GAELIC GAMES: Wexford hurling manager Tony Dempsey has insisted that his commitment to the county hurlers will not be affected by his candidacy in this year's general election. Dempsey was selected on the Fianna Fáil ticket for Wexford at the weekend. Having taken early retirement from his position as a headmaster, he believes he will have enough time to combine both activities.
"I don't see it as a problem at all. A number of media people have asked me about that and it's also been on the minds of some supporters. One delegate to the selection convention, who's also an active clubman, said he was in a quandary in that he felt supporting me on the ticket might be voting against the best interests of the hurlers.
"My commitment to the hurlers remains undiminished," he said. "It's not a full-time job and although some people feel that the game is nearly professional, most of those involved at inter-county hold down jobs as well. Michael Bond was, like me, principal of a big school when managing the Offaly hurlers. If I was still a principal I'd find combining that a lot more demanding than being a candidate and a manager."
It is more the timing of the election rather than the likely demands on his time that makes Dempsey's decision so daunting. This year's election is expected to be held in May and can be no later than early June - precisely the time when the county's championship preparations will be peaking.
After last year's hugely heartening run in the championship, during which Wexford bounced back from a heavy Leinster final defeat by Kilkenny to surprise a highly fancied Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, and to take eventual champions Tipperary to a replay, there will be high expectations in the county.
Given that the run-in to an election can be very intensive, how will he juggle the competing claims of training and canvassing on those long summer evenings?
"I shall be with my hurlers. I'm not going to spend every waking moment canvassing. It's important to remember that I've retired from teaching and will have plenty of time for the election. Anyway my involvement with the team keeps my name in the public eye."
At present the constituency is split three ways between two Fianna Fail, two Fine Gael and one Labour TD. The early retirement of Ivan Yates has left Fine Gael vulnerable and it is obvious that Fianna Fáil will be trying to exploit this.
Their two current TDs, John Browne and Minister of State Hugh Byrne, are based in Enniscorthy and New Ross respectively. Dempsey lives in Barntown just outside Wexford town and with this optimum candidate spread, he believes he can deliver the third seat Fianna Fáil came within 500 votes of winning five years ago.
Dempsey's political background is within the party and he has been a member since the late 1960s, albeit not, by his own account, a particularly active one.
He says that his mind was made up last month after discussing the matter with local cumann members within the county and with senior Fianna Fáil figures. Most influential was a conversation with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
"I met Bertie Ahern and set out my programme. I told him I was convinced Fianna Fáil could win three seats."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the report of the GAA's Strategic Review Group will be published this weekend. President Sean McCague had expressed the hope earlier this month that the document could be released before the All Stars' trip to Argentina tomorrow week. The launch takes place in Dublin next Sunday.
The group has been meeting for over 18 months and its deliberations will form the basis of the most comprehensive strategy devised by the GAA in over 30 years. It has yet to be decided how its recommendations will be processed.
Those requiring rule changes will need to be referred to congress - whether a special meeting or the ordinary annual event in April. Some will be capable of being dealt with by Central Council.
Willie Barrett of Tipperary is to referee the exhibition game between the 2000 and 2001 hurling All Stars at the Hurling Club of Buenos Aires on Saturday, January 26th.
