GPA fire new strike warning
He told more than 1,000 guests in Dublin's Citywest Hotel, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and GAA President Sean Kelly, that the standard of welfare encountered by players in certain counties was "atrocious."
"If these issues aren't addressed to the satisfaction of players, we will be faced with situations similar to the Cork hurlers and Offaly footballers, who withdrew their services," he said.
"This is a road players would prefer not to travel. However, if forced, they will do what is necessary. And, as experience suggests, there is only one outcome, with one winner.
"We caution our administrators to do the decent and honourable thing and provide these requirements which allow players to concentrate solely on what they do best and that is provide this nation with the most enjoyable and compulsive entertainment possible. And I know this is something dear to Sean Kelly's heart."
Farrell said that he continued to be amazed by the passion and enthusiasm demonstrated by players.
It raised the question of how amateur athletes could produce such levels of excellence on such a consistent basis. But, the answer was simple GAA players were not amateurs.
"These players are professionals professionals in every aspect, professional in how they train, prepare and perform. To call these players amateur is misleading and inappropriate."
Farrell said the commitment and sacrifices made by 'non-paid professional players' very often compared favourably with fully-paid professional athletes in other codes.
Commenting that the GPA's campaign to introduce tax incentives for high-performance amateur athletes was met with widespread approval, Farrell said he was putting the Taoiseach on notice that it was their intention to pursue this concept 'with even greater vigour' than before.
"We call on the Taoiseach, whom I know is supportive in principle, and Minster Cowen to do all in their power to make this a reality a reality that would do so much to alleviate the great financial burden encountered by our players.
"We thank the Government for the 40m recently granted to the GAA, but, by our estimation we have invested sufficient in bricks and mortar.
"Surely it is time to invest in Irish sport's finest protagonists the non-paid professionals our players," he argued.
Farrell had a special welcome for the GAA president, pointing out he was the first president or senior official in the association to honour them with his presence.
"I have no doubt that if it were Sean's choice alone, the GPA would be on a more solid footing with our administrators. This is something we will pursue with him over the coming months, with a view to establishing complete and absolute recognition of the GPA and with a view to establishing a more formal structure for player representation that isn't subject to the whims of the presidential term every three years."
In terms of the general well-being of their organisation, Farrell said that their highly successful deal with Club Energise and C&C would secure their financial future. And it will also be central to funding various player-oriented initiatives, scholarship programmes and benevolent schemes.
The partnership also offered their members an opportunity to be financially rewarded in a legitimate manner and not just their high profile stars who were seen on television and billboard advertising. It would also benefit others from lower profile counties who engaged in different promotional initiatives.
Reaction to their Club Energise TV advertisement had been tremendous, he said, and had been a wonderful promotional vehicle for Gaelic games.
In that context, he said he found it alarming that 'some administrators' in Croke Park had made the 'ridiculous decision' to ban such advertising from provincial venues all over the country. Their action 'beggared belief,' he added.
Guests included the parents of the late Cormac McAnallen and Farrell said the GPA would support the campaign for medical screening of players.
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