After a prolonged period of negotiations, the GAA and GPA have struck a new four-year Recognition Protocol, to run from 2026 through 2029, intended to transform how inter-county players are supported, recognised and rewarded off the field.
Both organisations describe the agreement as a historic step — one that brings clarity, fairness and modern commercial structures to the heart of Gaelic games.
Under the new arrangement, the GPA will receive a 15 per cent share of the GAA’s gross Central Council commercial revenue, replacing the previous model that based payments on net revenue.
Alongside this, the joint commercial venture between the two organisations — Le Chéile — will be restructured to ensure a transparent, sustainable and player-driven model for future commercial and licensing activity.
Perhaps most significantly, the agreement formally recognises that inter-county players own their own Name, Image, Likeness and Personality (NILP) rights.
Through Le Chéile, a clearly defined distribution pot will be established so that eligible players can benefit from NILP commercialisation. That includes revenue generated via licensing, merchandise or any other commercial activity linked to their identity.
Crucially, the protocol also ensures that revenues derived from the GAA’s streaming platform, GAA+, will flow through the GPA, with the association set to receive 15 per cent of licence fees and dividends annually.
The GPA says the deal will support its ongoing work on education, health and well-being, player development, scholarships and wider supports for inter-county athletes.
The improved revenue model and NILP recognition are expected to enable the GPA to expand these offerings sustainably, providing players with greater stability and long-term backing than ever before.
Officials from both sides of the sport say the agreement reflects changing realities: the huge commitment required from inter-county players, the commercial potential of Gaelic games, and the need to align the sport with modern standards of athlete recognition.
The 2026–2029 protocol is being hailed as a step away from amateur-only compensation toward a model that respects the value that players bring, both on and off the field.
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