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Government Sport Funding

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Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 14/01/2020 22:18:00    2259834

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Replying To Canuck:  "Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans."
Don't start with this divisive nonsense. The Sportsground is in dire need of an upgrade so I'm glad it is getting an upgrade. The onus is on the GAA to convince the Government to fund redevelopment of Walsh Park.

Hawkeye9212 (Donegal) - Posts: 266 - 14/01/2020 22:43:16    2259842

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Replying To Canuck:  "Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans."
Very silly to go down who has contributed more to society as how do you measure it?
What has professional sport got to do with it?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3496 - 14/01/2020 22:54:18    2259846

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Tax payers money needs to provide value and ultimately a return on the investment into the economy.

Connacht play in two international tournaments per year.
10/11 home matches in the pro14 and 3/4 in a wider euro cup competition. In a good season they will play 16 home matches bringing hopefully an average of 8k people per match 30% of whom travel from outside the county of Galway and a good percentage of whom are coming from a different country and spending their money in Connacht.
Better facilities might attract more outside money and therefore more taxes into the economy thereby paying for the stadium.
The sportsground can be used for all sports and will be used for dog racing also. This type of shared amenity is where tax payers money should go.

Walsh park is not permitted for use by non gaa sports, will only be filled 3-4 times a year, is too far out of the way for use as a neutral venue and is less than 40 mins from the greatest waste of money of a stadium ever built. You now want another monument to stupidity in Waterford. No chance.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1105 - 14/01/2020 23:14:15    2259852

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Sickens me that the govt withhold all this funding until the election is announced and then they start handing out money left right and centre. Buying votes

11jm11 (Kildare) - Posts: 365 - 14/01/2020 23:36:30    2259859

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Interesting you fail to mention the huge grant for Leinster Rugby to redevelop the RDS...how well you had to pick on Connacht....

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 15/01/2020 00:05:48    2259866

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Replying To Hawkeye9212:  "Don't start with this divisive nonsense. The Sportsground is in dire need of an upgrade so I'm glad it is getting an upgrade. The onus is on the GAA to convince the Government to fund redevelopment of Walsh Park."
Agreed. Many GAA fans are sports fans in general and any investment in sport in this country is positive. Let's not forget that Páirc Uí Chaoimh got €30m of this funding, by far the biggest grant of any recipient. The GAA certainly weren't neglected in this regard.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2037 - 15/01/2020 08:54:42    2259891

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Replying To Canuck:  "Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans."
And Meath have just magic'd up the money for Pairc Tailteann I suppose??

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 15/01/2020 09:07:39    2259897

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Replying To Canuck:  "Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans."
Thats up to Waterford CB to get in place.

You gonna whine when Ross bails the FAI out?

Gator (Monaghan) - Posts: 238 - 15/01/2020 09:22:02    2259900

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There are about 40 adult teams, between mens and womens, that play rugby in Connacht. Them 40 teams come from about 20 clubs. It should be a great boost to the province that each club is benefitting by roughly €1m each from the grant. For comparison, the Pairc Ui Chaoimh funding was €30m for an organisation looking after 260 clubs and over 400 adult teams.
Of the 15 lads who started for Connacht in their most recent game 3 of them started the sport at a Connacht based club, 5 of them started the sport in another country. It will be interesting to see if this €20m funding will eventually see local lads get a better opportunity to play at a decent level, or if it will make more available to bring in more foreign recruits.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 15/01/2020 11:00:06    2259932

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Replying To Canuck:  "Just like that the government provides 20 million towards a new stadium for Connacht rugby. A professional sport. Waterford were waiting for the last three years to have 3.75 million approved to upgrade Walsh Park. The project could not start at the original time while waiting. It has got to be political clout or the lack of. Nothing again rugby but who has contributed the most to society (voluntary) in the last 100 years, Connaught rugby or Waterford GAA, players, Volunteers and fans."
In fairness to Connacht Rugby, the professional way they went about their business in announcing, planning, consultations with the local community & business, their financial plan, their approach to Govt was very very professional. They did their homework well. Connacht Rugby have harnessed massive funding from the Galway & Connacht business community as they are seen to be accountable & doing things well by the business community. I know many business people who are all from big GAA backgrounds who no longer have any involvement with local GAA as they have experienced the rot that is there & they are now involved in going to & funding Connacht Rugby. Contrast this to events in Galway GAA where financial irregularities, which still hasn't seen the full exposure & numerous bad news stories within the organisation are the norm. Galway GAA's first approach to seeking planning for floodlighting at Pearse Stadium was a classic example of the difference in organisation, look it up online, it beggared belief at the time. Add in the whole Pairc Ui Chaoimh fiasco where three different final figures were given & the recent reports that the full figures in Cork weren't presented to the delegates, GAA people have to acknowledge that there is total incompetence in the way they approach planning, launching, funding & most of all controlling financing of capital infrastructure projects within the GAA. There are so many stories currently around GAA, the whole fiasco in Mayo with the sponsors money, Mc Hale Park redevelopment, the mess in Galway, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Casement Park, it's endless. If an organisation comes in & approaches Govt or local authorities & is professional in the way they carry out their due diligence then they deserve the money. The GAA deserve nothing at present as they aren't capable of running capital infrastructural projects. As for whose the most deserving volunteers, come on your a smart guy & good poster, that is just deflection. You should be pointing your finger at those in Croke Park who are responsible, they wouldn't even concede to ye playing your games in Nowlan Park or nearby & made your supporters travel all over the country, that decision showed contempt for the people of Waterford, they are the people you need to direct your ire towards.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 15/01/2020 13:04:36    2259966

