Messages

Be realistic, you can't offer a tax break for every volunteer, there are too many and the system would be abused.

If tax breaks were only of interest to the elite players they wouldn't get them. The reason they could is because it is in the interest of the government to have a strong GAA intercounty game because it generates millions to the bottom line of various different businesses around the country.

I explained it and gave examples, I can't draw you a picture, you don't want it explained, you just want to rant.

Of course I'm being realistic! And I know you can't offer every volunteer a tax break! It's a devil advocate moment. But you are asking athletic, Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket (etc) people to subsidise  the money laden organistation such as the GAA. Why? Why do we need to do this? Should Irish Soccer clubs be included in this? Why not? Oh yeah, they are not a money spinner for the Country! This is your premise!

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tax-breaks-helped-to-keep-our-biggest-stars-at-home-29297107.html

Epic fail.

That is utterly wrong too.

People who pursue a sporting career, the very best of luck to them but it's a life choice, I don't think a safety net or retirement pot should be burdened on tax payers for these people to pursue hobbies as a career. If their own clubs or sporting organisations choose to do it with their own funds then it's perfectly acceptable but it should not come at a cost to the ordinary citizen.

So if it's wrong why do you think the government offer tax breaks to pro sports men who stay in Ireland?

They are just sound like that?

Politics. The GAA carry an enormous amount of political clout in Ireland.

you're going to have to explain that, I don't know what you mean.

Be realistic, you can't offer a tax break for every volunteer, there are too many and the system would be abused.

If tax breaks were only of interest to the elite players they wouldn't get them. The reason they could is because it is in the interest of the government to have a strong GAA intercounty game because it generates millions to the bottom line of various different businesses around the country.

I explained it and gave examples, I can't draw you a picture, you don't want it explained, you just want to rant.

Of course I'm being realistic! And I know you can't offer every volunteer a tax break! It's a devil advocate moment. But you are asking athletic, Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket (etc) people to subsidise  the money laden organistation such as the GAA. Why? Why do we need to do this? Should Irish Soccer clubs be included in this? Why not? Oh yeah, they are not a money spinner for the Country! This is your premise!

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tax-breaks-helped-to-keep-our-biggest-stars-at-home-29297107.html

Epic fail.

That is utterly wrong too.

People who pursue a sporting career, the very best of luck to them but it's a life choice, I don't think a safety net or retirement pot should be burdened on tax payers for these people to pursue hobbies as a career. If their own clubs or sporting organisations choose to do it with their own funds then it's perfectly acceptable but it should not come at a cost to the ordinary citizen.

So if it's wrong why do you think the government offer tax breaks to pro sports men who stay in Ireland?

They are just sound like that?

Be realistic, you can't offer a tax break for every volunteer, there are too many and the system would be abused.

If tax breaks were only of interest to the elite players they wouldn't get them. The reason they could is because it is in the interest of the government to have a strong GAA intercounty game because it generates millions to the bottom line of various different businesses around the country.

I explained it and gave examples, I can't draw you a picture, you don't want it explained, you just want to rant.

What you "explained" is pie in the sky stuff.

There is zero need to offer tax breaks. It's elitism, these lads with their no-show jobs, sponsored cars, sponsorship deals and endorsements already make enough out of their status as intercounty fooballers. They don't need further tax breaks but it's in line with the way the game is going, professionals in all but name. I'd imagine guys like Bernard Brogan, O'Shea and Joe Canning make more in a year than any professional League of Ireland player and probably as much as some rugby internationals.

You keep rabbitting on about it generating millions, you completely overstate the revenue the GAA makes for the economy, it probably drains more out of the state than it generates. How many times does Croke Park fill up a year? 5/6 times tops. You might get Thurles full once a year and Clones full once a year and that's really about the height of it.

The GAA are the benefactors of this, not the state.

Ok, I tried.

Be realistic, you can't offer a tax break for every volunteer, there are too many and the system would be abused.

If tax breaks were only of interest to the elite players they wouldn't get them. The reason they could is because it is in the interest of the government to have a strong GAA intercounty game because it generates millions to the bottom line of various different businesses around the country.

I explained it and gave examples, I can't draw you a picture, you don't want it explained, you just want to rant.

