Bars in GAA Clubhouses - Yay or Nay??

Ty4Sam · March 21, 2017, 12:01:09 PM

What are people's thoughts on bars in club GAA grounds? A good thing that can attract money/new members and social meeting point? Or a distraction, negative for health etc. and a possible financial drain on a club?

screenexile · March 21, 2017, 12:16:51 PM

Depends... we have one but our club is a bit out of the way of the Town so it wouldn't attract a regular crowd therefore we only have it open at certain times.

Other Clubs have bars that do well so location would be a big factor. If you can be sure you'll get the crowd it's a no brainer I'd say!

naka · March 21, 2017, 12:30:22 PM

we have one
its a loss leader, can`t get guys to work in it and just don`t have the footfall.
it opens twice a week.

Ty4Sam · March 21, 2017, 12:39:31 PM

screenexile - Open at set days/times or just when the need arises ie. matches/functions?
naka - is this voluntary work? why bother with it if its making a loss?

cheers for replies lads

Rois · March 21, 2017, 02:13:32 PM

Owen Roes in Tyrone has one - it is the only one in the community so serves a few purposes. I believe it was one of the first in the county and has been going for at least 25 years and probably more.

Norf Tyrone will be able to explain better its profitability. It used to have club volunteers working in it but I think there's at least one paid employee now. It isn't open every night but is open at the weekend.

naka · March 21, 2017, 02:17:37 PM

Quote from: Ty4Sam on March 21, 2017, 12:39:31 PM
screenexile - Open at set days/times or just when the need arises ie. matches/functions?
naka - is this voluntary work? why bother with it if its making a loss?

cheers for replies lads

used to be voluntary now we pay the students/u21s to work in it,
we open cos its too much hassle to close it down and its used for birthday parties etc, we had to renovate some changing rooms into a small bar as the function room was costing a fortune to heat.
the reality is, not as many people boozing in clubs anymore

twohands!!! · March 21, 2017, 02:50:49 PM

Quote from: naka on March 21, 2017, 02:17:37 PM
Quote from: Ty4Sam on March 21, 2017, 12:39:31 PM
screenexile - Open at set days/times or just when the need arises ie. matches/functions?
naka - is this voluntary work? why bother with it if its making a loss?

cheers for replies lads
used to be voluntary now we pay the students/u21s to work in it,
we open cos its too much hassle to close it down and its used for birthday parties etc, we had to renovate some changing rooms into a small bar as the function room was costing a fortune to heat.
the reality is, not as many people boozing in clubs anymore

You don't have as many people boozing in bars/pubs - I remember the vintners going on about the number of pubs that have closed, especially in rural areas.
I think on balance they are probably not worth the hassle.

T Fearon · March 21, 2017, 03:01:11 PM

Not in favour.Undoubtedly some in my own club will disagree,but thirty years ago the opening of a new pitch and complex with bar etc,drove a lot of good GAA men out to be replaced by social drinkers for want of a better term.Also bar is not profitable,low margins large overheads,and ironically the club,at senior level,was a lot more successful when it didn't have its own pitch or changing facilities with showers even,back in the mid 70s to mid 80s.

screenexile · March 21, 2017, 04:02:22 PM

Quote from: Ty4Sam on March 21, 2017, 12:39:31 PM
screenexile - Open at set days/times or just when the need arises ie. matches/functions?
naka - is this voluntary work? why bother with it if its making a loss?

cheers for replies lads

Generally only for matches or functions Ty4.

Itchy · March 21, 2017, 04:07:51 PM

Is there not enough bars, what is the advantage to having one attached to your club. Total waste of money and even if it was cost effective I think GAA should stay clear of linking sport with alcohol.

Rossfan · March 21, 2017, 04:17:29 PM

No point and not needed in small towns and villages.
Cities and big expanding towns by all means yay.

Avondhu star · March 21, 2017, 06:13:31 PM

Quote from: Rossfan on March 21, 2017, 04:17:29 PM
No point and not needed in small towns and villages.
Cities and big expanding towns by all means yay.

Rossfan is right as in small towns and villages all it does is hit the local bar trade who probably is a club sponsor anyway. Our club covers three villages and we have our Lotto draw in a different village every week which means we spread the business out and each pub takes a bundle of tickets which get sold during the week It is not a financially viable option to have a club bar because you will need at least one full time staff member/manager. People volunteer in the GAA to be involved with teams not work behind a bar. In the cities and big towns the clubhouse will invariably be in the suburbs which doesnt suit the young drinker who likes to visit a few boozers during the night. The clubhouse cant be kept going by oul fellas drinking pints and talking shite

Aaron Boone · March 21, 2017, 09:45:05 PM

This thread could be about a lot of bars in Ireland, not just GAA club bars.

People still drink, but cheaper off-licence alcohol means more drink at home.

Louth Exile · April 05, 2017, 07:04:07 PM

We have a bar in our rural club that has beaten all the odds and is still on the go after more than 20 years. It takes a mix of paid and voluntary staff to keep it going. It is not a big money spinner, but it provides a positive social aspect to our club.

The only down side at the moment would be a recent spat of anti social behaviour coming from our "own" people!! We are considering getting new doors installed.

With this in mind we are drawing up a set up bar rules and code of conduct! Do any of you out there have these already that you would be willing to show? Just to provide a template to start from?