Co Board boosted to the tune of $250,000

Meath GAA coffers were boosted to the tune of $250,000 following the presentation of a cheque from New York businessman John Breslin to the Co Board.

Breslin hosted a 'Sean Boylan Appreciation night' in New York last April and the presentation of the cheque was revealed at Tuesday night's Co Board meeting in Castletown.

Kells native Breslin is a huge Meath GAA supporter and operates a scaffolding company in New York.

He invited Boylan to an appreciation night in Rosie O'Grady's bar in Manhatten and the legendary Meath manager was joined by Colm O'Rourke, Bernard Flynn and Andy McEntee who answered questions from the huge gathering under the watchful eye of Irish Independent GAA correspondent Colm Keys.

Meath Co Board chairman Conor Tormey announced the presentation of the cheque, but withheld the value of it until after his speech where he thanked John Breslin and his brother Andy for their hard work.

Tormey also praised the contributions of Ronan Murphy who is also a Kells native, Meath GAA administrator Seamus Kenny and Mike Carthy who made his Rosie O'Grady premises available for the appreciation night.

“I want to start the meeting with good news. Last April we held our first overseas fundraising in New York and today (Tuesday) John Breslin presented us with the cheque from that great night out,†Tormey told the meeting.

“Hopefully this will be the first of many similar type of fundraising events and we will be looking at other fundraising events in the US and in Europe as well, so we are looking at every avenue.

“The night was to honour Sean Boylan and his contribution to Meath GAA and we had a questions and answers night with Sean, Colm O'Rourke, Bernard Flynn and Andy McEntee which was MC'd by Colm Keys, it was very entertaining and very successful,†concluded the chairman.

Tormey also revealed that the funds raised are not for the development of Pairc Tailteann and that the money is to be used for the development of underage games in both hurling and football.

As well as the invited guests Meath GAA were also represented in New York by Tormey, treasurer Jim Mullery, secretary Francis Flynn and Kenny.