Sky deal wrong move by GAA

I am concerned at the GAA/Sky Sports deal. The ethos of the GAA is community, social cohesion, participation, inclusiveness and a certain egalitarianism — yes there are top or elite players, but they are not more important than those who run street leagues, line pitches and wash jerseys.

The GAA’s achievement is a sporting and cultural wonder of the world. Given the collapse in reputation of so many of our institutions the GAA stands unblemished — it is more than likely our most important agent of social cohesion.

In stark contrast, the ethos of Sky’s parent company, the Murdoch Empire, is an extraordinarily virulent form of global capitalism, the core value being make money regardless of cost to society — just look at the recent Press Inquiry in Britain, or the Sun’s political interventions in Britain over the last three decades for confirmation.

I think Donal Óg Cusack is unfair to those with reservations — the majority of great club servants I know do not like the union of such divergent organisations. It seems in Donal Óg’s eyes that those opposed to the deal are backwoodsmen and bellyachers, as if they are incapable of nuance or sophistication. A mucky ball sir!

I do not believe Liam O’Neill is setting out to deliberately damage the GAA. I do believe he is doing the wrong thing for the organisation, albeit with the best intentions. People can make mistakes, it doesn’t make them backward, just mistaken.

Moreover, I disagree with Donal Óg on another matter — if kids spend a lot of time in pubs seeing people drink, invariably seeing some drink too much, it does normalise such behaviour and it will surely lead to alcoholism for some.

It is clear from the way the GAA presented this deal that they are uncomfortable with it. We do not need Sky, we do not need the Murdochs of this world.

Gerard Fitzpatrick

Mallow

Co Cork