GAA goes professional = death of GAA. In current times, Ireland wouldn't be able to support a professional GAA, people would not be able to afford it and Ireland is not big enough.

Any opinions?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 27/01/2012 12:10:07    1101224

You dont work in Croke Park do you?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 27/01/2012 12:15:02    1101230

if it went proffesional gaa would hike ticket prices up, county merchandising would go way up, price of jerseys would get even higher.

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 27/01/2012 12:19:35    1101236

Dont think so, look at rugby. A lot of people in ireland at blazer level didnt want rugby to turn pro and look at us now. We were crap in the amatuer era for the most part but look at us now, we've several clubs amongst the best in europe and our national side has won several triple crowns and a grand slam. In the amatuer era it took many many more years to win what we have in the past few years

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 27/01/2012 12:34:43    1101245

Jasus the country cant even afford a health service an the minute !!!!how on earth could it afford 64 proffesional teams?(ok 63 the mere thought of the Kilkenny footballers getting paid....my God)

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 27/01/2012 12:38:34    1101251

Well my involvement in the GAA would immediately cease if it went pro. Goes against our whole ethos as a sporting organisation.

Finsceal (None) - Posts: 559 - 27/01/2012 12:43:54    1101259

If we go down that road, it will be the end of my involvement as a volunteer.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 27/01/2012 12:44:25    1101260

27/01/2012 12:43:54
Finsceal
County: All
Posts: 126

1101259 Well my involvement in the GAA would immediately cease if it went pro. Goes against our whole ethos as a sporting organisation

Does it really go against the ethos of the organisation? Nowhere below does it go against the ethos which is to promote gaelic sport and culture

To me the GAA is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland through preserving and
promoting Gaelic Games and pastimes.
The GAA shall promote and control the National games of Hurling, Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders, and such other games, as may be sanctioned
and approved by Annual Congress.
(a) The GAA shall actively support the Irish language, traditional Irish dancing, music, song, and other aspects of Irish culture. It shall foster an awareness and love of the national ideals in the people of Ireland, and assist in promoting a community spirit through its clubs.
(b) The GAA shall promote its aims amongst communities abroad through its overseas units.
(c) The GAA shall support the promotion of Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football.
(d) The GAA shall use all practical endeavours to support Irish Industry especially in relation to the provision of trophies and playing gear and equipment.

The GAA and its resources shall be used for and dedicated solely to the above aims.

The above is taken from [url=]here

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 27/01/2012 13:07:04    1101270

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Dont think so, look at rugby

Rugby is played wordwide and TV companies such as SKY pay top dollor to show games. The same could not happen in our sport which is played in a country with the population of greater Manchester. You argument is deeply flawed.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12125 - 27/01/2012 13:16:16    1101279

The GAA, for what it stands for, where it came from, how it functions etc. simply doesn't sit with being a professional organisation.

Think of grassroots gaa at club level, the bedrock of everything that is good about the gaa with the massive involvement of so many volunteers. If that is ever eroded, then it definitely will be the end. Absolutely no doubt.

This is also why we need to be careful with players transferring allegiance from one county to another. If allowed to gain momentum, this could be the beginning of cash incentives etc to entice the better players and a transfer merry go round that is also completely alien to parish & county values.

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 27/01/2012 13:23:04    1101284

27/01/2012 12:38:34
juniorbsub
County: Wexford
Posts: 15

1101251 Jasus the country cant even afford a health service an the minute !!!!how on earth could it afford 64 proffesional teams?(ok 63 the mere thought of the Kilkenny footballers getting paid....my God)


A bit like paying either the Wexford hurlers or footballers. OK the women deserve paying in Wexford for having to put up with the men.....and actually some of the women would probably be better than their male counter parts.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 27/01/2012 13:45:23    1101299

true enought Ballybannongael but its going on under the table the whole time..Is it not a bit Irish to be preaching from our pedestal about our amateurism while we all know money is exchanging hands all over the country.

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 27/01/2012 13:45:41    1101301

27/01/2012 13:16:16
yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 3299

1101279 ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Dont think so, look at rugby

Rugby is played wordwide and TV companies such as SKY pay top dollor to show games. The same could not happen in our sport which is played in a country with the population of greater Manchester. You argument is deeply flawed.

With big changes to structure of championships, etc it is possible for a profess comp. Adapt the structure of the main competitions and use players ae development officers etc and pro ball is a possibility, i dont think it will happen but it is possible

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 27/01/2012 13:48:35    1101303

Rugby has a european and world stage to support it. Going pro might be great for the rugby provinces but not for the clubs.
On the plus side it'll probably mean segregation of supporters and sure isn't that what we all want? ;-)

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 27/01/2012 13:53:42    1101311

Puddersthecat boy,
Our footballers havent been doing too badly recently thank you!!

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 27/01/2012 14:13:37    1101330

27/01/2012 13:53:42
Superglue
County: Kerry
Posts: 350

1101311 Rugby has a european and world stage to support it. Going pro might be great for the rugby provinces but not for the clubs.
On the plus side it'll probably mean segregation of supporters and sure isn't that what we all want? ;-)


Go away with the messing about segregation. Only soccer has segregation in the main sports here. Rugby doesnt have it, rugby doesnt have it and the games are better for it.
Yes in the most part for newer followers of rugby their "club" became munster and leinster not nenagh, cork con etc but members, attendances at games, players at a lot of clubs around the country have picked up the past few years

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 27/01/2012 14:25:14    1101338

first problem what about club teams, if a player is being paid to play for a county, then surely he will not be allowed to line out for his club. Every player would have to be given a wage relative to what he would earn over 10 years working, It is impossible to pay 30 players this much. Thirdly, as much as we might see cases of players moving to other counties, i would not want to see a Louth team that has no Louth players on it, as surely transfers would be inevitible.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 27/01/2012 15:45:34    1101402

Anything is possible! Segregation is being called for in some quarters!
Who knows what is next!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 27/01/2012 16:32:10    1101432

It's likely that GAA will move towards a semi-professional game in terms of players- it's already there with managers being unoffically paid- over the next decade but the day that a full blown transfer system is adopted is the day the GAA gets a death sentence. As pk57 says who would want to see Louth or any intercounty team play with few or no native county players representing a county team.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3070 - 27/01/2012 16:34:29    1101433

PK57
County: Louth
Posts: 909

1101402 first problem what about club teams, if a player is being paid to play for a county, then surely he will not be allowed to line out for his club. Every player would have to be given a wage relative to what he would earn over 10 years working, It is impossible to pay 30 players this much. Thirdly, as much as we might see cases of players moving to other counties, i would not want to see a Louth team that has no Louth players on it, as surely transfers would be inevitible.

Well put.
Drawing the line between the club abd the county lads would cause a fair few arguements too. And then the larger super clubs like in Dublin and so on, will they be able to use that to attract players?

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 27/01/2012 16:38:17    1101435