Of course I'm being realistic! And I know you can't offer every volunteer a tax break! It's a devil advocate moment. But you are asking athletic, Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket (etc) people to subsidise  the money laden organistation such as the GAA. Why? Why do we need to do this? Should Irish Soccer clubs be included in this? Why not? Oh yeah, they are not a money spinner for the Country! This is your premise!

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tax-breaks-helped-to-keep-our-biggest-stars-at-home-29297107.html

Epic fail.   

Be realistic, you can't offer a tax break for every volunteer, there are too many and the system would be abused.

If tax breaks were only of interest to the elite players they wouldn't get them. The reason they could is because it is in the interest of the government to have a strong GAA intercounty game because it generates millions to the bottom line of various different businesses around the country.

I explained it and gave examples, I can't draw you a picture, you don't want it explained, you just want to rant.

I have no issue with a certain tax band of say 15-20% for all inter-county lads. The player's grant would have to be taken off the table if it came in mind. That would be key. Then that money from the Govt could be used in other aspects of the GAA. It would sit better with me tbh than lads getting money for being a county player.
That is worse in my mind. Lads are getting money in their account for being a county player. The tax break way means they are keeping more of what they earn.

If you look at the amount of money the big matches bring to Dublin over the summer. If you look at the fact most villages have a defacto community centre in the form of a GAA clubhouse then why not?

NB
I would want the player's grant gone if that came in.

Playing for your county should not be about the money you can make from it and that is what it say.

Intercounty players have to make a lot of sacrifices but not really any more than any amateur sportsman. That they get preferential treatment does not sit well with me at all. I think it would be more apt for them to be taxed on their earnings, those lads with the sponsored cars should be paying tax on them, if you had it in a job it'd be taxed as a BIK. This myth that intercounty players, particularly with the big counties, are not well looked after is a bunch of nonsense.

It isn't, it's just a recognition of the value they have to the economy.

If GAA county games stopped it wouldn't just be a GAA issue it would be a national government issue as it would damage businesses and hence harm the economy.

Good man, you managed to contradict yourself there in a few words.

If it's not about earning money, it shouldn't be about earning money and that's exactly what tax breaks for players is about.  When the free state has such huge social issues in health and housing then it really does baffle the minfd that they are calling for lads in their early-mid 20s with free cars, university scolarships, no-show jobs, loads of untaxed earnings and freebies to get even more tax breaks.

What about the value club players bring to the economy or volunteers who ensure that games go ahead, what about the value the people who give up their own time free of charge to make sure underage teams and competitions can run their course, what about their value to the economy? The GAA would not exist without these people, neither would grassroots in other sports like football etc.

Why don't they evict working class families out of their homes and give them free houses while they're at it?

The way the economy works is people have jobs maybe in hotels or shops or petrol stations or driving a bus or taxi and those people get paid money for the work they do. They spend that money on many things including accommodation so they aren't homeless or medical care/insurance for when they are sick so they don't die .

Inter county players are a big part of the economy by the numbers they attract to games or indirectly say by getting people buying newspapers for example. Hence the intercounty players are high value not only to the GAA but to the government.

Therefore tax breaks for intercounty players is in the governments interest.

That is the counter to your argument in your initial post. You can talk about grassroots volunteers and their value to the economy  and I could disagree or agree or have no opinion but  if you want to know why the government are willing to grant tax exemptions to intercounty players I have explained that to you and it is up to you whether you want to accept that or continue arguing.

I have no issue with a certain tax band of say 15-20% for all inter-county lads. The player's grant would have to be taken off the table if it came in mind. That would be key. Then that money from the Govt could be used in other aspects of the GAA. It would sit better with me tbh than lads getting money for being a county player.
That is worse in my mind. Lads are getting money in their account for being a county player. The tax break way means they are keeping more of what they earn.

If you look at the amount of money the big matches bring to Dublin over the summer. If you look at the fact most villages have a defacto community centre in the form of a GAA clubhouse then why not?

NB
I would want the player's grant gone if that came in.

Playing for your county should not be about the money you can make from it and that is what it say.

Intercounty players have to make a lot of sacrifices but not really any more than any amateur sportsman. That they get preferential treatment does not sit well with me at all. I think it would be more apt for them to be taxed on their earnings, those lads with the sponsored cars should be paying tax on them, if you had it in a job it'd be taxed as a BIK. This myth that intercounty players, particularly with the big counties, are not well looked after is a bunch of nonsense.

