Getting to the core of the Big Apple conundrum

PREVIEW: New York v Galway

But it has always been the case when New York’s footballers take to the field. Last year Mayo went to the Big Apple and hammered their hosts by 15 points, while four years earlier, tomorrow’s opponents Galway, wracked up 3-14.

Yet now that the Celtic Tiger has become a dim and distant memory, this fixture is under the spotlight with many wondering what is to be gained by the Irish teams heading across the Atlantic.

Very little, it would seem, apart from a hefty travel bill. With the tough economic times already pinching many GAA clubs and county boards, should the decision be made to put an end to the perennial trip and reinvest the funds spent elsewhere?

Former Mayo and Roscommon manager John Maughan accepts that hypothesis but disagrees with it.

He believes that the trip needs to be looked at in a bigger way, rather than just from a monetary perspective.

“I have been over for the New York trip three times, twice with Mayo and once with Roscommon.

“To be honest, the game itself is not necessarily that big a deal. It is practically a sideshow.

“What the weekend is about is an opportunity for the GAA people from New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Cleveland to get together and have a bash.

“The arrival of a county team from home mobilises the troops and helps to keep the GAA alive in the East coast.

“If New York were not involved in the Connacht championship, I think it would have a major negative effect on GAA clubs in America.

“It is difficult to put a financial value on how much it means to the diaspora from Ireland to have such an opportunity to socialise and bond in New York every May.

“I remember when we went over with Roscommon, a few hundred supporters came as well and many of them would never have visited friends and family in the United States unless they were part of a much bigger travelling group.

“It is impossible to put a value on that kind of thing. The match itself was just a focal point for a much bigger event.”

His viewpoint is reinforced by the fact that over 900 ex-pats attended a function last night ahead of the game and over 500 Galway fans have travelled Stateside this weekend.

Galway football county chairman John Joe Holleran is also supportive of the trip.

“Of course, it costs a lot of money to get out there, but each county only has to travel once every five years and if it helps to keep the GAA going in New York, we will support it.

“We are very heartened by the fact that so many of our supporters are prepared to travel for the weekend and former Dunmore McHales exile Jimmy Glynn has put trojan work in on his side organising things.

“It cannot be easy keeping things going every year and I know that there are a lot of Galway people and football fans in New York very excited about seeing the likes of Padraig Joyce and Joe Bergin playing in the flesh in Gaelic Park.”

Connacht council secretary John Prenty is pragmatic in his assessment of the New York issue.

“The Connacht championship is twinned with London at senior level and New York at minor and senior level.

“The travelling team going to the states gets €50,000 of support from a combination of the Connacht Council and New York. If counties wish to bring a huge travelling party, and spent a lot more money than that, then that is their prerogative. All the five county boards in Connacht have voted in favour of maintaining the status quo and unless that changes, a county will go out there every year. Ironically the New York minor team are travelling to play Galway next Saturday in Pearse Stadium. So it can cut both ways.

“Unfortunately the New York seniors have not been in a position to travel to Ireland since 2000 and with visas and other travel and work issues. That is unlikely to change. We are where we are, and we just have to get on with it unless the official decision is taken to cut the ties. And I don’t see a desire for that to happen.”