Michael Duignan interview part 6: GAA president and political ambitions and late 2024 role with Ballinamere

What is in the future for Michael Duignan? You have went in as Central Council delegate which has fuelled speculation that you may have ambitions to be GAA president?

“The reason I went for Central Council last year, and it wasn't ideal because I was sitting in the chair and going for two roles, it could have looked like this man wants to take over, was because the vacancy arose. If I didn't go for it and Dolores (Slevin, Kilcormac-Killoughey), who I would have a lot of respect for, went against me, if Dolores had gone into the job, I couldn't go against her a year later. I wouldn't do that.

“I had a choice. Paddy (Scales, St Rynagh's) was leaving the job and that is why I went a year early. I want to put that on the record. There were a couple of things at play. I wasn't sure what was going to happen this year in terms of the transition, I was anxious to be still on Management and Colm and Dervill had told me they weren't going, even back that far, that they were moving on. I felt it was important to have some form of continuity with our staff. We have fourteen coaches plus John (Hackett, Operations Manager) and Carina (Haverty, administrator). We have a lot going on to hand over to our new officers. That was a vehicle to do that.

“Also, I would have a broad interest in the direction of the GAA, where it is going. I don't know after that, I don't think I would be interested in being president. I am being straight on that. I wouldn't rule it out 100% but my instinct would be it is very very political and I am not very political. I am not sure I would go through the process of doing all you would have to do on the campaign trail. It is a job I would like to do but whether I would like to go through the preamble of visiting the 32 counties and doing what you have to do is the question. Jarlath Burns saw it the first time out, he mounted a huge campaign and didn't get elected. That was probably down to politics, there was concern about him coming in. Then he went through it again and fair play to him, I think he is going to be one of our greatest presidents. He is a super guy.

“I wouldn't rule it out fully but my gut feeling is I am 57 in February and every time I talk to you, I am talking about my age. In my interview five years ago, I said I am 52 next February, now it is 57. From a business point of view, I have invested an awful lot in the GAA over the last five years. I have kept the business going but only for Tadgh (Sheedy, his business partner), who works with me, there have been times when I have taken my eye of the ball. I am starting to look at retirement and I am in no shape or form anywhere near that from a financial point of view so I have to focus on that.

“We will see what happens. I have committed to being Central Council rep for next year and that is an annual appointment. Dervill, myself and Colm have committed to the new officers that we will be there for whatever they need. We have also committed to getting involved in the sponsorship and fundraising side of the house. We will probably try to reignite Club Faithful (the Supporters Club) as that vehicle a bit more in terms of the ongoing sponsorship and fundraising that is needed. We will be around the place to help and direct but at the same time Tom (Parlon), Brendan (Minnock, secretary) and Frank (Fitzpatrick, treasurer) are the lads in charge. They will bring their own direction to it and we are happy to help.”

There has been speculation over the years about political parties headhunting you for elections. Was there any temptation to bite?

“Not on this occasion. I was committed to the job I was in. I am very passionate about Offaly and I will always say that. People know that at this stage but I didn't think the time was right. There were European elections last year and I was approached. I was approached for the General Election as well. I won't say by whom, I don't want that on the record and I decided not to. We have three new Tds gone in there, I wish them well and Barry is in Europe. We are well represented.

“Not at the moment.”

That sounds like you aren't ruling it out though?

“I am around long enough not to rule anything out fully. I would kind of have an interest. Very much from an Offaly point of view, I think there is investment needed in the county. That road out in Durrow is getting worse and worse. I was trying to get out there the other morning, I was 20 minutes. I drove up to the Church and turned and came back down. It is lethal.

“I think we need more industry coming to the town, we need another hotel in Tullamore. I know that is not a political thing but you need to be encouraging these things and driving the county on because you get stale, no more than anything else. You get stagnant. You have to encourage housing and there is plenty of issues out there I have an interest in. I have an interest in people. I wouldn't rule it out fully but in the short term, I still have plenty on my plate with Offaly GAA, with Central Council. I am on two committees in Croke Park as well and I am going back with Ballinamere as joint manager this year with Niall (Rigney) – joint managers is the only way forward! That will be interesting because there are two strong personalties there but we get on very well.”

