Ewan McKenna

[screenexile]

McKenna is a massive w**ker.

I know I'm as guilty talking about him as the rest of us but the above should have been the first and last post of the thread... it covers everything!

[Dag Dog]

So they must have tried all the real journalists first, then settled on Sports Gemma.

https://x.com/KCsixtyseven/status/1869405055092392062

[p3427977]

So they must have tried all the real journalists first, then settled on Sports Gemma.

https://x.com/KCsixtyseven/status/1869405055092392062

[bennydorano]

Fun & games 2nite at Mayo convention by the sounds of it. Probably not Ewan's doing but it's in his hinterland.

[screenexile]

Gemma in meltdown this evening!!

Enjoyed the one about the 5 lads living in the warehouse in Dublin that's a bit mental!!!

[Dag Dog]

Mayo GAA and Jarlath Burns condemn 'toxic' online campaign aimed at county board

Eavan Murray
Yesterday at 22:35
Mayo County Board, backed by GAA president Jarlath Burns, have denied claims of financial mismanagement and released a "snapshot" of threatening emails sent "incessantly" to board members.

Mayo chairman Seamus Tuohy said an online campaign was now "an adult safeguarding issue" and they could no longer ignore the relentless and targeted abuse.

GAA director-general Tom Ryan gave a presentation to delegates tonight which detailed the current and past financial situation of Mayo GAA.

Burns, meanwhile, condemned "toxic activity" targeted at Mayo GAA officers.

Following a vote Mayo delegates unanimously passed a motion condemning a campaign of abuse and intimidation and also a motion of confidence in all current officers of the county board.

Mayo secretary Ronan Kirrane read aloud a "snapshot" of the emails received by delegates. One email sent read: "In the next six months you will be publicly humiliated, probably lose your professional licence as a chartered accountant but worst of all your friends and family will turn their backs on you."

Another email said: "You are now the number 1 target. If we take you out – Mayo GAA will have a bright future."

Another said: "Please understand that I have serious intellectual and financial resources available to me to develop and sustain a campaign, and I am now fully committed to go all the way with this."

And another: "You need to understand that ignoring such offers comes with consequences. You and those like you who participate in corruption and/or cover up corruption will be exposed. And exposed in the most public manner."

Burns condemned the campaign that continues to be directed towards the officers of Mayo GAA by a small group of individuals. The county board confirmed it has reported the matter to An Garda Síochána and that it intends to seek legal advice on the matter in the next week.

"Mayo is a proud county with incredible GAA pedigree," Burns stated at the meeting. "It's a county that is respected by the entire GAA family across the island of Ireland. But without unity there can be no progression. The GAA has a duty of care to the officers in every club and county, not only under adult safeguarding policies, but also to promote and value the selfless work of the volunteers that make our Association what it is. This is what we are doing here in Westport.

"I've been very concerned about the threats, intimidation and toxic activity that has been directed against the officers, which is bound to have a negative impact on all aspects of the administration of Mayo GAA. It's now time for this to stop," Burns said.

Tuohy said the volunteers who make the GAA what it is must be protected.

"Fundamentally, this is an adult safeguarding issue – something we take extremely seriously in the GAA. There is no world in which it is acceptable to direct a campaign of harassment and abuse at individuals who volunteer their own time to serve this association," he stated.

"The GAA is built upon the support and commitment of volunteers up and down the country. If we allow our officers to be subjected to the levels of abuse and harassment that officers of Mayo County Board have had to endure over the past year, then there will be no GAA in the future," Tuohy said.

Ryan gave a detailed presentation to the meeting, which outlined how Croke Park acquired a €5m bank loan in 2015 relating to Mayo GAA.

Under the terms of the agreement, the GAA secured a €1m reduction in the capital value of Mayo GAA's loan, extended the repayment schedule to 29 years and reduced the loan interest rate from 3.2pc to 1.9pc.

This arrangement helped reduce Mayo GAA's monthly loan repayments from more than €46,000 per month down to €34,000 per month – a change that resulted in a cash saving of €150,000 per annum for Mayo GAA.

This renegotiated loan arrangement greatly improved the county board's cash flows and helped direct more funding towards the preparation of county teams each year.

Ryan outlined to club delegates how the loan arrangement has been reorganised further in recent years, with the loan term extended out to 32 years and repayments reduced further to €25,000 per month.

In total, the new loan arrangement has saved Mayo GAA over €100,000 in loan repayments to date.

The figures outlining these reductions in loan repayments and the amortisation of the loan have been fully disclosed in the accounts of Mayo GAA for the past several years, the meeting heard.

Meanwhile, the Irish Independent contacted a vocal critic of the Mayo County Board and put a number of the claims made at the meeting to him, including the contents of several emails.

The person said: "As you can appreciate this comes across as a very threatening email. I strongly refute all such allegations. My legal team in London will deal with the individuals who clearly have directed you to me."

[Dag Dog]

Ewan and the cockney banker in full Gemma mode 

[Rossfan]

Awful stuff.

[Armamike]

Without naming names are these people high up in GAA circles in Mayo, linked to the county board previously or completely outside of that?

[weareros]

Without naming names are these people high up in GAA circles in Mayo, linked to the county board previously or completely outside of that?

I think it's fairly public domain at this stage that one was a big financial backer from England, eager to help them win Sam during the Horan era. Things turned sour when he asked how his money was being spent and supposedly they sent receipts that included expenses on bananas and new blinds for the county board office -Ewan has that question in his letter to Mayo County Board. They also accidentally cc'd him on correspondence where they called him a donkey, and compounded matters by playing Brendan Shine's "Shoe the Donkey" over the Tanoy during a game he attended. I think he was sent an apology for that. Don't think Martin MacDonagh could have written the script on this one.

[Baile Brigín 2]

So to sum up, the allegation is a moneybags funded a county, the money wasn't spent where he wanted it, so he has orchastrated a campaign against the county board and individuals within, having co-opted an unemployed sports journalist to do his dirty work. Some of the dirt dug up is legitimate, most is madness.

What can Mayo CB or Croke Park do here?

[Captain Obvious]

Seem to really hit a nerve for Ewan when his name wasn't mentioned in that meeting last night instead called a group of abusive toxic individuals 

[Wildweasel74]

Here if he donating to the county board it's up to them to sort it allocation. Not be dicated to by a sponsor.Esoecially one dropping the shorts on national tv. Don't seee much of a Mayo man in him more a hanger on.

[Baling Twine]

Here if he donating to the county board it's up to them to sort it allocation. Not be dicated to by a sponsor.Esoecially one dropping the shorts on national tv. Don't seee much of a Mayo man in him more a hanger on.

The London trader types are usually dysfunctional people. Sociopathic, arrogant and egotistical. They might be successful at the financials but are horrible people to deal with.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Here if he donating to the county board it's up to them to sort it allocation. Not be dicated to by a sponsor.Esoecially one dropping the shorts on national tv. Don't seee much of a Mayo man in him more a hanger on.

He seems to have believed his 'investment' was equity, like buying into a soccer or rugby club. He seems to have expected seats on the board and a say.

Should this not have been very clear the first time they met?