Emigration hitting club ‘harder than 1980s’

RURAL GAA clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to field teams as the recession bites and more and more young people emigrate.

A club in north Cork has confirmed it will “struggle” to assemble full teams this season because of emigration which is hitting the region much harder than it did in the 1980s.

Killavullen GAA club chairman John Magner said two of his players who had played in the intermediate football team had recently emigrated to England and another two had gone to Australia with two more preparing to follow them.