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Replying To Gator:  "Thats up to Waterford CB to get in place.

You gonna whine when Ross bails the FAI out?"
The CB may not be perfect but had all the planning, studies and design were done but could not start because government had not approved. This is the main point as to why this approval took so long. I am not anti Connacht rugby (played rugby at a decent level) or any other sport but never heard of an application for 20 million until a heading saying it was granted. Maybe it did exist. It smacks of who has the most pull, it is only Waterford. Personally I could not care a dam if Ross bails out the FAI or not. My support is for Waterford GAA and the GAA in general including your county.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 15/01/2020 14:29:01    2260005

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Tax payers money needs to provide value and ultimately a return on the investment into the economy.

Connacht play in two international tournaments per year.
10/11 home matches in the pro14 and 3/4 in a wider euro cup competition. In a good season they will play 16 home matches bringing hopefully an average of 8k people per match 30% of whom travel from outside the county of Galway and a good percentage of whom are coming from a different country and spending their money in Connacht.
Better facilities might attract more outside money and therefore more taxes into the economy thereby paying for the stadium.
The sportsground can be used for all sports and will be used for dog racing also. This type of shared amenity is where tax payers money should go.

Walsh park is not permitted for use by non gaa sports, will only be filled 3-4 times a year, is too far out of the way for use as a neutral venue and is less than 40 mins from the greatest waste of money of a stadium ever built. You now want another monument to stupidity in Waterford. No chance."
Although I was surprised by the large portion of funding rugby got this year i agree completely that the Showgrounds and Walsh park are no comparison. The Walsh Park mess is the fault of no one but Waterford CB as anyone could see that the stadium has been lagging behind its contemporaries for years now and is way overdue a revamp.

As for the great waste of money stadium is that Cork you were referring to?

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 15/01/2020 15:26:09    2260018

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Replying To Canuck:  "The CB may not be perfect but had all the planning, studies and design were done but could not start because government had not approved. This is the main point as to why this approval took so long. I am not anti Connacht rugby (played rugby at a decent level) or any other sport but never heard of an application for 20 million until a heading saying it was granted. Maybe it did exist. It smacks of who has the most pull, it is only Waterford. Personally I could not care a dam if Ross bails out the FAI or not. My support is for Waterford GAA and the GAA in general including your county."
The point is it did exist & was very professionally executed. They had all the groundwork done.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 15/01/2020 15:47:29    2260024

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Replying To Soma:  "There are about 40 adult teams, between mens and womens, that play rugby in Connacht. Them 40 teams come from about 20 clubs. It should be a great boost to the province that each club is benefitting by roughly €1m each from the grant. For comparison, the Pairc Ui Chaoimh funding was €30m for an organisation looking after 260 clubs and over 400 adult teams.
Of the 15 lads who started for Connacht in their most recent game 3 of them started the sport at a Connacht based club, 5 of them started the sport in another country. It will be interesting to see if this €20m funding will eventually see local lads get a better opportunity to play at a decent level, or if it will make more available to bring in more foreign recruits."
This money isnt going to clubs. Its capital investment for a stadium. Number of clubs is nothing to do wih it.
What relevance does background of players have to this debate and connacht will always have plenty come from Munster, Leinster and elsewhere play for then considering the playing numbers In province. The numbers playing pro from connacht will increase over time as more development officers and coaches get kids playing rugby and it shows at older ages

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3496 - 15/01/2020 16:51:46    2260034

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We get ol Lizzy to pay for ours up here.

