Tim O'Leary to tender for Mayo GAA sponsorship opportunity

Despite Mayo GAA deciding to 'end all dialogue' with benefactor Tim O'Leary nine months ago, he has intimated on Twitter that he is going to tender for a sponsorship opportunity with the organisation.

Mr. O'Leary, under his handle @newportmayo1951, tweeted earlier today: “Best wishes to @mayogaa on Sunday. After much consideration talking with my family, we have decided to tender for the sponsorship for the back of the shirt where we would like to place my grandfather name ‘Rodger McGowan’. A fitting memory to a great man.”

Last week, Mayo GAA announced that a number of 'exciting and high profile' sponsorships are available for the 2021 season, including back of the jersey sponsorship and MacHale Park naming rights.

Tensions between the Mayo GAA executive and Mr. Leary surfaced last year when he questioned the governance of the organisation and initiated court proceedings over a €150,000 donation. The dispute was resolved in January of this year but then, on February 24 last, Mayo GAA issued a statement in the wake of Mr. O'Leary criticising and calling for the resignation of senior team manager James Horan on Twitter following defeat to Monaghan in the National League over the previous weekend – a tweet he subsequently apologised for.

That Mayo GAA statement regarding its relationship with the benefactor outlined: “Although relations were strained for a number of months, a way forward was agreed in January and it was hoped that both parties would be able to work together for the betterment of Mayo GAA.

“This, however, is now not the case. The club delegates of Mayo GAA have mandated agreed behaviours based on mutual respect, the exclusion of animosity and the inappropriate use of communication channels such as social media.”

Mr. O'Leary had tweeted: “#Horanout We are not very good #TruthHurts always.” In his subsequent apology, he said: “Sorry for my outburst yesterday – had a few too many pints – lesson learned – I am going to keep my mouth shut going forward.” The original tweet was also deleted.

Following that episode, the Mayo GAA International Supporters Foundation, of which Mr. O'Leary was founder and chairperson, closed down. It was announced afterwards that the Mayo GAA County Board would not receive €250,000 in funding which had been raised at an event in New York last year. It was believed to have been earmarked for the proposed Mayo GAA Centre of Excellence in Castlebar.

The foundation made a series of donations in the wake of closing down in line with the wishes of donors and trustees.

Mr. O'Leary has been active on Twitter again since November 1 – the day Mayo started their championship journey against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon – following a self-imposed exile for what he later termed 'bad behaviour' on the platform.