Recession cools the reign of the foreign train

THEY have been the GAA’s Celtic Tiger equivalent of the New York shopping trip: fashionable, hassle-free and, according to many, excellent value for money, but the foreign training camp is in danger of becoming another victim of the recession.

County boards have long been concerned about the escalating costs associated with the preparation of their flagship sides but the economy’s downward spiral is already being reflected by attitudes towards trips, which routinely cost €40,000.

Pat Gilroy is currently in La Manga with the Dublin footballers but the Spanish resort said yesterday that they have no further bookings currently confirmed from GAA sides for the coming months.