, and the various other reports. The discussions were open and frank, debates taking several hours, with the reports dissected as delegates sought out information and then proposed ways of improving the Association down the road.'

The Ballyhogue clubman, himself a former County Charman, pondered: 'I don't know what is wrong. The question must be asked, are we going in the right direction? We also used to have lots of debate on rule changes, formulated in the clubs, taken to County Convention and then to Congress.

'Now it's vice-versa for when they are debated at club level it's too late. There are now a whole list of rule changes which should be debated at club level and then taken to County Board. The sooner we get back with giving these powers back to the grassroots the better.'

On a night when Wexford Gaels had one of their quietest Conventions in years, there were no surprises in the two elections that took place, with delegates deciding against any tweaking of the top table.

Art Bennett (Oylegate-Glenbrien) is the new President, replacing John Curtis who had completed his two-year term of office.

For the Central Council post, Paddy Wickham held off the challenge of Willie Carley by 120 votes to 90, with six

spoiled, while Joe O'Shaughnessy and Seán Quirke won out in a four-way contest for the two Leinster Council posts.

On the first vote, Quirke was elected on 142 votes. Second was O'Shaughnessy with 135, followed by Michael Wallace on 72 and Mary Doyle with 62. Doyle was eliminated, with O'Shaughnessy defeating Wallace 131-82.

Officers for 2010 are - President, Art Bennett; Chairman, Ger Doyle; Vice-Chairman, Rory Murphy; Treasurer, Andrew Nolan; Assistant Secretary, Dermot Howlin; P.R.O., Mary Foley; Development Officer, Pat Doyle; Youth Officer, Denis Nolan; Oifigeach Gaeilge agus Cultúr, Tony Dempsey; Coaching Officer, Justin Browne; Central Council, Paddy Wickham; Leinster Council, Seán Quirke and Joe O'Shaughnessy.

Leinster Convention delegates (6): Margaret Doyle, Ger Doyle, Seán Quirke, Willie Carley, Mary Foley, Dermot Howlin.

All-Ireland Congress delegates (5): Seán Quirke, Mary Foley, Dermot Howlin, Paddy Wickham, Rory Murphy.

All-Ireland Congress Under-21 delegates (2): no nominations.

- BRENDAN FURLONG