Amateurism

[BigGreenField]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

I did have a laugh that the head of the players association spoke to a manager as to why players had dropped out, rather than maybe speaking to the players!

[dec]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

[Rossfan]

Or boxers etc.
Why give any money to sport at all?
Why give €50m to a Stadium "outside the jurisdiction"

[rodney trotter]

Or boxers etc.
Why give any money to sport at all?
Why give €50m to a Stadium "outside the jurisdiction"

The GAA makes a big turnover for an Amatuer organization. Concerts, American football. They would be able to pay the players grant. Turnover of 132 million in 2024.

[Rossfan]

Punishment the successful and bail out the worse than useless FAI??

[ck]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

I did have a laugh that the head of the players association spoke to a manager as to why players had dropped out, rather than maybe speaking to the players!

You should re-read the article. The head of GPA spoke to a manager about why they couldn't field. Not why players had dropped out. They had lost 20 players from the year before. (That's why Mickey Graeme left).
That said, I agree that Parsons should interview every one of those players to see why they left as he assumes it was down to money and affordability. I'd like to think he has researched his players before speaking on their behalf.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Punishment the successful and bail out the worse than useless FAI??

While not defending the FAI, they at least provide sport. The equivalent is them asking for taxpayers money to pay the international players at arms length

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

[BigGreenField]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

I did have a laugh that the head of the players association spoke to a manager as to why players had dropped out, rather than maybe speaking to the players!

You should re-read the article. The head of GPA spoke to a manager about why they couldn't field. Not why players had dropped out. They had lost 20 players from the year before. (That's why Mickey Graeme left).
That said, I agree that Parsons should interview every one of those players to see why they left as he assumes it was down to money and affordability. I'd like to think he has researched his players before speaking on their behalf.

While technically correct possibly splitting hairs, if they didn't drop out for money then Parsons shouldn't be referencing them, that's certainly what he is implying.

Not worth falling out over.

I've no issue with costs being fully covered and post trainjng food etc but if the demands on intercounty are such that players are skipping work then the demand are too high and that needs regulated and lowered.

[ck]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

I did have a laugh that the head of the players association spoke to a manager as to why players had dropped out, rather than maybe speaking to the players!

You should re-read the article. The head of GPA spoke to a manager about why they couldn't field. Not why players had dropped out. They had lost 20 players from the year before. (That's why Mickey Graeme left).
That said, I agree that Parsons should interview every one of those players to see why they left as he assumes it was down to money and affordability. I'd like to think he has researched his players before speaking on their behalf.

While technically correct possibly splitting hairs, if they didn't drop out for money then Parsons shouldn't be referencing them, that's certainly what he is implying.

Not worth falling out over.

I've no issue with costs being fully covered and post training food etc but if the demands on intercounty are such that players are skipping work then the demand are too high and that needs regulated and lowered.

Not sure if they're skipping work but they certainly could be missing career opportunities, overtime, promotions. Parsons suggests that players are dropping off the smaller county squads because they cannot afford the expense that goes with playing county football, travel/food/supplements etc. The reality is the bigger counties get all of this paid for, the smaller counties struggle and expect players to put their hands in their pockets too often. It's a clear case of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

[JoG2]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

Stick to the soccer, you're a dose.

[thewobbler]

Players have dropped away from county panels since time began. As they do at club level. As they do at schools level. As they do at juvenile club level.

The demands don't help. They really don't.

But the reality is that some players always have, and always will, gauge potential for success vs effort required, and cut their cloth accordingly.

Some players get fulfilment from playing at the highest level available to them. Some players get fulfilment only from winning.

Tom and his fuckwit friends really could do with understanding this.

[Rossfan]

They're not necessarily his friends, they're his employers

[u]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/09/19/gpa-chief-says-its-time-to-increase-player-grants-this-isnt-going-away-for-government/

Why should the government be paying any money to intercounty players?

So the GAA don't have to, thus maintaining the illusion of amateurism

Stick to the soccer, you're a dose.

These soccer bucks would you give you a dose of the shits. They have chip on shoulders when comes to Gaelic games.

[Rossfan]

The Government gave €10m to a Professional American "football" game and in effect nationalised the useless FAI, who arrogantly refused to appear before a Dáil Committee.