Fourteen years after stepping into the role as CEO of the Gaelic Players Association today is the last day at the office in Santry for Dessie Farrell.
It is one that he will relish as the importance of his final deals is played out across the membership, the wider sport and society.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced at Croke Park yesterday that the Government was committing a total of €6.9 million to the player grants scheme that Farrell and colleagues had carved in 2008 but which had nearly collapsed in the darker days of recession.
The new three-year agreement for the continued support of Gaelic men’s inter-county players will see €1.7 million provided by Government through Sport Ireland in 2017, €2.3 million in 2018 and €3 million in 2019.
The grants will amount to a minimum for all inter county players of €517, rising to €1,187 for those making it to an All Ireland Final. Grants for Women playing to the same level are being treated separately but with an additional Government fund provided through Sport Ireland for the first time.
The agreement is a separate one to that reached with the GAA earlier this year which goes towards funding of programmes. This is tied too commercial returns for the GAA which themselves will rise following the new five year media rights deal revealed last week.
Read more about the GAA and GPA Deal from July
“This agreement provides continued recognition for the contribution of Gaelic inter-county players to the economic and social fabric of the nation,” said Kenny launching the new agreement.
“Our inter-county players showcase the skill, excellence and commitment of our national games at home and abroad. They train hard to become the best they can be, in order to do their county, their town or their parish proud.”
“As well as promoting increased levels of physical activity, our Gaelic players can act as important role models in a number of other key policy areas at local and national level.”
“These include the promotion of mental health wellbeing, the fight against obesity and the prevention of alcohol and drugs misuse. I look forward to the continued support of our inter-county footballers and hurlers in these and other areas and as role models which young people’s can emulate.”
“This new agreement recognises that inter-county Gaelic players prepare and train to the highest international standards for team sports and incur significant financial costs in pursuit of their sporting goals,” added Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross.
“It is important that they receive support and recognition. My Department officials will work with Sport Ireland to develop an agreement outlining the funding that will be provided over the next three years, what is expected from the Gaelic players in return and the health and societal benefits of the investment.”
Read more about the GAA’s Health Initiatives supported by Irish Life
“Sport has a very significant role to play in creating a healthier society” added Minister of State for Sport Patrick O’Donovan.
“Active participation in sport and physical activity contributes enormously to the physical and mental well-being of the individual and of the whole community.”
“Local sporting heroes can positively influence our communities and provide our children with role models of excellence, because they know these players as individuals, as friends and as neighbours. Their achievements will serve to encourage participation at local levels, particularly among young people who like to emulate their sporting heroes.”
The new programmes and the contribution of players towards them will be an important element of the new arrangements and provide a sense of value gained rather than grants given that will secure the mutual benefit long into the future.
The agreement on multi annual funding, as was also the case on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for the past three years should be seen as an effective model for the approach to funding other sports. It gives the ability to plan and budget for longer then that twelve month rolling funding presently in place and would be welcomed across the board in sport.
“This new agreement with Government is important for players as it once again recognizes the vital economic and social contribution made by county players,” said Seamus Hickey, Chairman of the Gaelic Players Association.
“It reinforces the principle of parity for county players with other high performance athletes and professional sportspeople supported through State sponsored schemes.”
“It also provides a level of practical support to many players who are under financial pressure across the spectrum; from young students juggling their significant sporting and academic commitments to the more experienced players with young families to care for, mortgages and bills to pay while operating and performing at the highest levels in Irish sport.”
“This new arrangement will facilitate the development of an important programme between Government and Players in tackling some of the more intractable societal challenges in Ireland today.”
“This will happen through a more targeted approach and will leverage the role model status of many of our top county players to influence positive change.”
“Players look forward to taking an even more prominent role in making a meaningful difference, particularly, in the lives our young people across the country.”
Farrell will step away from the GPA without a specific job in mind. Wherever life brings him will benefit from his presence and if the Government was to look at appointing a single leader to advocate and agitate for change either in physical activity or mental wellbeing they should make sure they had his number before they all left Croke Park yesterday…
Read our personal tribute to the work (so far) of Dessie Farrell
