Dublin clubs are benefiting more from transfers than clubs in the U.K, according to a report carried out by the Irish Post.

The U.K based newspaper made a study of players transferring from their native clubs and it was found that more are transferring to Dublin than London.

The general consensus has been that British GAA clubs are benefiting greatly from emigration, but it is in fact our very own capital that most players are heading for.

For the first two months of this year, only 66 players transferred to London clubs, compared to the 79 that have moved to Dublin clubs.

In total, there has been 83 transfers to clubs all over Britain, which is just four more than the capital has received for the eight weeks since Christmas.

GAA President Liam O'Neill was recently quoted as saying that British clubs were benefiting from rural clubs' demise, when in fact it is Dublin clubs that are the real winners.

The report also found that 34 players have left London so far this year, meaning that there is only a 32 player turnaround from last year.

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 28/02/2013 11:34:02    1340224

good post

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1671 - 28/02/2013 11:51:18    1340237

I am not surprised. If you look at any job's website for Ireland, most Jobs are in Dublin, it being the capital and largest city in Ireland. Most young people that get a chance to find work in Ireland will more than Likely end up in Dublin or some other large city.

Rural Ireland is dying. Driving home last night I passed through my local Village, all four pubs closed, shop closed, even the light where the Garda Station was until a few weeks ago has been covered with a black bag. The rural GAA clubs including my own, now face a major battle to survive.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 28/02/2013 12:31:51    1340267

Are Dublin the 'real winners' though !?

With players of inter county standard from county in the country occupying positions on the field in senior teams throughout Dublin it makes it all the more difficult for young native Dublin players to make the breakthrough at their own local clubs.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 28/02/2013 13:12:14    1340300

Bluewave "Dublin clubs are benefiting" - Nobody mentioned the Dublin county teams here. This is not what this issue is about and who gains what but rather what is being lost.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 28/02/2013 13:48:31    1340324

Fair point bluewave. It is a bit like the EPL debate around the amount of foreign players having something to do with the reduction in quality of english players. It probably isnt that far gone yet, in the sense that, if there is a young lad in dublin capable of playing county football, chances are he will get on ahead of most of these non-dub players anyway. It is just a shame that the dublin teams dont really need these players while the teams these guys are leaving are crying out for them.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/02/2013 13:51:38    1340327

It is unfair to put any blame on the London and Dublin clubs for a situation not of their making. If players have to go there to find work and want to play Gaelic football/hurling big deal; we should be thankful they still want to play. Blame the cartel in Leinster House for the problems rural clubs and rural Ireland is facing. As for the right wing, big business, partitionist Southern media; well they will always spin stories to suit their own narrow bitter agenda.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9697 - 28/02/2013 14:01:27    1340334

Valid points lads, completely agree The Master there's a first :) . Yewtree there is no point in having a report that just explores the benefits of a given scenario without also highlighting the disadvantages. My local club NaFianna were just like Parnells are now afew years back we had a team littered with inter county talent from the length and breath of Ireland yes we were successful but I ask you how many Nafianna players are on the Dublin team now !?

There is ultimately a downside for Dublin football as a whole, yes our club scene may well be competitive and exciting but at a time when we have vast amounts of native youth coming through the ranks in Dublin I'd prefer Dublin players representing their clubs.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 28/02/2013 14:34:54    1340358

Good article by Colm O'Rourke on Dublin football:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/colm-orourke-everyone-will-gain-when-dubs-cross-great-dividing-line-29090627.html

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 28/02/2013 14:40:03    1340365

Your spot on Ulsterman - the movement of players is a symptom of a bigger issue. Its not the fault of the rural or Dublin club that the player has to re locate but the powers that be who are mis managing industrial development in this country. Any development taking place is now centered in urban areas in particular Dublin. One example - recently Kerry Group announced a huge investment in jobs for this country - but where is it to be located - Kildare. Has to be acknowledged that there is a huge bias towards development on the east coast. we need large industrial developments on the west coast or the rural gaa clubs will continue to die along with the local villages and smaller towns.

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 28/02/2013 14:52:43    1340373

ulsterman is spot on there

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 28/02/2013 15:16:03    1340397

rural gaa players have always worked and lived in Dublin. there is not much change there. However most of these players always stayed with their local clubs and travelled home at weekends. some got together in dublin and trained during the week and some came home midweek to train. So Is there a sea change whereby players are now transferring out of their local clubs.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 28/02/2013 15:37:54    1340413

Well it looks like in the Galway contingent can head home with approval for the Tuam to Gort motorway to go ahead with an estimate of 3 years work. "Don't forget your shovel if you want to go to work....."
They say it will create 300 jobs, I wonder how many Dublin lads would get a look in if they headed to Galway or be welcome on a rural Galway team? Last intercounty Dublin player I ever heard of getting a look in on a country team was Vinny Murphy in Tralee...

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 28/02/2013 15:45:28    1340418

There's been alot more than just Vinny Murphy Dubfan Abroad.

As for O'Rourkes article, the mans not happy unless he's trying to plot our downfall - one way or another.

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 28/02/2013 15:57:20    1340430

Wait, ulsterman, I thought those dublin media big wigs you reference so much were pro-england? So why are they reporting stories that paint england in a poor light?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/02/2013 16:09:59    1340438

Hey Floops, are we talking about teams outside the Dublin Suburbs of Meath, Louth, Wicklow and Kildare?

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 28/02/2013 16:16:47    1340443

Ah come on now floops. 1.27 million people versus 37,000. Whatever your thoughts on the issue, in respect to fair competition, the man has a point.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/02/2013 16:18:33    1340446

again with your false population

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 28/02/2013 17:08:09    1340484

Two points.

First, there have always been a fair number of transfers from the country to Dublin clubs, I would ask what is the average over the last 20 years and then we can see if there is a real spike. This is nothing new.

Second, I think within 20 years we will see Dublin split, unfortunately. However what annoys Dubs (those involved at club level) is that like O'Rouke and everyone just talk about the success been down to numbers. Lip service is paid to the trojan development work done by Dubs at club level. Getting 6 year olds (boys and girls) to play, providing the facilities, the training, the transport etc. Completely ignored also is the fund raising work that goes on at club level to back all this up! And its not like the GAA is the dominant sport or entertainment, competition is fierce. Most people mouthing off in the press, on forums and in other counties should go visit the clubs in Dublin and see the huge, hard and dedicated work done to get to were we are today, its not like we have some magic wand!

Dublin is becoming more insular in regard to anyone else interfering because no one makes any effort to understand what is been done at ground level, and the massive structures that have been put in place and the burden Dublin GAA put themselves under to maintain and grow this!

I know its the same in country clubs but why people come across with the impression its so much easier in Dublin is beyond me!

There is zero recognition of this fact, and till there is Dublin will remain insular in this regard.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 28/02/2013 17:56:45    1340517

witnof, it is no coincidence that the usa and china get so many medals at the olympics. The same applies here.

hill16no1man, is there not 1.27 m people in dublin?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/02/2013 18:48:03    1340539