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 912 - 15/01/2020 16:55:22    2260036

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Replying To Breezy:  "Although I was surprised by the large portion of funding rugby got this year i agree completely that the Showgrounds and Walsh park are no comparison. The Walsh Park mess is the fault of no one but Waterford CB as anyone could see that the stadium has been lagging behind its contemporaries for years now and is way overdue a revamp.

As for the great waste of money stadium is that Cork you were referring to?"
Like I said not defending the CB totally and have no time for the east west separate boards. However there as many people as any other county who have diligently served the CB and the sport. The reality is there and has been limited funds available to do improvements with the emphasis on keep head above water. Walsh Park is tired now but has been refurbished twice in my life time. It is one of the best playing surfaces in the country. Its remains to be seen if that will be the same after renovation. It would not surprise me if many who comment on it have never been inside the gates. It is easy throe stones. When we were growing up playing juvenile getting to play a county final there was like going to Croke Park. You are correct to the people of Waterford there is no comparison between the Showgrounds and Walsh Park. Good luck to the Showgrounds but no apologies here for which one is more important.
With regards funding, may be all funding (tax payers money) should be suspending until people living and dying on the streets stop. No beds in hospitals and staffing shortages fixed. All this money would put many people in homes and take care of health. These are the important things in life and once corrected star funding other non essential projects.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 15/01/2020 18:21:58    2260055

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Replying To Canuck:  "Like I said not defending the CB totally and have no time for the east west separate boards. However there as many people as any other county who have diligently served the CB and the sport. The reality is there and has been limited funds available to do improvements with the emphasis on keep head above water. Walsh Park is tired now but has been refurbished twice in my life time. It is one of the best playing surfaces in the country. Its remains to be seen if that will be the same after renovation. It would not surprise me if many who comment on it have never been inside the gates. It is easy throe stones. When we were growing up playing juvenile getting to play a county final there was like going to Croke Park. You are correct to the people of Waterford there is no comparison between the Showgrounds and Walsh Park. Good luck to the Showgrounds but no apologies here for which one is more important.
With regards funding, may be all funding (tax payers money) should be suspending until people living and dying on the streets stop. No beds in hospitals and staffing shortages fixed. All this money would put many people in homes and take care of health. These are the important things in life and once corrected star funding other non essential projects."
Walsh Park is not more important.

Hawkeye9212 (Donegal) - Posts: 266 - 15/01/2020 19:19:07    2260067

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The real issue for me is the amount of money given to Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing over the years.

Never understood it.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 15/01/2020 19:32:19    2260069

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Replying To moc.dna:  "In fairness to Connacht Rugby, the professional way they went about their business in announcing, planning, consultations with the local community & business, their financial plan, their approach to Govt was very very professional. They did their homework well. Connacht Rugby have harnessed massive funding from the Galway & Connacht business community as they are seen to be accountable & doing things well by the business community. I know many business people who are all from big GAA backgrounds who no longer have any involvement with local GAA as they have experienced the rot that is there & they are now involved in going to & funding Connacht Rugby. Contrast this to events in Galway GAA where financial irregularities, which still hasn't seen the full exposure & numerous bad news stories within the organisation are the norm. Galway GAA's first approach to seeking planning for floodlighting at Pearse Stadium was a classic example of the difference in organisation, look it up online, it beggared belief at the time. Add in the whole Pairc Ui Chaoimh fiasco where three different final figures were given & the recent reports that the full figures in Cork weren't presented to the delegates, GAA people have to acknowledge that there is total incompetence in the way they approach planning, launching, funding & most of all controlling financing of capital infrastructure projects within the GAA. There are so many stories currently around GAA, the whole fiasco in Mayo with the sponsors money, Mc Hale Park redevelopment, the mess in Galway, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Casement Park, it's endless. If an organisation comes in & approaches Govt or local authorities & is professional in the way they carry out their due diligence then they deserve the money. The GAA deserve nothing at present as they aren't capable of running capital infrastructural projects. As for whose the most deserving volunteers, come on your a smart guy & good poster, that is just deflection. You should be pointing your finger at those in Croke Park who are responsible, they wouldn't even concede to ye playing your games in Nowlan Park or nearby & made your supporters travel all over the country, that decision showed contempt for the people of Waterford, they are the people you need to direct your ire towards."
The IRFU refused to meet with a group of politicians from the West who wanted to discuss the Sportsground development. Worked out well for them in the end as the taxpayer is now funding 2/3 of the cost of the redevelopment, which is a far greater percentage than any other similar development I can think of, but that seems to me to be the IRFU showing contempt for the people of Connacht and the general taxpayer.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 15/01/2020 19:42:46    2260072

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