GAA rejects finding that soccer and swimming more popular

THE GAA last night rejected the ESRI/Irish Sports Council findings that Gaelic games were no longer the most popular sport for Irish children, claiming that participation in GAA at youth level was at an all-time high.

“I think they [findings] are completely off the wall,” a GAA spokesperson said. “This has been designed for nothing other than publicity.

“Our participation levels, particularly at youth level has increased hugely. All you have to do is walk through the suburbs of Dublin, walk through south Co Dublin. Twenty years ago it had probably two clubs, look at an area like Templeogue and I’ll give you clubs that didn’t exist 20 years ago.