# Donor withholds €250,000 over governance concerns

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/09/26/donor-withholds-e250000-over-governance-concerns/
- Published: 2019-09-26T12:35:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Millionaire Gaelic sport supporter Tim O’Leary has withheld €250,000 in fundraising
income from Mayo GAA’s county board in a row over governance, according to newspaper
reports.**

England based investor Tim O’Leary established the Mayo GAA International Supporters
Foundation to harness global support for Mayo GAA. Mr O’Leary was born in London
but is of county Mayo descent.

The Foundation says its main focus is the future development of the Mayo GAA including
a new Underage Academy initiative, state of the art Mayo GAA Training & Development
Centre in Castlebar, and other player welfare, educational and development programs.

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The [Mayo GAA International Supporters Foundation](http://www.mayogaafoundation.org)
is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in the USA.

Led by Mr O’Leary, the Foundation held a black-tie gala evening in the Cipriani 
Hotel, New York, which was attended by more than 300 people and raised $370,000 (
€338,000). New York GAA, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Mayo GAA club New York and Rockland
GAA also benefited from the night.

A letter to Mayo officials on July 11 from the Foundation pointed out that he had
made a payment of $150,000 to Mayo GAA in 2018 and that in total O’Leary’s contribution
to the Foundation and Mayo GAA stands at $415,000.

According to a source quoted in the Irish Times with experience of working to raise
funds for Mayo, there may be some confusion between the donor’s wishes and the needs
of the recipient.

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