Bringing the GAA to book

MOYNIHAN ASKS THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS THE ORGANISATION OFTEN SHIES AWAY FROM

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That's the central question in Michael Moynihan's new book about the GAA — More Than A Game.

The journalist examines the GAA's unique place in Irish life in the 21st century and tries to find out what the future holds for the Association.

It features extensive interviews with leading figures in the GAA, including Director General Tom Ryan, Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) CEO Tom Parsons, RTE’s Head of Sport Declan McBennett, and academics who specialise in GAA.

Areas like payments to managers, ‘the parish rule,’ inter-county expenses and media relations are dealt with.

All those strands and plenty more are pulled together expertly by author Michael Moynihan, with his latest offering following on from the success of GAAconomics, published in 2013.

The book takes a wide view of all things GAA in an organisation that turns over €254 million annually at national, provincial and County Board level. And this figure doesn't even include the turnover of 2000-odd clubs.

A record €44 million, that we know of, was pumped into inter-county teams last year, and that figure is on the rise every season, bar a blip during covid.

Moynihan takes a long, hard look at where the money is being spent.

In an eye opening offering, the GPAs Tom Parsons talks about the possibility of a ‘continued churn’ of inter-county players, due to lost income associated with the commitment demanded at the highest level, particularly from younger student players.

Parsons also suggests the next generation may not be “the same stoics we've seen in the last few decades.”

The former Mayo star adds the GPA are “grappling with players in both worlds,” — the professionalism of the inter-county for seven months and the amateurism of club for five, and the contradiction that at county level plenty of those involved are not volunteers but the players are.