GAA pay-for-play? - Yes, but not at expense of taxpayers

THIS has been another bumper weekend for the GAA. Whatever else about the introduction of the “backdoor” system for the All-Ireland hurling and football championships — and it has its critics — it has proved to be a huge generator of additional revenue for the association.

It is estimated that the GAA will earn a staggering €11 million in ticket sales from just three weekends of lucrative fixtures at Croke Park.

This sum is on top of the €8m the GAA is set to earn when Croker hosts a series of Six Nations rugby and international soccer fixtures in February and March next year.