GAA reaction to loss of money ?

gandalf

Just a quick one whats the opinion of all the GAA heads to the loss of €38 Million because the Government have scrapped the Bertie Bowl ??

I believe they may use this money as leverage to force soccer and other games into Croke Park. Any opinions on this ?

Gandalf.

(just to clarify I'd love to see other games allowed in)

Lemming

Although I do follow GAA, I am quite delighted that they are set to get a smack in the teeth.

I think that the GAA has been stuck in a time-warp for far too long on a number of issues (including "foreign games"). I didn't ask the government to give the GAA my taxes as a gift in the first place. They make a fortune off sponsorship, tv, radio, equipment sales and gate-returns as it is, excluding private donations on top of that.

tHE vAGGABOND

GAA have been creaming it for years, I think they get too much extra money as it is from the government

netwhizkid

Hi,
the G.A.A should get no money if it is going into Croke Park, any money the G.A.A recieves should go to the the clubs out in the country and towns of ireland not into one place in dublin, many G.A.A clubs are struggling to survive, the €37million should go to the clubs of ireland, thats if the g.a.a gets it off the government.

Regards netwhizkid

Sposs

The Gaa gets far to many handouts,hopefully this set back will wake them up and make them open their gates to other sports.
The champions League final in Croker i'd love to see that

Stinkah

I really sorry lads.

As most of you will realise, I am a big fan of soccer, and I have pledged my allegance to the Irish soccer team on many occasions.

However, I am proud ( extremely ) proud to say that I am a GAA man true and true. I unfortunately have absolutely no time for the FAI, whom, let's face it, are as if not more lucrative an organisation than the GAA are. They, like the GAA, could be "creaming" the grants that they get from the government and seemingly booming with their own stadium already and thus make this argument dead.

The fact of the matter is that, when the GAA were struggling to get teams together and funds for this and that, the FAI were splashing out on premium trips to International matches for all of their "executive members".... this is common knowledge.

My question is therefore, why on earth should the GAA have to feel sorry for an organisation that caused their own downfall ??

Don't get me wrong, the GAA, as far as I'm concerned, are the "Grab All Association", but they do put the money back at grass roots in coaching, development and funding of clubs.

I know this because any time that our club has requested funds for the development of the club, whether it be coaching or equipment, they have always bent over backwards to make the funds available.

This is how the GAA clubs can afford to let kids play the games for a pittance of member money in this day and age, whereas, the FAI clubs on the other hand decide to charge kids a subs every week for a game that has next to no expenses in comparsion with hurling for example.

Why is then that people in soccer circles seem to think that because they managed the funding they have gotten til now to build one of the best stadia in Europe, and provide all of the fascilities they were previously providing to the clubs, the GAA should just get out of the way and let them use the stadium too ???

The GAA would stand to make a killing if they opened the gates of Croke park to soccer and no fool would deny this, but there are still people in the world that have principles.

That's my reckoning on things anyway... feel free to disagree if you must

Waylander

I think that the GAA have to make the decision to allow English sports into Croker themselves without Bribery or blackmail, and I think it will happen sooner rather then later. I say english sports because they have previously allowed American Football matches be played there so this restriction must be on English sports. I read in the paper the other day that the PSNI are going to play against a garda team soon and this is a step in the right direction. Also I think the prospect of holding a champions league final will prove to be a healthy enticement to the GAA too.

Lennoxschips

The GAA very nearly opened up Croke Park to soccer, but Bertie said he'd give them extra grants if they didn't, to ensure there'd be a reason to build the Bertie Bowl. Now the Bertie Bowl isn't going ahead, and our nation's esteemed leader is criticising the GAA for not opening their stadium to soccer.

Altogether now:
Bertie Ahern is a **** ole ole
Bertie Ahern is a **** ole ole
Bertie Ahern is a **** ole ole

**** = a four letter word of your choice