Laois County Board - General Discussion

Laois345 · January 27, 2026, 04:54:45 PM

Said I'd create a post to discuss the county board and its current, past and future state.

I see Brian Allen was elected vice-chairman last night ahead of Tony Bambrick. I find this to unbelievable.

Tony Bambrick is fairly progressive and done a great job at pushing through the evidence-based restructuring of the football championship.

What is Brian Allen going to bring to the table that he hasn't already? No disrespect to Brian.

Laois man · January 27, 2026, 05:35:20 PM

We are going back ways.

Genocide Organ · January 27, 2026, 05:51:43 PM

Yep, nothing fresh about that appointment. As a hurling man, the best thing I can say is that at least he's from a hurling club. Honest to God - no one must want these jobs?!

Leixman · January 28, 2026, 10:20:18 AM

Well Tony Bambrick wanted the job. As usual the hurling clubs up to their old tricks. The same hurling clubs who wanted more 'senior' teams in the top tier championship? Same old dung with hurling clubs who have the same old diaspora attached to them as per the 1900s

Laois man · January 28, 2026, 11:39:21 AM

Football clubs have 16 senior teams this last number of years and about 6 of them won't win the intermediate Cship.

Verbal · January 31, 2026, 02:49:35 PM

Quote from: Leixman on January 28, 2026, 10:20:18 AMWell Tony Bambrick wanted the job. As usual the hurling clubs up to their old tricks. The same hurling clubs who wanted more 'senior' teams in the top tier championship? Same old dung with hurling clubs who have the same old diaspora attached to them as per the 1900s

Idiot

mcwregor · January 31, 2026, 08:52:58 PM

Quote from: Leixman on January 28, 2026, 10:20:18 AMWell Tony Bambrick wanted the job. As usual the hurling clubs up to their old tricks. The same hurling clubs who wanted more 'senior' teams in the top tier championship? Same old dung with hurling clubs who have the same old diaspora attached to them as per the 1900s

What a ridiculous post.

Smallballbigballs · October 21, 2026, 09:30:40 AM

When you wonder why integration is going to be a struggle, take one look at the controversies that have afflicted both of the female organisations just over the past couple of weeks for example. Fixture clashes player unavailability refusal to re-fix games when scores are obviously being mistaken by the Referee. How on earth do they think integration will happen when the two female organisations can't appear to get along and then you have a Club who are intent on putting their foot on the throat of their fellow parishioners over a genuine Referee mistake.

I commend the Gaa for pulling the handbrake until these organisations sort themselves out.

Verbal · October 21, 2026, 07:00:45 PM

100%
If the LGFA and Camogie associations can't cooperate, never mind merge, what in the name of God would the GAA be doing joining with them.

Brave and selfless of Tom Ryan and Jarlath Burns in fairness, to do the right thing, despite attracting negativity

Smallballbigballs · October 24, 2026, 04:13:46 PM

Gets even worse, game refixed and they object again. Could they not just go play the f**king thing and beat them again?

Tuner · October 24, 2026, 06:22:10 PM

https://www.laoistoday.ie/2026/10/23/new-candidate-emerges-for-laois-gaa-chairmans-role/
With PJ Kelly stepping down after 5 years as Chairperson, who is best placed to lead the county over the next 5 years? How involved has Barry O'Loughlin been with Rosenallis or Laois over the last few years? Business background aside would he have the sporting background to take the county forward

Coill na Cúirte · October 24, 2026, 08:19:32 PM

Quote from: Tuner on October 24, 2026, 06:22:10 PMhttps://www.laoistoday.ie/2026/10/23/new-candidate-emerges-for-laois-gaa-chairmans-role/
With PJ Kelly stepping down after 5 years as Chairperson, who is best placed to lead the county over the next 5 years? How involved has Barry O'Loughlin been with Rosenallis or Laois over the last few years? Business background aside would he have the sporting background to take the county forward

I've never heard of the man but an "outside" man with a business background might be exactly with the county needs.

G@@ · October 24, 2026, 10:58:22 PM

Quote from: Coill na Cúirte on October 24, 2026, 08:19:32 PM
Quote from: Tuner on October 24, 2026, 06:22:10 PMhttps://www.laoistoday.ie/2026/10/23/new-candidate-emerges-for-laois-gaa-chairmans-role/
With PJ Kelly stepping down after 5 years as Chairperson, who is best placed to lead the county over the next 5 years? How involved has Barry O'Loughlin been with Rosenallis or Laois over the last few years? Business background aside would he have the sporting background to take the county forward
I've never heard of the man but an "outside" man with a business background might be exactly with the county needs.

Tend to agree here, the costs keeping the GAA going are huge compared to what they were in the past. Someone with a business head wouldn't be the worst thing to have running things for a while at least. This guy seems passionate about Laois GAA - so probably be a decent appointment.

steven seagal · October 25, 2026, 10:03:12 AM

Quote from: Smallballbigballs on October 24, 2026, 04:13:46 PMGets even worse, game refixed and they object again. Could they not just go play the f**king thing and beat them again?

They never won it in the first place, that's the whole issue! The match was a draw, ref made a mistake on keeping score and awarded the win to Portlaoise. Heath objected and provided video evidence to prove the game was a draw. Portlaoise now going to DRA to avoid a replay.

steven seagal · October 25, 2026, 10:12:00 AM

Quote from: G@@ on October 24, 2026, 10:58:22 PM
Quote from: Coill na Cúirte on October 24, 2026, 08:19:32 PM
Quote from: Tuner on October 24, 2026, 06:22:10 PMhttps://www.laoistoday.ie/2026/10/23/new-candidate-emerges-for-laois-gaa-chairmans-role/
With PJ Kelly stepping down after 5 years as Chairperson, who is best placed to lead the county over the next 5 years? How involved has Barry O'Loughlin been with Rosenallis or Laois over the last few years? Business background aside would he have the sporting background to take the county forward
I've never heard of the man but an "outside" man with a business background might be exactly with the county needs.
Tend to agree here, the costs keeping the GAA going are huge compared to what they were in the past. Someone with a business head wouldn't be the worst thing to have running things for a while at least. This guy seems passionate about Laois GAA - so probably be a decent appointment.

I wouldn't necessarily agree. I think it's more important to have someone with a 'business head', as you say, as Treasurer more so than running the whole show. Laois GAA is not a business, it shouldn't be run like one. I think it's more important that whoever is in the role has a better understanding of people than anything else. You need to be able to build consensus and bring people with you, something we have lacked in a long time. I would say our biggest issues are around apathy, organisation, innovation and identity more so than financial. Maybe he meets that brief too, but I would think it would be very hard to run Laois GAA while living in another county and running a multi-million euro business at the same time. Being a club chairman is a serious time commitment, never mind chairman of a county board.