Club engagement is key to moving forward - Paul McGonigle

Paul McGonigle believes that Donegal GAA has to find a better synergy with its clubs and membership body, moving forward, if it is to maximise its potential. 

The Buncrana clubman, along with St Eunan’s counterpart Fergus McGee, is in the running to succeed outgoing chairman Mick McGrath at next week’s county convention. 

And in the lead-in to the December 14 event, being held in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, McGonigle has looked to  gauge opinion with Donegal’s 40 clubs to see how he could better bring them into the decision-making process if he was indeed to be elected.  

“I’ve visited close to 30 clubs already and I plan to meet with the remainder in the next number of days,” said the former Donegal senior player. “I have to say the feedback there has been very positive. It was a very interesting exercise. 

“And because of that, hitting the road and going out to meet them, I feel I’ve an even broader view of where we’re at and where we want to go. Engaging clubs, the wider stakeholders, in that process is fundamental in moving all of that in the right direction. 

“And the general consensus there is that clubs want to weigh in a little bit more and become a much bigger part of the process and the decision making”. 

McGonigle says he sees huge potential in Donegal but explains that talent and energy off the field, as well as on it, will be just as important in propelling the county forward.  

“My view on this is very simple. We have 22,000 plus members and it stands to reason that progression will move forward even quicker the more we engage with them and gauge their opinion. 

“There are so many talented and foresighted individuals out there working with their clubs. And I definitely think we can tap into that”.