GAA ready to discuss opening all grounds to other sports, says DG Tom Ryan

A  view of SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh during the game between Munster and Crusaders

The GAA’s leading official has indicated his support for the Association “to adopt a more liberal attitude” to making county grounds available to other sports.

In the wake of recent Munster and Ulster rugby games in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Kingspan Breffni, director general Tom Ryan in his annual report released today calls for a debate on loosening the rules regarding the renting of GAA property.

“I wonder if, in the spirit of the foregoing, it might be time to reconsider our current restrictions regarding the use of Association property. Treoir Oifigiúl (GAA Official Guide) and Central Council policy currently prescribe that GAA grounds may only be used by other sports in the case of ‘events of national significance’. Recent months have seen permission granted for a small number of games which possibly stretch that definition and have given me pause for thought.

“It’s not a question of finance, or at least not a short-term income stream. We are in an era where the construction of new grounds, the refurbishment of existing ones, and even the running costs of either pose an even greater challenge. Our future lies with new models of ownership, municipal facilities and shared grounds. These could well present our best opportunities for expansion. In that context perhaps it is time to adopt a more liberal attitude to opening existing county grounds and trusting local county committees to make those decision based on practicalities and opportunities.

Ard Stiúrthóir of the GAA Tom Ryan 

“I won’t prejudge where that particular debate might take us, but I would certainly welcome the discussion.” 

In a wide-ranging report, perhaps the strongest of his six years, Ryan also claims the vast majority of club managers are now being remunerated for their efforts.

“By common perception club management is now largely a paid undertaking as well. There are risks here for clubs, for the individuals concerned, and for the entire Association in terms of financial resources, taxation and reputation.

“The responsibility doesn’t really lie with the manager who is being paid, or the juvenile mentor who only picks the strongest players. The failure is on the part of the Association in espousing one thing and doing the opposite.

“You might well argue that none of these are new issues, and you would be right. But a process of gradual but constant erosion has taken us quite a distance from where we would like to see ourselves, and we need to take corrective action.” 

It's Ryan’s assertion that the GAA playing calendar, that is the split season, has “largely been resolved”.

He comments: “By and large the response to the new season and new inter-county competition structures has been positive. It delivers fixtures certainty for players so that they can plan their lives beyond GAA commitments and it creates a defined period for devoting attention and playing time to club championships.

“I think the momentum and sentiment is such that we will not be reverting to the old arrangement any time soon.” 

Ryan accepts Gaelic football requires rule changes to improve it as a spectacle. “We cannot simply ignore the prevailing commentary around the attractiveness of Gaelic football. Many games are characterised by slow, deliberate and cautious play and are dominated by mass defences.

“We’ve arrived at a place where the game is devoid of risk-taking and individual instances of skills are at a premium. Yet these are the very things that foster in us all our initial love of the game.” 

Ryan expresses concern about the Department of Sport’s plans to extend free-to-air sports events to the All-Ireland senior quarter-finals. Currently, only two of the football last-eight games are not on RTÉ but premium streaming service GAAGO. 

“It would remove our right to negotiate and would have a seriously detrimental impact on our finances and our operations. We will be making a submission on the matter.” 

He also voices his support for the campaign seeking justice for Bellaghy GAA clubman Seán Brown, who was murdered while closing the grounds 27 years ago.

Condemning the British government’s Legacy Bill which guarantees immunity from prosecution after May 1, Ryan writes: “It (the decision of the British government) is a blunt instrument inflicted on people who deserve so much better.

“I believe that all right-mind people will offer their unwavering and unequivocal support to the Brown family and the Bellaghy club for the steadfast and dignified way that they have pursued the truth for more than two and a half decades.”