O’Riordan will soon be joined by another full-time official

HOT on the heels of Limerick GAA’s confirmation this Monday that Mike O’Riordan was the successful candidate for the full-time county secretary position, another full-time official is to be appointed before the end of the month.
This Tuesday interviews took place to fill the newly-created position of County Games Development Manger.


Leader Sport understands that six candidates were interviewed for the position which will oversee the implementation of Lifting the Treaty among other roles.
The appointment of Mike O’Riordan as a paid employee, comes almost two years after Jimmy Hartigan did a u-turn and declined the offer to become Limerick GAA’s first full-time secretary.
The Kilmallock native has acted as Limerick GAA secretary for the last 16 months - securing the backing of the clubs of the county in an election contested against Denis Martin of Staker Wallace - taking over from Hartigan, who stepped down after over 20 years service.
The 33-year-old O’Riordan has worked as a sales representative with a Co. Tipperary-based builder providers firm.
O’Riordan served as club secretary of Kilmallock for five years before been elevated to the County Board.
He is also Limerick GAA’s delegate to Munster Council.
“I’m delighted to have been appointed,’’ Mike O’Riordan told Leader Sport.
“It’s a challenge, but one I am looking forward to very much.”
O’Riordan is expected to officially take up his role later this month, after final confirmation of his role is rubber stamped at the April 14 meeting of Limerick County Board.
After an executive meeting of Limerick GAA officers this Monday night, PRO Helen Cross confirmed O’Riordan was the selected candidate after the interview process.
“This evening, the Limerick County Board are delighted to announce the appointment of a full-time secretary to Limerick GAA - that is Michael O’Riordan of Kilmallock GAA,” said the County Board PRO Helen Cross.
“He will take up office over the next couple of weeks and will be based at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds,” said Cross.
The appointment brings to an end a two-and-a-half-year saga.
Back at annual convention in 2005 Limerick GAA was among the most progressive counties when club delegates voted in favour of creating the paid post of County Board Secretary.
The initial job advert appeared in newspapers prior to Christmas 2006 - three people applied for the job and in March 2007, the position was offered to long-serving secretary Jimmy Hartigan.
However, the Ballybrown man performed a surprise u-turn and declined the job and the idea of a full-time official was then shelved for over 12 months.
Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan reopened the process before Christmas.
There was a large number of job applicants and five were interviewed.

Jerome O’Connell