Séamus McEnaney (born 1967/1968) is a Gaelic football manager and businessman. He has managed his native Monaghan county team (in two spells), as well as the Meath and Wexford county teams.

Séamus McEnaney
Personal information
SportGaelic football
Born1967 or 1968 (age 55–56)[1]
Corduff, County Monaghan,
Ireland
NicknameBanty[2][3]
Inter-county management
Years Team
2004–2010
2010–2012
2016–2017
2019–2022
Monaghan
Meath
Wexford
Monaghan
Inter-county titles
County League Province All-Ireland
Monaghan
Meath
1 0 0

Business career edit

McEnaney is in charge of Westenra Arms Hotel in the town of Monaghan.[1]

In December 2021, The Irish Times reported that the McEnaney controlled company Brimwood Ltd had been given payments of €15.78 million (including VAT) from the Irish state for asylum seeker accommodation (direct provision) at eight different properties across five counties in 2020, the largest sum given to any company for that purpose.[1] As well as County Monaghan, other properties are in County Cavan, County Dublin, County Louth and County Meath.[1] Brimwood's portfolio includes Dún Na Rí House Hotel, Airport Manor Hotel, Carnbeg Hotel, Setanta Guesthouse, Alverno House, San Giovanni House, Lisanisk House Hotel and Treacy's Hotel.[1]

Managerial career edit

Monaghan edit

McEnaney managed the Monaghan senior football team from 2004 until 2010.[4] Where he led his side to a National Football League Div 2 title in 2005. He also led Monaghan to a first Ulster Senior Football Championship final in 19 years in 2007 and again in 2010 but lost out to Tyrone both times.

Meath edit

McEnaney was appointed as Meath manager in November 2010.[5] He resigned in 2012 after Dublin defeated Meath by three points in the 2012 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final, and Laois defeated Meath by three points again six days later in the fourth round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.[6][7]

Wexford edit

In October 2016, McEnaney was announced as Wexford senior manager on a three-year deal.[8]

Yet he did not complete the three years on offer. He resigned as Wexford senior manager after one season in August 2017, blaming the distance he had to travel; the driving from his house in Carrickmacross to Ferns in Wexford was, he said, "a 500km round trip... I'd leave my house at 3.0pm to head to training and I wouldn't be back again until midnight. The driving was the single biggest reason because the county board and the players were top class. We had whatever we needed and the respect, commitment and attitude of the players couldn't be questioned."[2] He immediately began his search for a nearer post; within days of announcing his departure from Wexford he submitted his name for the then vacant Donegal senior football manager role that ultimately went to Declan Bonner.[3]

Return to Monaghan edit

McEnaney led Monaghan to an Ulster Minor Football Championship in 2018.[9] He was linked with the Down senior football manager role.[9]

In August 2019, McEnaney's return as Monaghan senior football team manager was confirmed.[10] In September 2021, following his suspension for bringing the Association into disrepute, Monaghan announced McEnaney would be retained as manager for a third year.[11] He left at the end of the 2022 season.[12]

Suspension edit

On 8 April 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Independent reported that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee had received photographic evidence and video footage of Monaghan footballers collectively training in late March and thus breaching the COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions then in force. Minister McEntee sent the details to both the Garda Síochána and Croke Park.[13] The incident occurred at Corduff GAA club near Carrickmacross and members of the county's management team were implicated.[14] The Department of Justice confirmed that it had received the information and passed it on to the Garda Síochána, the GAA and the Department of Health.[15] Gardaí launched an enquiry into the matter.[16] Hours later, Monaghan GAA announced it was suspending McEnaney for 12 weeks after the team manager admitted involvement in breaching the Level 5 restrictions and said it would comply with a GAA investigation into the incident.[17][18][19] Minister Jack Chambers told RTÉ: "My officials from the Department of Sport have been in touch with the GAA to reemphasise that all breaches undermine the broader public health messaging". Former GAA president Seán Kelly said: "It's terrible to see it happening, officially organised, in a GAA club, by a county team... Saying you can't start training until two or three weeks after other counties would be a good place to start" as an additional punishment, he said.[20] GAA president Larry McCarthy said the GAA's reputation had been damaged.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Séamus McEnaney firm receives €15.78m in State 'direct provision' payments". The Irish Times. 18 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Banty leaves Wexford after just one season". RTÉ Sport. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b McNulty, Chris (28 August 2017). "'Banty' in the mix for Donegal post as Monaghan man applies for job". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  4. ^ "McEnaney pulls out of Monaghan running". RTÉ Sport. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  5. ^ "McEnaney confirmed as Meath manager". RTÉ Sport. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Séamus McEnaney steps down as Meath manager". RTÉ Sport. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  7. ^ "How the Meath empire collapsed". Irish Independent. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  8. ^ Kelly, Niall (19 October 2016). "Banty is back in inter-county management". the42.ie. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  9. ^ a b Watters, Andy (22 August 2018). "Seamus McEnaney linked with return to senior scene as Down manager". Irish News. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney returns to the Monaghan hotseat". Independent.ie. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Séamus McEnaney to stay on as Monaghan senior football boss for third year". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Seamus McEnaney steps down as Monaghan boss". RTÉ. 29 June 2022.
  13. ^ Doyle, Kevin; Roche, Frank; Boyle, Donnchadh (8 April 2021). "Justice Minister alerts gardai to video 'showing Monaghan GAA players breaching Covid rules in training session' - Gardaí probe video". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  14. ^ Doyle, Kevin; Roche, Frank; Boyle, Donnchadh (8 April 2021). "Gardaí and GAA probe claims Monaghan players took part in collective training". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  15. ^ Cooney, Gavin (8 April 2021). "Gardaí investigating alleged training breach by Monaghan GAA". The42.ie. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Garda investigation after allegations of Monaghan training session". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Latest Monaghan GAA Statement". Monaghan GAA. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021. "Monaghan GAA suspend Seamus McEnaney for 12-weeks over training breach". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021. Kelly, Niall (8 April 2021). "Monaghan GAA suspend manager 'Banty' McEnaney for 12 weeks following training breach". The42.ie. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  18. ^ Roche, Frank (8 April 2021). "Monaghan GAA boss Seamus McEnaney banned for 12 weeks by county board after 'breach of Covid-19 regulations'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2021. Moran, Seán (8 April 2021). "Monaghan suspend manager Seamus McEnaney for 12 weeks after Covid-19 breach". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Monaghan admit breach of guidelines and suspend manager Seamus McEnaney for 12 weeks". RTÉ Sport. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021. "Monaghan suspend McEnaney for 12 weeks after training breach". BBC Sport. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  20. ^ Ryan, Eoin (8 April 2021). "Minister Jack Chambers labels latest inter-county rules breach 'unacceptable'". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  21. ^ "McCarthy: GAA's reputation damaged by training breaches". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
?
Monaghan Senior Football manager
2004–2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Meath Senior Football manager
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Wexford Senior Football manager
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Paul McLoughlin
Preceded by
?
Monaghan Senior Football manager
20??–2022
Succeeded by