Exchange rate may lead to rise in Ulster charges

ULSTER GAA officials may be forced to increase admission charges tochampionship games this year as a consequence of the impact of the current exchange rate between Sterling and the Euro on their finances.

Council secretary Danny Murphy has warned it’s a big threat to the day-to-day workings of all of their constituent units in the foreseeable future. And, while pointing out that charges were not increased last year, the current exchange rates ‘will require a review of the equity of the current pricing arrangements.’

The Council achieved a surplus of e264,742 on its 2008 activities, with gate receipts of e3.335m representing 43% of total income, compared to 27% the previous year. According to Mr Murphy, their finances ‘are consistent’ with the level of support for their games programme. However, dispersible income ‘remains heavily dependant’ on the returns from the senior football championship.

Mr Murphy also claimed the GAA in Ulster is being discriminated against by the civil authorities in respect of clubs not being compensated for arson attacks on their property.

Pointing out that it’s the result of an amendment to the Compensation Order 2008, he says that the legislation sets dual standards as to how malicious attacks are treated in law “and renders one side of the community bereft of the type of cover afforded to the other.

“We have made substantial representations on the matter but the response of the Northern Ireland Office does not adequately deal with the consequences of attacks on community property coming from the Association’s point of view,’’ he comments.

Mr Murphy believes specific attacks which occurred last year were a consequence of Tyrone’s success in the All-Ireland football championship, that it was ‘the response again’ to the Association’s high profile in the province at that particular time. It resulted in the premises of three clubs — St. John’s, St. Malachy’s and Fr. Rocks — being ‘devastated.’

“The usual ritual of condemnation ensued and while it was welcome to know that people are annoyed at wanton destruction, there is little to suggest that there is any likelihood of the perpetrators desisting from these actions.

“The Association too condemn attacks of any kind on anyone’s property and we do so as routine, without equivocation. We have suffered many such attacks on our community property and these also are used for the benefit of those communities.

Addressing the current economic recession, the Ulster boss says that while their finances were strengthened in 2008 by having two significant draws in the football championship, the ‘dismissal’ of replays in first round and quarter-final games would have an adverse impact on their financial well-being into the future.

Closer home, he expresses concern that funding at central (Croke Park) level for secondary county grounds has ‘disappeared’ after just one year. Such grounds ‘cannot be abandoned,’ he says, explaining that other than their value as useful venues there is the question of them meeting legal requirements that will become critical under new legislation.