You are surprising me with the interest and passion you are expressing in politics, I expected a straight no. Would you have any affinity to any political party over another?

“I have always been more impressed by the person than the party. I know there has to be a party element to it to bring structure. You can't have 130 independents or whatever so I understand the need for the party structure. It brings constraints at times in that you have to go with the whip or whatever. That would be something I would struggle with because I am fairly independent in the way I think about things. Whether I have party allegiances or not, I might be more independently minded.”

I am sure that if I went down to Banagher, Pat or Sinead Moylan (former Fianna Fail councillors from the town) could tell me what way your father and mother voted and your grandfathers before them?

“Well they wouldn't in Banagher. My father was a Connemara man and my mother was from Tipp. Look it, we would be predominantly republicans obviously, like most Irish people. I am probably not really aligned to any political party. I would be more interested in the quality of the person than the party.”

You mentioned Ballinamere there and you went into Ballinamere as a selector ahead of the senior hurling final this year. Was that a big thing to do while still County Board chairman, there was a huge grey area there?

“It was and there was a conflict or potentially was. It could have been tricky if anything went wrong or happened. I kept as much as I could in the background. In the semi-final and final, I was on the line a little bit but I was very focused on the performance only. It was a little bit of a conflict but I will be honest with you, I need to push on, I saw an opportunity there and the lads were anxious for me to come in, both management and players.

“We got close and didn't do it but it was brilliant to be back. What I found about the admin job is the days are long but I wasn't a great evening man, I am not a great man for meetings in the evenings. 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening would be my sort of day. Have my dinner then, lie on the couch, go to bed and go again. Relax.

“I was involved in a lot but I wasn't doing a lot in the evenings or outside of GAA. I was playing golf at 7.30 on a Sunday morning with the lads and that opportunity gave me a lot of energy; getting out there in the evening, training and trying to improve the lads. I enjoyed it so we are going at it next year.”

Was it hard to have to regroup yourself straight after the final whistle and present the trophy to Kilcormac-Killoughey, I presume you had prepared yourself for that possibility?

“I was prepared for it. Yet and it is the way I am as a person, I couldn't see us being beaten in the county final. I thought we would win and were in a great place going into it. You try not to dream but I was thinking it is my last year, first Senior Hurling Championship, Burkey (Ciaran Burke) getting the cup. All these things were going through my head, yet being realistic, I had to be prepared. K-K were the favourites and could win it.

“When it was over I had to regroup and go and do my job. I sound a bit like Roy Keane now but I had a job to do and everything I said, I meant. They were the better team on the day and it was from the heart. It was a position I put myself in, no one else put me in it so I had to deal with it.”

Would you have gone in as a selector if it was not your last year as chairman?

“I wouldn't have done it. Only I was going, I couldn't have done it.”

Have you any regrets from the five years, was there anything you wanted to do but didn't get done?

“No I don't think so. If you look at our strategic plan and you saw the pillars we had, the club coverage thing was a bit disappointing. We didn't make the inroads we thought we might make. We were only doing that with the best interest of the clubs at heart so hopefully that will grow and develop over a bit of time.

“After that, I think all the main objectives, structural changes, staff, nutrition, medical stuff, S and C, the operations side of the house with John and Carina, coaching staff with Adrian (Clancy) running it, we have 14 staff now, our schools' improvement, all of those things, I am delighted with where we are. It kind of flipped with the football and hurling. We won U20 football first and then the hurling came. In an ideal world, we might be a year or two ahead of where we are in the football. We probably stalled a little bit there.

“As a county, we brought in a lot of new sponsors. We wanted to leave it in a steady place, that the structures are there and to follow that template. I think it is important and I think it will happen, Tom and the lads will bring freshness and new ideas to the party which is very important. I look forward to seeing the direction that will take. It will be challenging again.”