The GAA has commenced the formal process of replacing veteran administrator Frank Murphy as secretary of Cork GAA.

Murphy’s successor will take office at Cork’s annual Convention in December, and advertisements inviting applications for the post will be placed on public notice today.

His retirement will bring an astonishing 46 years at the helm of Cork GAA to a close for Mr Murphy, 74, with current county board chair Tracey Kennedy accepting his store of institutional memory will be “impossible to replicate”.

She said: “Frank has a vast store of knowledge and experience that will certainly be impossible to replicate, and much of it will not be easily transferable, but we will endeavour to put a plan in place to ensure the smoothest possible transition.

The Association at Croke Park level will oversee the appointment process and handle the applications, though it is envisaged that Cork will have a nominee on the interview panel.

The closing date for applications is July 20 with the job spec to be outlined in the online adverts today.

The outgoing secretary was given a one-year contract extension last year to help bring the €80m Páirc Ui Chaoimh stadium redevelopment to a successful conclusion. He will step down at convention, but it is yet to be decided whether the new appointment will have time to shadow his or her predecessor in advance of that December date.

We have yet to fully determine the details of the transition period — that’s something we’ll work out with the current county secretary and the new appointee in due course,” Kennedy added.

The GAA will be hoping to attract a diverse selection of candidates from business, administrative and sporting backgrounds, and there is likely to be considerable interest from internal Cork GAA candidates, including current senior administrator (and de facto assistant secretary) Diarmuid O’Donovan, former chair Ger Lane and member of the executive Marc Sheehan, though he has only recently been appointed a school principal in Carrignavar, Co Cork.

In terms of when the new appointment — who will de factor be the CEO of Cork GAA — will be confirmed, the chairman said: “The new appointee won’t be commencing duties until county convention in December, so we are not in a rush to complete the process. Following shortlisting etc, we expect interviews will take place sometime in August with the appointment likely to be confirmed in early September.”

She added that the appointment was “absolutely critical” to the future direction of Cork GAA.

“A county secretary can have a huge influence in so many areas, and it is vital that we get someone with the vision and ability to move Cork GAA forward in very challenging times; someone who will lead from the front and be well-equipped to manage the huge entity that is Cork GAA.

“There’s a huge opportunity here for the right person — positions of this nature don’t arise very often — and I’ve no doubt that the role will attract the very highest calibre of applicant.”

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