National Forum

GPA

(Oldest Posts First)

Interesting reading Paul Flynn's suggestion today, that the GPA would look to develop a confidential disclosure platform enabling inter county players report their own counties who break the training moratorium. Seems to be a very clever play on words & making it look as if they are taking action. First red flag is that they will "look at" it, the second red flag is that they & the rest of us know that no inter county player is going to risk reporting his own county & team mates due to the grief & inevitable character assassination that would follow. The last red flag is the most obvious, why when there was a training ban in place recently, did they look for the GAA to cover inter county panels for insurance ? The omertà of silence has been deafening from one county in the sunny south east that ended up with this problem of a player reportedly getting injured whilst inter county training, you don't need to be a genius to work out why the GPA campaigned so hard for insurance cover. They must think that the insurance companies are thick as well that they will cover all eventualities.
The breakdown of the figures given by the GAA make for very interesting reading, four of the top employees sharing €449,000 between them in salaries, mind boggling really. That the GAA invest €2,970,000 last year as well, on top of €3,000,000 from the Govt, shows where the GAA is now at. 2% of the membership dictate how the whole Association operates, meanwhile the GAA treat s body that represents the vast majority are treated like lepers & not even recognised. Two tier association & in light of the current unemployment figures, staggering that four people could earn such salaries in what is just a representative body.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1049 - 30/07/2020 10:54:06    2285799

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Interesting reading Paul Flynn's suggestion today, that the GPA would look to develop a confidential disclosure platform enabling inter county players report their own counties who break the training moratorium. Seems to be a very clever play on words & making it look as if they are taking action. First red flag is that they will "look at" it, the second red flag is that they & the rest of us know that no inter county player is going to risk reporting his own county & team mates due to the grief & inevitable character assassination that would follow. The last red flag is the most obvious, why when there was a training ban in place recently, did they look for the GAA to cover inter county panels for insurance ? The omertà of silence has been deafening from one county in the sunny south east that ended up with this problem of a player reportedly getting injured whilst inter county training, you don't need to be a genius to work out why the GPA campaigned so hard for insurance cover. They must think that the insurance companies are thick as well that they will cover all eventualities.
The breakdown of the figures given by the GAA make for very interesting reading, four of the top employees sharing €449,000 between them in salaries, mind boggling really. That the GAA invest €2,970,000 last year as well, on top of €3,000,000 from the Govt, shows where the GAA is now at. 2% of the membership dictate how the whole Association operates, meanwhile the GAA treat s body that represents the vast majority are treated like lepers & not even recognised. Two tier association & in light of the current unemployment figures, staggering that four people could earn such salaries in what is just a representative body."
I have yet to see anything from any member of the GPA, since it's foundation, that justifies the salaries mentioned.

I can't see how they are set up to achieve anything that is in the interest of the majority of intercounty players that couldn't be achieved (and represented in a more accurate consensus of opinion) thru a coming together of county boards at congress to lobby on the players' behalf.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 4135 - 30/07/2020 11:10:24    2285805

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Interesting reading Paul Flynn's suggestion today, that the GPA would look to develop a confidential disclosure platform enabling inter county players report their own counties who break the training moratorium. Seems to be a very clever play on words & making it look as if they are taking action. First red flag is that they will "look at" it, the second red flag is that they & the rest of us know that no inter county player is going to risk reporting his own county & team mates due to the grief & inevitable character assassination that would follow. The last red flag is the most obvious, why when there was a training ban in place recently, did they look for the GAA to cover inter county panels for insurance ? The omertà of silence has been deafening from one county in the sunny south east that ended up with this problem of a player reportedly getting injured whilst inter county training, you don't need to be a genius to work out why the GPA campaigned so hard for insurance cover. They must think that the insurance companies are thick as well that they will cover all eventualities.
The breakdown of the figures given by the GAA make for very interesting reading, four of the top employees sharing €449,000 between them in salaries, mind boggling really. That the GAA invest €2,970,000 last year as well, on top of €3,000,000 from the Govt, shows where the GAA is now at. 2% of the membership dictate how the whole Association operates, meanwhile the GAA treat s body that represents the vast majority are treated like lepers & not even recognised. Two tier association & in light of the current unemployment figures, staggering that four people could earn such salaries in what is just a representative body."
Excellent post.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 11732 - 30/07/2020 11:11:42    2285806

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Replying To cavanman47:  "I have yet to see anything from any member of the GPA, since it's foundation, that justifies the salaries mentioned.

I can't see how they are set up to achieve anything that is in the interest of the majority of intercounty players that couldn't be achieved (and represented in a more accurate consensus of opinion) thru a coming together of county boards at congress to lobby on the players' behalf."
I often wonder why it's not questioned more. Are people afraid they'll get the sort of abuse Colm O Rourke got when he highlighted it?

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 402 - 31/07/2020 08:58:22    2285925

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The salaries are indeed mind boggling, in most organisations I can understand why we need a CEO etc on big bucks but not when 79% (or something like that) of your income is handed to you.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 864 - 02/08/2020 08:07:17    2286086

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I have not the slightest idea if those salaries are justified or not. Guessing a lot of money is earned in the whole GAA but by a chosen few. They probably do a lot of work also that could not be done voluntarily. However I have wonder why there is such an anti GPA sentiment who ever the leadership is that the players pick. It in turn is directed towards the players getting any thing. These players who are friends, neighbours, family members and team mates. Strange. It seems to be some jealousy towards the inter county player once he moves up. All of who return to play for their club and take pride in it. Big Dan at 43 turned out for the 28 season for his club this weekend. Known to jump out of his truck and go into the play ground and play hurling with the kids but when he patrolled the side lines for Derek McGrath had also sorts of insults hurled at him. I guess the fickleness is in our dna.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 979 - 02/08/2020 16:47:46    2286129

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Replying To oneoff:  "I often wonder why it's not questioned more. Are people afraid they'll get the sort of abuse Colm O Rourke got when he highlighted it?"
In fairness to O'Rourke he has been calling out the GPA for years. If the figures are correct there are 10 full time employees of the GPA on an avg of 65K each..I would love to see what they are doing to justify that.

jacktheDub (Dublin) - Posts: 910 - 02/08/2020 17:32:48    2286131

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Replying To jacktheDub:  "In fairness to O'Rourke he has been calling out the GPA for years. If the figures are correct there are 10 full time employees of the GPA on an avg of 65K each..I would love to see what they are doing to justify that."
The are overwhelmingly supported by the players. They operate like any other company.

3. Remuneration, People & Change Committee
This committee's role is to assist the Board and executive management in setting the annual pay
component of the annual budget. The committee establishes individual pay levels utilising the Hay
methodology and benchmarked market rates. It will also advise on all matters in relation to employee
contracts and succession planning.

Gaelic Players Association Designated Activity Company Reports and Financial Statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2019

https://annualreport.gaelicplayers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Gaelic-Players-Association-Designated-Activity-Company-Full-reports-and-statements.pdf

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 1115 - 02/08/2020 19:03:58    2286143

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Doesn't get more cutting for a representative body than been compared to the civil service...

wexico15 (Wexford) - Posts: 2602 - 03/08/2020 10:06:55    2286201

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