Lack of recognition for Gaelic games in election manifestos 'worrying' for GAA
An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD and Ard Stiúrthóir of the GAA Tom Ryan, left, before the 2024 All-Ireland SFC final between Armagh and Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
GAA games development chairman Micheál Martin has expressed alarm at a number of political parties’ plans to prioritise soccer ahead of other sports.
Ahead of Friday’s General Election, Martin has read the manifestos of The Labour Party, People Before Profit (PBP) and Fianna Fáil (FF) where they intend showing more favour to developing soccer.
While the PBP aim to ensure “the Football Association of Ireland is appropriately funded to support grassroots clubs” and FF seek to "create a Next Generation Fund to support soccer academies", The Labour Party want to expand the sport as a Transition Year subject and introduce a 1% betting levy increase in part to fund “a dedicated focus on grassroots and League of Ireland football”.
Their manifesto reads: “Labour recognises that football is one of the greatest tools available to support integration of new communities, participation for those with disabilities, and gender equality in sport and we would implement an ambitious strategy to develop community grassroots football and the League of Ireland which have suffered from underfunding over many years.”
The segment concludes: “Labour will continue to support and work with Gaelic games, rugby, and other sporting codes but we believe that Irish football needs dedicated focus and support to address decades of poor governance and underinvestment.”
In their 2023 accounts, the GAA reported spending €13.2 million of its own money in coaching and games. At this past weekend’s national coaching conference, it was revealed 143,000 children attended this year’s Cúl Camps.
Martin, the outgoing Wexford chairman, is bewildered at the approaches taken by the parties to put one sport ahead of others. “Moving away from parity of funding would be a concern for the GAA. Nobody supports primary or post-primary schools like the GAA.
“Political parties might consider what could be done to grow participation. Maybe looking at something the GAA are doing, which is how we can recognise and reward teachers who are giving extra-curricular time. That could be done across all sports.
“Within those manifestos, it’s very zoned in on one piece, which is elitism. That’s something we should tread carefully as well. The potential to make one sport a transition year sport is really mind-boggling. By all means, introduce a TY programme that is across all sports. The GAA have invested significant money and time into the Future Leaders TY programme and done so pretty much without government support nor would it be requested.
“I do understand political manifestos are statements of a broad brush of things but if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that if something is not included in a manifesto, it won’t happen. The imbalance towards or lack or recognition of Gaelic games and their importance within Irish culture and society could be described as worrying.”
Martin wonders why hurling’s globally-recognised heritage status wasn’t paid as much attention by a single political party.
“There is a plan that will be released shortly to grow hurling and camogie, which is in line with the UNESCO recognition, which I was really surprised wasn’t mentioned in any of the manifestos I have seen.”
The principal of Scoil Réalt Na Mara in Kilmore, Martin was just as dismayed watching an election debate about sports on Premier Sports on Monday night where Labour Dublin South Central candidate Darragh Moriarty spoke of GAA clubs receiving four times the amount of community funding than soccer.
“I think the monetary narrative is unfair against the GAA. The sports capital grants is on the back of hard work. My school is in a disadvantaged area and the GAA club beside the school have the most amazing facilities and there are other sporting clubs in the parish that have decent facilities, not to the same extent. But it is effectively the same body of people that the application process is open to.
“Putting my county chair hat on, we spent €4m on infrastructural projects. Some of that is funded by Croke Park, which is graciously received, but the overwhelming majority of that is our funds. There’s that and the coaching piece and it would seem based on the debate that there is almost an approach to penalise the GAA for having its house in order.”
Martin suggests the GAA should do more to promote the work they do for inclusion such as All-Star weekly training sessions and camps. “We started the VIP inclusion programme three years ago and it spread organically.
“When I read the line (in the Labour manifesto), I was really annoyed. That one code could be considered as the silver bullet to improving inclusion and integration given the significant work that takes place in the GAA.
“Potentially, we have to look at ourselves now and see do need to communicate that better. Do we need to shout louder about these projects that we have and are self-funding?”
Martin stresses the GAA’s importance in physical education at school level has to be retained.
“Gaelic games should be given particular consideration because of its cultural significance. I remember there was a battle 20 years ago just to include that in the primary school curriculum. That is being redeveloped in February and it would be extremely disappointing if that’s not retained.
“Where in a modern Ireland do our national games sit? When dignitaries come to Ireland, we are approached for them to be brought to big championship games. It can’t just be about the one day out. The games have to be kept alive at grassroots level.”
On Wednesday, the GAA will reveal the findings of their commissioned economic value and social impact report, which is expected to reveal a considerable return on what is invested in its three organisations.
