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Writer's pictureMorgan Fagg

Tackling the tough stuff

New Committee elected for the Madrid Harps at AGG.A.A.M 2019

Gráinne Gill published her secretary’s report in the AGM’s agenda and quickly passed the ball to Javier Vincente Polo for his play by play treasurer’s report.


Javier got stuck into the tough stuff, tackling the club’s finances for the previous year, problems they encountered along the way, money lost on an Airbnb in Barcelona and money made through various club members’ activities such as raffles and quiz nights.


The Madrid Harps AGM was held in the James Joyce on Tuesday15th of October and elected their new committee which returned Javier Vincente as treasurer and Gráine as secretary.


I would wonder if the club’s bank account would have been as healthy if any one of the many members mentioned on the night didn’t put in all the hard work that they did, to raise money here, bake cakes there, sell tickets somewhere and by saving money on cancelling training sessions in time that had cost the club excessively the previous year.


Javier struggled to think of some of the financial expressions on occasion as he went through his powerpoint presentation but as the only Spaniard at the AGGAAM, it was going to have to be delivered in English and delivered quickly if the lads were going to see the second half of the match that was being played.


Javier as always, delivers for the team and over the years he has sourced more flights, trains and accommodation than you can possibly imagine and if we lost Javier during a tournament, we would need a Thomas Cook government response to get everyone home again.

The club had bounced back nicely from some previous expenses and worked well as a team when it came to organising training sessions that weren’t going to break the bank.


Nobody dropped the ball in the last season except of course in Barcelona where a scam apartment meant the team was short a few beds in Barcelona and some had to stay in a 5* hotel as the city was completely booked out that weekend, probably because of the G.A.A. tournament.


The way Javier told the story it sounded more like The Hangover then a tournament but despite the financial ups and downs and having to put players up in luxury accommodation, the club is fighting fit and ready for another season.


Hon the Harps


Distinguished Gentleman

Unknown to Javier, I had nominated him for the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in the category of Sport and Culture for his tireless work and commitment to the club where I think he has served in every role except mascot. The nomination was supported by Maria Mooney and Martin Kirwan but in the end the recipients for the Sport and Culture award were Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly in the US and the literary giant Ian Gibson who lives here in Madrid.


When Javier isn’t busy working as treasurer for the Harps he is also representing the club at European level and I think it is important to thank those who have made the club the success it is today and to thank Javier for the most interesting Treasurer’s report that I have ever heard in my life.


New Committee AGGAAM 2019

Chairperson: Jason Mallon

Secretary: Gráinne Gill

Assistant Secretary: Alvaro Brandon

Treasurer: Javier Vicente Polo

Men's Officer: Paddy Sherry

Ladies Officer: Sinéad Conboy

PRO: Eoghan Kelly

Sponsorship Officer: Jason Glynn

Accommodation Officer: Daragh McNamara


Unfilled positions:

Social Media Officer

Assistant PRO

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