*Patrons attending Clare’s meeting with Kildare in the Allianz National Football League. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
PRICING structures in the GAA have “gone outrageous,” a Clare councillor has commented while stressing the importance of the home of the All-Ireland champions “taking a lead” on tackling the introduction of a €5 charge for U16s.
In January, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) tabled a motion before Clare County Council calling on the GAA to reverse their decision to impose a €5 charge for spectators aged under sixteen to attend Division 1A and 1B National Hurling League games and Division 1 and 2 clashes in the National Football League.
He told the Council meeting, “This levy is aimed at the top 2 divisions in hurling and football. It is nothing but a money-making racket at a time when the GAA’s pocket has never been heavier”.
Murphy added, “We are the home county of Michael Cusack, a founding member of the GAA and I’m sure Cusack would be turning in his grave if he heard of this”.
Officials in Croke Park have “noted” the sentiments of the motion while Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating stated, “I don’t have a problem with the €5 charge”. When the matter was brought before a meeting of Clare GAA, the Chairman said that Clare County Council should not have discussed the issue.
At the most recent Council sitting, Murphy referred to his motion and remarked, “it got a bit of traction”. He praised Cork GAA for picking up on the motion and said they were taking the matter to Central Council “where hopefully it might be overturned, it is getting traction slowly but surely. It is massive that we are the ones to lead on it”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo on Wednesday, Cllr Murphy said he remains opposed to the charges. He referenced the €15 fee for league games for OAPs and students, “I think the pricing structure is gone outrageous. I’m not finished with it, I don’t know what tack I’ll be taking, a lot of people are annoyed with the charges, this is coming from Croke Park, this is not an attack on Clare GAA”.
Cllr Murphy who was in the Gaelic Grounds for Clare’s three point win over Limerick said, “there is a lot of ill-feeling to the GAA. Naming rights in this day and age is right but the GAA in the days of Michael Cusack was to foster our love of the language and our love of the games, we’re losing the run of ourselves on this. It is not cheap to tog out a child these days with boots, socks, shorts, jerseys, helmets and hurleys, the county colours change every year and it is a huge expense on families. The GAA is an amateur sport not a professional one and the GAA isn’t a business either”.
