GAA officials in crisis talks as emigration threatens clubs’ survival

As emigration threatens the survival of GAA clubs in one of its greatest strongholds, senior figures in the association are to hold a special meeting on the situation in Kerry tonight.

The chairmen of all clubs in South Kerry and divisional board officers have been asked to meet in Caherciveen with Eamon O’Sullivan, central council representative, Joe Crowley of the Munster council, and Kerry County Board secretary Peter Twiss.

The meeting was triggered by a crisis facing the GAA on Valentia Island — home to one of the all-time football legends Mick O’Connell. The club is struggling to find 15 players to make a team.

South Kerry Board chairman Diarmuid O’Shea yesterday said enrolments at primary and secondary schools were reflecting the fall in population.

“Coláiste na Sceilige in Caherciveen once had around 950 students but now has about 550.

“Furthermore, only 60 boys started in national schools in the South Kerry area last year,” he said.

Mr O’Shea, who is also a member of the GAA’s Rural Communities Workgroup, said depopulation had its roots in the emigration that took place in the 1970s and 1980s, as half of those that left never came back.

And, he said South Kerry became hugely dependent on the building industry for employment during the Celtic Tiger era.

“That era is well and truly over now and many young men who were GAA members have gone.

“Employment offers the only real solution but that’s extremely difficult to attract and create in many rural areas. Job creation is the key,” he said.

Some GAA figures in Kerry are now suggesting a relaxation of the GAA’s long-established parish rule under which players are obliged to declare for a club in their own parish.

Valentia club chairman John O’Sullivan floated the idea that clubs finding it difficult to field teams should be able to ‘borrow’ players from neighbouring parishes while others say teams should be 13-aside rather than the traditional 15-aside.

Mr O’Shea agreed there was a need to look at the parish rule in rural areas hit by population decline.

Due to a shortage of younger players, most clubs have amalgamated to form teams at under-14, under- 16 and under-18 levels, he said.

Kerry County Board chairman Patrick O’Sullivan described rural depopulation as the most challenging issue facing many clubs.