It isn't, it's just a recognition of the value they have to the economy.

If GAA county games stopped it wouldn't just be a GAA issue it would be a national government issue as it would damage businesses and hence harm the economy.

You know economically GAA players are probably one of the most valuable sections of people in Ireland.

Programme sellers, match officials, Ground staff, Police, vintners, medical personnel/physiotherapists, journalists and their employers whether print radio or online, Bus/train Drivers, hotels, car park operators, shop owners, burger van operators and on and on...they all get their pockets filled by the intercounty game

So tax wise the government absolutely makes out like bandits from the GAA.

Wrote something about the topic in question having gone through Dublin's, Mayo's and Cork's finances for 2015,2016 and a bit of what was available on 2017.

https://veryintobloggingveryintonewmedia.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/dublin-gaa-finances-under-the-microscope/

Good physique, tall and big hands are the 3 most important things I'd say.

Hilarious reading the reply's. Rename the thread to the crying game.

One point though, perhaps Dublin don't need to fundraise due to other income streams........... Most logical explanation.

Again, reminder, EIR Sport on Christmas eve, Dublins say, enjoy gentlemen.

All i want is to see a link to the published Dublin accounts.
Here is the latest Mayo one (page 7 showing the best summary)... http://sportlomo-userupload.s3.amazonaws.com/uploaded/galleries/21_uploaded/e72a9d45499535c4e5e22e637a12d314e9330af0.pdf

Why do Dublin not publish there's? Or if they do, then i'd be much  obliged if you could add the link to this discussion thread

http://www.stsylvesters.ie/files/dublin-county-board-accounts-2016/view

There's 2016 for you.

Well they're consistent about not doing much fundraising anyway, it's a good thing most in the GAA have been a little more proactive historically or Gaelic games never would have got off the ground at all.

I believe it might be different at Dublin club level though in fairness but incredible to see how lazy the county board have been with fundraising.

Thanks.
A few things stand out and are interesting:

- I can't see what was spent on the senior team. I see "team administration" expenses at €1.5M. How much of this is on senior footballers and why no breakdown like MAyo ones for example .... medical, transport, etc ?
- Maintenance and upkeep of grounds cost ~€9,000 per week. And yet O'Toole Park, Braemore Park and Parnell Park are the only grounds listed. It does though list "club grounds" .... does the county board pay for the upkeep of club grounds ?
- Administration expenses are listed at ~€21K per week (~€1.126 million) ... this is the standout for me. Presuming the 1.5 million in 1st point takes care of all team expenses, then how the blazes can there then be an additional need for 21K administration expenses ?

It is itemized if you scroll to the very end.

So to spell out the figures from the reports published here.

Dublin from 2015 to 2017 fundraised 161k
Mayo for just 2016 and 2017 earned 1.761 million in fundraised.

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Dublin county board are extremely lazy when it comes to increasing revenue and rely on handouts from the GAA and easy money that no other county could access from their commercial partners.

Hilarious reading the reply's. Rename the thread to the crying game.

One point though, perhaps Dublin don't need to fundraise due to other income streams........... Most logical explanation.

Again, reminder, EIR Sport on Christmas eve, Dublins say, enjoy gentlemen.

All i want is to see a link to the published Dublin accounts.
Here is the latest Mayo one (page 7 showing the best summary)... http://sportlomo-userupload.s3.amazonaws.com/uploaded/galleries/21_uploaded/e72a9d45499535c4e5e22e637a12d314e9330af0.pdf

Why do Dublin not publish there's? Or if they do, then i'd be much  obliged if you could add the link to this discussion thread

http://www.stsylvesters.ie/files/dublin-county-board-accounts-2016/view

There's 2016 for you.

Well they're consistent about not doing much fundraising anyway, it's a good thing most in the GAA have been a little more proactive historically or Gaelic games never would have got off the ground at all.

I believe it might be different at Dublin club level though in fairness but incredible to see how lazy the county board have been with fundraising.

It might skew the figures but it's not a fabrication syferus so not sure you've proved anything with the Roscommon example.

The fundraising figure in Dublin's accounts should be followed up on by the national press as it doesn't make much sense.

Why aren't Dublin dominating hurling then if the argumrnts on finance and  gpos sre to hold water

Dublin have won 6 under 21 Leinster since their first in 1967. Half of those have been this decade. So that argument actually backfires.