GAA losses to emigration were highest during boom years

THE perceived exodus of GAA players to jobs abroad is no greater than at the peak of the boom, research by the GAA has shown.

Analysis of player club transfers within the GAA has shown that the number of moves to overseas clubs has actually fallen from high points in 2004 and 2006.

However, unlike in the boom times, players who leave during the recession are less likely to return to rejoin their clubs after a spell abroad.

The research, conducted by Dr Mary Gilmartin of NUI Maynooth, looked at the official GAA records and was presented at a seminar on emigration at UCC.

It revealed that Britain was still the preferred destination for those leaving the country, with America and Australia second and third respectively.

The figures related to the period 2004-2010. Incomplete data from the early months of 2011 has shown a dramatic increase in the number of requests to Canadian clubs such as Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton.

Dr Gilmartin said one of the most interesting findings of the analysis is that emigration was also taking place during the Celtic Tiger years but nobody was taking much notice of it.

“There were more transfers recorded in 2004 than in any other year. But I think during the Celtic Tiger but we didn’t talk about it,” she said.

She said that many of those who gone abroad for short periods may have decided to remain because of the unemployment situation in Ireland.

Some intercounty GAA sides have seen their squads diminished this season because of emigration. The Clare hurling team lost its captain, Brian O’Connell, after he left to find work in Australia.

Dr Gilmartin said another trend detectable in GAA club transfers was the pattern of migration to Dublin and its commuter counties.

In six years, Kerry, Mayo and Cork all lost at least 360 more players than they gained. Tyrone and Down also lost a large number of clubmen.

In contrast, Louth gained 33 more players than it lost, Kildare had 10 more and Dublin finished the six-year period with an additional three players because of transfers.

This internal displacement will be the next area of study for Dr Gilmartin.

Overall, the seven county boards in Britain attracted 2,373 transfers in the six-year period, and America saw 561.