Pressure to grow on GAA to sever alcohol link, says Loftus

FORMER president Mick Loftus believes the GAA will come under increasing pressure to end its link with Guinness through its sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship because of the problem of alcohol abuse among the youth of the country.

He was speaking in Dublin yesterday after receiving a prestigious International Olympic Committee award for Sport and Well-being, in the company of current GAA President Sean McCague and DG Liam Mulvihill.

Dr Loftus spoke of his strong opposition to the involvement of cigarette and drinks companies with sport in general.

Confirming he has not attended an All-Ireland hurling final since Guinness came on board as sponsors of the hurling championship, Dr Loftus said: “I wouldn’t describe it as a protest, but it’s my way of showing my disagreement with the sponsorship.

“My views are well known. I got involved because what I saw as coroner for north Mayo and as a GP. It’s sad what alcohol abuse is doing to families and the pressure on young people to drink.

“You take up any of the daily papers and you will see features and articles, as well as letters from the public expressing concern. It is a big worry for parents.

“But, the pressure is growing on people to do something about it and I feel the pressure will increase on the GAA not to continue with the Guinness sponsorship.

Meanwhile, Kerry chairman Sean Walsh told delegates at annual convention in Tralee: “All the statistics show we are out of control in alcohol consumption,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Wexford hurling manager Liam Griffin has lashed out

at the association in the county which he claims is riddled with politics.

Speaking at a forum in Wexford called to discuss the problem which has hit the GAA in the county he said.

“We have won only three All-Ireland minor hurling titles since 1963, while we have failed to win a single Leinster minor hurling championship in the period 1986-2002.”

Griffin said: “We have only won three All-Ireland Colleges titles between 1963-2002 with the last success in 1973 after which we have disappeared off the Richter scale.

“Our U21 record is equally dismal only one All-Ireland since 1965, which will leave a 40-year gap in three years without an All-Ireland Under-21 title.”

It is something which really struck home as Griffin lambasted the county's inter-county record. “Benchmarking is for comparison, something for measuring, so Wexford’s All-Star awards speak for themselves.

“Kilkenny are tops with 108 awards since its inception while Wexford are bottom of the pile with a dismal 30, even surpassed by counties who were non-entities in hurling when Wexford were winning All-Irelands, while we have just won one All-Ireland senior hurling title since 1968.”

On where the county is going, Griffin said: “We need intelligent people, not some gobshite getting up and mouthing at county board meetings. They should think before they speak for it's not leadership it's just corner boyism. Unless we change we are going further downhill.”

Griffin said unity is needed in Wexford. “No single person has a right to put divisions within the county.

“Unity is what’s needed in Wexford GAA for the future of the next generation of Wexford teams is in their hands. We need honesty and loyalty to take the county forward.”