Aogán Ó Fearghail: Cheddar Plunkett’s general point about hurling in Boston is ‘right’
Laois manager Plunkett questioned why such an investment was being made in hurling abroad when “there is such a lack of strategic thinking” surrounding weaker counties here.
The tie itself, watched by 30,000 at Fenway Park, was hailed as a major success by the Gaelic Players Association, who have pioneered the Super 11s concept. Ó Fearghail said he can see both sides of the argument and stressed that initiative is important in Gaelic games and won’t ever be dismissed.
However, the Cavan man agreed with Plunkett’s point, regarding the questionable optics of helping hurling abroad, when the game is struggling in large areas here.
“‘Cheddar’s point is right, his general point is right: It is more important to promote hurling in Ballybay than Boston and I accept that,” said Ó Fearghail, who has been personally involved in promoting hurling in Ulster.
“I spent three years as chairman of the Ulster hurling committee. I know what it’s like promoting hurling in those situations and it’s not easy and that’s where I would personally love to put energy and development.
“But look, if money would do it, the cheque would have been written a long time ago. It’s not just that simple. If somebody put a cheque on Páraic Duffy’s desk and said: ‘€1m is needed to grow hurling in Cavan’, he’d sign it in the morning. There’s no doubt about that.
“But it’s a more complex issue, we do try to promote hurling, but I don’t think you do something good on one hand and then say: ‘I can’t do something else also.’ The game in Boston was a one-off game. It was of no cost, as far as I’m aware, to the association. It paid for itself. It made 30,000 people that were there on the night, mostly of an Irish extraction, very happy.”
The Dublin and Galway county boards have reportedly been hit with fines of €5,000 each following the much-publicised brawl at the game in Fenway Park. Ó Fearghail suggested such fines are effective punishments.
“If you’re a volunteer county chairman and you’re trying to keep your finances together and you have so many demands and somebody fines you €5,000, yes, it hurts,” claimed Ó Fearghail.
The GAA president also confirmed that International Rules tests will take place between Ireland and Australia in 2016 and 2017.
There seems a strong possibility that the series will be returned to a two-test footing, with one of those in New York next year.
“We have decided that we will be back in Ireland in 2017,” said Ó Fearghail. “Next year, it’s Australia’s host year and we may be in Australia or we may be in the USA, we’re quite open to that.”
Ó Fearghail was speaking at the launch of the report of Phase 1 of the GAA’s Healthy Club Project (HCP), a partnership between the GAA, the Irish health sector and Irish Life.
“Phase 1 was a phenomenal success,” said Ó Fearghail. “Through this project, people realise that everybody is welcome to go in and participate in what could be a gym activity, a walking activity or a Saturday morning aerobics outside activity.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
