A STIPEND? OR OFF DEEP END?

GAA well past point of no return with payments, but how far does this go?

- BY KARL O'KANE

THERE was a time when the prospect of county players receiving government grants was greeted with outrage - from without and within the GAA.

The grants, first paid out in 2008, were increased from just over €1400 to €1800 in this week's budget, a first hike since 2018.

Back in '08 some players handed over the grants to their clubs, rather than taking the money themselves.

Many in the GAA felt government grants were against the ethos of the overall organisation and would damage the amateur status. So what has changed 17 years on, that a first increase in seven years is met with little or no dissenting voices?

That is, bar the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA), who welcomed the news on one hand, but on the other hand said they would be looking for more money.

The change is mostly in societal attitudes and norms. Ideologically, more and more it seems to be a case of everyone and everything has a price - and less and less people are willing to do something for nothing.

In terms of day-to-day realities, it's all about the cost of living going through the roof.

A pertinent practical example is the price of fuel going up 2.5 cent per litre in this weeks' budget, which will directly impact inter-county players driving to and from training.