GAA not alone as global downturn hits sporting attendances

NUMBERS were down for big GAA championship games over the weekend, with just over 15,000 in Thurles for the Limerick-Waterford Munster SHC replay and Galway-Kilkenny failing to fill Tullamore’s O’Connor Park for an eagerly-anticipated clash.

However, hurling and football weren’t the only sports suffering poor attendance figures in the last few days.

The South Africa v British and Irish Lions match-up at the Absa Stadium featured the World Cup champion Springboks against some of the biggest names of world rugby in Brian O’Driscoll et al, but there were an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 empty seats.