GPA proved they are not afraid to face tough questions
Their subsequent decision to come out publicly and request their members to vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty may have raised many eyebrows.
Regardless of your views on the Treaty, it took fair conviction and real leadership for the GPA to take any type of public stance on the matter. It would have been far easier to sit on the fence. But the GPA’s approach will have done them no harm; indeed it may have done them good in European eyes.
It has to be noted that in recent years, the GPA have shown a great ability to look out into the world and take on board what’s happening elsewhere in the field of player welfare, commercial opportunities or political machinations in the field of sport.
Now that the inter-county season is over, we can expect more focus on the twin projects affecting the GPA. The first is the whole question of official recognition. I would expect this to be a fait accompli shortly. The only outstanding real block is funding and that never held up progress in the GAA. I expect that both the GAA and GPA will come to some mutual arrangement re the thorny but not insurmountable issue of money and that Central Council, as they always do, will rubberstamp it on behalf of all of us. Don’t expect a Special Congress – it might give the opportunity for a few agitated souls to turn up and rain on the party.
A deal will be cut. The strikes by the Cork players will be constantly in the back of the minds of the GAA negotiators. Christy Cooney, being from Cork, and Paraic Duffy the Ard-stúirthóir, saw the Cork players strike up close and personal. They will be well aware of the potential for damage and chaos if it were replicated nationwide. Nobody will want that to happen but that unspoken fear, will roll out the compromise that will lead to the deal that will make the GPA officially recognised.
The second area of interest for the GPA is the question of state-funded grants for inter-county players. The economic situation is such that if it hadn’t already been sanctioned, there is no way it could be entertained this year. The minister, Martin Cullen, has done well to even retain €1m for the scheme. But he must forget this mad notion that it would only go to quarter-finalists of the Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire cups and Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard cup finalists. It’s either all senior inter-county players or none. Last year a whole elaborate scheme of form filling, logging, coaching was worked out so the scheme would “fit in” with other sports council schemes.
Why are GAA players getting the “grants” in the first place? It is because of their dedication, sacrifice, commitment as amateur players in preserving our cultural heritage and in providing exceptional role models.
If that’s the case, why go to the trouble of working out form-filling schemes that must take up time and money? My advice for Martin Cullen is, if he only has €1m to give, just give it to the GPA and let them outline exactly who they gave it to – all senior inter-county panellists, I presume, and eliminate the bureaucracy.
