YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BE TURNED AWAY - DUBLIN GAA'S STARK WARNING

THE GAA in Dublin is facing a facilities and infrastructure crisis in the coming years that could seriously damage the association in the capital.

- BY BRIAN FLANAGAN

That is the verdict of Dublin GAA CEO and secretary Finbarr O'Mahony in his 2025 Annual Report at Monday night's County Convention.

O'Mahony welcomed the increased numbers playing Gaelic Games in Dublin but said that a number of clubs in the county are now “stretched to breaking point” in their attempts to find facilities to meet the demand.

The official even warned that some clubs could be forced into turning children away as they'll need to limit their numbers in the coming years unless a solution can be found.

“There is a real challenge for the GAA here in that nobody wants to see young people not catered for or maybe even turned away from clubs," O'Mahony's report said.

“The reality is that we may be approaching that point soon in some areas. The real danger in situations like this is that you have an unnatural attrition where young players who may not yet have developed their skills are possibly lost to the game through sheer weight of numbers.”

Although a handful of clubs in Dublin can boast thousands of playing members, the constant struggle for playing pitches and facilities has intensified in recent times with some even forced to train outside the county or rent facilities from rugby and hockey clubs.