Black market flags hit Limerick

Gardaí are being called in to tackle black market GAA merchandise following on Limerick’s recent success.

Limerick GAA confirmed they plan to meet with gardaí over counterfeit Limerick flags flooding shops in the city and county.

One person who purchased a counterfeit flag in Co Limerick told the Irish Examiner he was given a receipt for a sandwich.

The burgeoning sale of counterfeit flags, emblazoned with the official Limerick GAA and county logos, is costing the hurling team’s training fund thousands of euro, according to the association. Limerick GAA gets a percentage from the sale of each official flag.

Donal Morrissey, treasurer of the Limerick County GAA board, said: “We have only learned in recent days how serious the situation is and we are very concerned. We will take every action — include calling in the gardaí — to ensure the full rigours of the law are directed at those using our logo illegally and we intend to protect this very important asset.”

DJ Daly, whose company Team Car Flag Ireland Ltd has the franchise to sell official GAA flags in every county except Dublin, said Limerick had been flooded with counterfeit flags.

Mr Daly, whose company is based in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, said: “The problem is particularly bad in east and south Limerick.

“These illegal suppliers moved in the day after Limerick beat Tipp. They approached shops and gave no details about themselves except for a first name and a mobile phone. Their flags carry the official GAA Limerick logo.”

It is believed that the main counterfeit operators are based in Co Galway and Leitrim.

Mr Daly, whose company also has the franchise for official Munster rugby flags, said: “When the Munster rugby authorities found out that these cowboy merchants were counterfeiting their logo on flags, they came down like a ton of bricks on them and that put a quick end to it.”