IFA change election rules as contests loom large

The IFA moved to change some rules at this week’s executive council meeting, mainly concerning election procedures.

One change will see all future county officer positions voted on in a single ballot with transferable votes. This will replace the current system where multiple rounds of voting take place.

The proposal was brought forward from Kerry, where some people were halfway home when it became apparent that a second ballot would be required to elect a county chair in January.

Another proposal carried will see the size of a branch taken into account when its officers cast their votes in regional chair elections, under the “weighted vote” system that allocates one vote per 25 branch members.

Meath proposed to reduce the requirement for nominations for regional chair from the current three (own county plus two) to the lower bar of two (own county plus one). That proposal failed.

A raft of responsibilities were also delegated to the new position of secretary, occupied by Bryan Barry.

This all clears the way to crack on with the upcoming IFA elections.

Nominations close next Monday, so we will have declared candidates canvassing at the Ploughing.

There is little likelihood that president Joe Healy or deputy president Richard Kennedy will be opposed.

Similarly, Padraic Joyce and John Coughlan are not expected to face any opposition to their re-election as Connacht and Munster regional chairs.

On the other hand, it sounds like there could be quite a few candidates for the positions that will definitely become vacant.

Treasurer/returning officer Jer Bergin, and regional chairs James Murphy and Bert Stewart will all step down on completion of their four-year terms. Stewart and Murphy are likely candidates for Bergin’s job, along with Galway chair Pat Murphy, dairy chair Sean O’Leary, farm family chair Maura Canning, and North Tipperary chair Tim Cullinan.

In South Leinster, I understand that Tom Short will be nominated by Wexford and Laois, two of the big three counties in the region. There is little talk of a Kilkenny candidate to succeed James Murphy in the role. Liam Dunne, the Kildare man currently chairing the grain committee, is reportedly interested.

In Ulster/North Leinster, James Speares of Cavan will be in the race. Both Kenneth Bray and Nigel Reneghan are chasing the required nominations, but as of now I understand Matthew McGreehan will not be a candidate.