Louth County Council, Leinster Council GAA and Louth GAA combined in August 2007 to appoint and fund a GAA Club Support Officer for Louth. It was a first in the country then and a few more have followed writes PJ Geraghty.

It proved to be very much to our advantage that they chose the genial St Bride's clubman Donal McNally who had just completed an Honours Degree in Sports Studies at University of Ulster Jordanstown. Donal immersed himself in his new job from the start and in the three years he has been with us he has been an immense success. This has resulted in the first instant from his own ability, Donal has a hunger and passion for the work, he is a 24-7 man, there's nobody like him, a solid performer, he has a terrific ability to work with people, he has personality combined with ability and he has energy to burn.
Donal's work extended to many areas: Club School Liaison and Skills Development in Primary Schools and the Second Level Schools' Initiative to introduce first years to the GAA; the VHI Cúl Camps throughout the summer holidays and the Urban Camps at Easter and Halloween: the GAA's Coach Education Programme: the Academy Squads: Club Development and a huge administrative role to report on, record and interpret all this activity on the ground. As his work evolved with time and his role widened Donal became games Development Administrator for Co Louth in the past year.
When pressed Donal will not choose his highlights and successes but mention of Summer Camps, Coach Education, Schools and Clubs bring a smile to his face while people involved would consider his work with the Academy Squads to be huge.
The development of the under age structure within our county in the past few years is a matter of great satisfaction to Donal, the leadership of Brendan Carthy, Tomás McNamee and the late Hugh O'Hare has been an inspiration to him, working with Mairéad McGahon and John Byrne was very enjoyable and it was an added bonus that all this was happening within his own county.
The first big break on the playing field came for Donal when he represented Knockbridge and Louth in the Hurling Mini Sevens in Croke Park, he played hurling for the Louth Minor Team and played football and hurling for Louth at Under 21 level, he was named minor hurler of the year and two senior Championships followed with Knockbridge Hurling Club. With St Bride's he won Minor "B" Football Championship and Under 21 Football Championship and he continues to be a member of the St Bride's Senior Team.
It is with mixed feelings that we all encourage Donal to move on to an upward career spiral that takes him to Carlow Institute of Technology. Donal has landed a prestigious job: he will be Programme Development Officer for a B A Degree Course in Sports and Exercise within the GAA.
Somebody with a keen eye has spotted Donal, his work with us has been recognised and it gives us no little satisfaction that his work within our under age structure has been his launching pad to a great career. Carlow's gain is our huge loss and behalf of all in Louth GAA we wish you luck Donal. Tweet

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