GAA grants exclusive global digital highlights rights to The Sun newspaper

[orangeman]

The GAA is a big organistation. It needs to grow its business. It needs income in order to pay the large number of people that work full time and part time for it. It needs sponsors. It needs revenue streams. There was a time that where the money came from was a consideration. That day is gone. There was a time that a deal with Sky and the Sun would have been dismissed straightaway. Changed times now. The GAA are competing for sponsors. They can't be too choosy.

[orangeman]

There was a right witch hunt over payments to managers a short while ago and how important it was that this cancer was cut out.
But now it seems it's all about money. Money for Corporate park. Far too many salaried types in Croker now who can justify all these deals while keeping a straight face as they advise clubs that all goods and juries must be Irish made. Thus ensuring Clubs pay over the top for their gear.
Talk of the money filtering back down is a big lie. It doesn't. it's absorbed by the full time structure in the Association now - Games Development Officers, Administrators etc.
The GDO's are playing a numbers game too; no of school visits, no attending summer camps but in reality are they strengthening our clubs? In many counties they are not.
We are slowly watching the death of grassroots games and the creation of an elite status.
It won't be too long before our clubs become like your local rugby club; struggling to put bodies on the field while the Provinces continue to grow in a professional era.
It ain't he GAA anymore.

The GAA publish their accounts and they show that the vast majority of monies are reinvested and go back to the clubs. Some people might say that they don't see it. But it;s there to see. You might say my club have never got any money from the GAA so it's a lie to say that the monies go back to the clubs cos I don't see it. But the GAA do spend it.

[Catch and Kick]

If it's going back directly to the clubs, i am sure the GAA would be listing the names in the annual accounts and getting kudos for it. But I guarantee the slice of pie the Clubs receive is minimal. It is mostly absorbed by the full time structure. And one would have to question the return on that investment.

[neilthemac]

I've heard of the farcial situation where a county board and the GAA is trying to stop clubs in a county from running their own summer camps.

So the county board and certain clubs can make money from the official cul camps.