Money Well Spent ?

[Tyrone Dreamer]

If the gaa had moved the match to croke park and not put on a show they'd have been faced with complaints about being a grab all association. People would have said they only moved the match as a money making exercise and was nothing to do with the anniversary. They really cant win.

[ccosgrave]

Although I admit that it's extremely difficult for the GAA to win in situations like this, I find it impossible to justify spending a fortune on fireworks when my own county board, Wexford, is €250,000 in debt. And no, I don't have any solutions as to what would make a suitable celebration for the night, but I certainly don't feel that there's any merit in such an exuberant and wasteful attempt at displaying the greatness of the GAA. Unless the GAA are planning on putting on a show to rival the 2008 Olympic Games' opening ceremony, I fear that the result is simply going to be tacky and, worse, utterly unmemorable, and not at all representive of the organisation.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

As I said if the gaa hadnt used this match to celebrate the anniversary it would have been held in Parnell Park and the money wouldnt have been there to spend. That's why I dont think its a huge issue.

[orangeman]

Nicky Brennan has said that the €500,000 includes €100,000 of VAT. He also said that its the projected cost of the entire evening and not just for fireworks. He also stressed that it wouldnt effect clubs and would be raised on the night.

If the gaa hadnt decided to celebrate using this match the game would have been in Parnell Park and the money wouldnt have been there to spend anyway. Dont think the compaints are totally justified and unfair on those who have put a lot of effort into the anniversary celebrations.

Sure that makes it all alright then !

[Tyrone Dreamer]

I noticed you only highlighted the bit that suited you.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

As I said if the gaa hadnt used this match to celebrate the anniversary it would have been held in Parnell Park and the money wouldnt have been there to spend. That's why I dont think its a huge issue.

But once the money is there, surely it should be used as effectively as possible? Its a fair position to believe that fireworks isn't an example of this. Say if part of the €500,000 had been used to fund free trips for Primary schools to Croke Park and free entry to the museum (particularly schools from non-GAA areas and perhaps Protestant school in the north) would this not be a better way of promoting the organisation?

Artistic and cultural celebrations are certainly to be encouraged but I'm not sure fireworks really falls into this category.

[Maguire01]

The only real waste here is the fact that it isn't on terrestrial TV.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

I think based on what Brennan has said that it would be fair to say that the fireworks are likely to cost the gaa closer to €200k than €500k. So this €500k that people keep throwing out is a bit of a nonsense. I'd say because of the gaa's agreement with Setanta which is for much longer than 1 game that they couldnt show it on terrestrial tv. However because of the circumstances they should have tried to arrange deferred coverage on RTE.

[Maguire01]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XW07rAV006s

[balladmaker]

Aaarrrgggghhh! This is such a waste of money FFS. Sure couldn't you get U2 to sing a few songs for that money

Would rather listen to the fireworks than the ego that is Bono spouting on.

[tyroneboi]

Money well spent? After seeing them tonight, you would have to say yes!

[pintsofguinness]

Yup

[RedandGreenSniper]

Also when you factor in that the cost was covered by just putting an extra fiver onto the cost of each ticket for tonight's game means it was very little for anyone to complain about. In retrospect I'd have given a lot more than the price of the match ticket to have been in Croker tonight

[Maguire01]

I noticed in this week's Gaelic Life Joe Brolly seemed to have climbed down a bit from his earlier opposition to the display.

[Maguire01]

Anywhere to watch the display online?