GPA defends US fundraising
January 15, 2015
Pictured at the launch of the Gaelic Players Association's Annual Report (L-R) Armagh footballer Kevin Dyas, Dessie Farrell, CEO Gaelic Players Association, Cillian Buckley, Kilkenny hurler and Donal O'Grady, Limerick hurler. INPHO
Dessie Farrell has defended the GPA's fundraising efforts in the US.
Insisting that the players' body has "nothing to hide", the chief executive said at the launch of yesterday's annual report and accounts: "In general, the people who are criticising ... the money is being used to support their players as well so it doesn't make an awful lot of sense to me.
"We've gone out there, we've cultivated a whole new different audience that has never been part of the traditional support base of the local GAA scene out there or anyone here at home either. It makes us wonder at times as to the rationale for it."
The former Dublin star stressed that the GPA's fundraising initiatives Stateside were not impacting on GAA clubs there.
"We've addressed this with the local GAA as well," he continued.
"They do a great job, in terms of games promotion, and engaging with the diaspora. But they've never engaged that particular audience - corporate America, Wall Street, the finance district down there. And there are a lot of Irish people in that sector, and there are a lot of other people who benefit from that mix - charity, arts, etc.
"So why not sport, why not the athletes, who contribute so much to the fabric of this country?"
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