Kildare GAA club Naas have performed a U-turn in their decision to appoint Rory Gallagher as part of their coaching staff, and will no longer pursue the former Derry boss, as reported by The Irish Independent.
It had been reported that GAA president Jarlath Burns contacted the club via email over the proposed appointment, in light of allegations of domestic abuse made by his estranged wife Nicola.
Gallagher resigned as Derry manager on the eve of the 2023 Ulster final after his former wife made these serious allegations of abuse against him, and has not managed at inter-county level since.
READ ALSO: Rory Gallagher 'Temporarily Debarred, Without Prejudice, From The GAA'
READ ALSO: Derry Manager Rory Gallagher Releases Statement Responding To Domestic Abuse Allegations
In September of that year, the Fermanagh man was subject to a 'temporary barring order' as a coach while an investigation was carried out and last February, the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority gave him the all-clear to coach again.
The ex-Donegal boss has been working as a coach with Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney for the Corduff club in Monaghan, but despite reports of a return to the Oakleaf county following Mickey Harte's departure, the Ulster side appointed Paddy Tally instead.
Naas have won the last four Kildare county championships, but have failed to win Leinster, falling to the Dublin champions in recent years.
READ ALSO: Reports: Naas To U-Turn On Rory Gallagher Appointment Amid Social Media Backlash
Joe Murphy was the man who oversaw that success, and in a plan to go one step further in 2025, Naas were looking to add Gallagher to his backroom team.
However, those plans have now been scrapped, and in the email that Burns was reported to have sent to the club, the Armagh native is believed to have cited the GAA’s role in the launch of the Game Changer project – a collaboration with Ruhama and White Ribbon Ireland aimed at raising awareness and action through sport to tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV).
Last September Phoenix Law released a statement, defending Gallagher's right to coach in the GAA.
"There is no legal impediment to our client undertaking or accepting a role as a GAA senior football manager.
"At all stages of this process, our client has firmly and steadfastly denied his guilt and refuted all the allegations levelled against him.
“Mr Gallagher has not been charged with a single offence.”
When the news of Gallagher's impending appointment with Naas first broke, there was a backlash on social media, as many commentators protested the possibility of him being involved.
The news of Naas' reversal was first reported by Tommy Callaghan of the Leinster Leinster on Monday.
John Fogarty of the Irish Examiner meanwhile reported that GAA HQ had contacted Naas over the weekend about the potential appointment.
SEE MORE: Seamus McEnaney Says That Rory Gallagher Was Offered Derry Job Twice
