By John Considine
Before there existed a 21st century movie called Fifty Shades of Gray, there existed a 20th century song Forty Shades of Green. In recent years it seems that the shade of green that matters to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has changed. The nationalistic green has faded and the colour of money has taken over (although it could be argued that green is no longer the colour of money).
During my early years, a GAA player found playing, or even attending, a “foreign” game could be banned from the GAA. That rule was removed by the time I became a teenager. The spread of television sets made a difference. It was possible to watch the Irish national soccer side on our television screens and also watch highlights of English league club sides. Monitoring and banning those watching foreign games seemed silly. Half a century later, it was clear that the GAA had changed its focus to collecting revenue from watching television screens. Like the other sporting organisations it sought to protect its assets from being listed on the government's free-to-air list. The organisations claimed that nearly all their games were not of national importance. The GAA then sold the broadcast rights to some of its games to Sky (a foreign broadcaster). And, more recently, it has developed GAA Go to increase its revenue.
After the “ban” on playing and spectating at foreign games was removed, there remained a rule that banned members of the British Security forces from playing gaelic games and another rule that prohibited the playing of “foreign” games on GAA grounds. Rules 21 and 42, respectively.
Rule 42 bit the dust when the home venue of the Irish rugby team was being redeveloped. A combination of the two shades of green played a role. Claims that the Irish national team might have to play their home games on foreign soil were used to appeal to nationalist sentiments. Those who objected based on anti-British sentiment, and a fear that it would be a gateway to opening of other GAA grounds, were assured that it was only one ground that would be made available to the competing sporting organisations. It was only Croke Park that would be used. The other shade of green also played a role. The monetary benefits to the development of gaelic games were also used to sway the vote.
But it is not just Croke Park. Money also opened Pairc ui Chaoimh to other sports. Having spent 800 years to break free of one political and monetary union, Ireland joined another one in 1973. Political and monetary ties with Europe brought with it constraints. One of those constraints are the rules around State Aid. Whether it is a tax ruling for Apple based on one side of Cork city, or part funding a sport stadium on the other side of the city, there are conditions attached to the aid. Paragraph 25 of State Aid SA.44439 says “As stated above, the CCB [Cork County Board] will rent out the PUiC's [Pairc ui Chaoimh] facilities to third parties to organise sporting and other commercial events. In such cases, the CCB will charge market-conform fees that are established on the basis of a market analysis (taking into account the fees normally payable for the use of similar infrastructure). This requirement will be included in the Letter of Offer for the proposed aid.”
Munster rugby have availed of the facilities. But rugby always got an easier ride amongst GAA supporters because it was an all-island game. Now, on July 12th, as those opposed to a united Ireland march in Northern Ireland, the GAA hopes that tens of thousands will march to Pairc ui Chaoimh to support the Irish national women’s soccer team. Some, non-economists, will say that it is a sign that money is the root of all evil.
Only this week the GAA broadcast it support for economic evaluation methods by publishing a study on the economic impact of games (here). Forty Shades of Green is associated with the appropriately named Mr Cash. The economics of sport.
During my early years, a GAA player found playing, or even attending, a “foreign” game could be banned from the GAA. That rule was removed by the time I became a teenager. The spread of television sets made a difference. It was possible to watch the Irish national soccer side on our television screens and also watch highlights of English league club sides. Monitoring and banning those watching foreign games seemed silly. Half a century later, it was clear that the GAA had changed its focus to collecting revenue from watching television screens. Like the other sporting organisations it sought to protect its assets from being listed on the government's free-to-air list. The organisations claimed that nearly all their games were not of national importance. The GAA then sold the broadcast rights to some of its games to Sky (a foreign broadcaster). And, more recently, it has developed GAA Go to increase its revenue.
After the “ban” on playing and spectating at foreign games was removed, there remained a rule that banned members of the British Security forces from playing gaelic games and another rule that prohibited the playing of “foreign” games on GAA grounds. Rules 21 and 42, respectively.
Rule 42 bit the dust when the home venue of the Irish rugby team was being redeveloped. A combination of the two shades of green played a role. Claims that the Irish national team might have to play their home games on foreign soil were used to appeal to nationalist sentiments. Those who objected based on anti-British sentiment, and a fear that it would be a gateway to opening of other GAA grounds, were assured that it was only one ground that would be made available to the competing sporting organisations. It was only Croke Park that would be used. The other shade of green also played a role. The monetary benefits to the development of gaelic games were also used to sway the vote.
But it is not just Croke Park. Money also opened Pairc ui Chaoimh to other sports. Having spent 800 years to break free of one political and monetary union, Ireland joined another one in 1973. Political and monetary ties with Europe brought with it constraints. One of those constraints are the rules around State Aid. Whether it is a tax ruling for Apple based on one side of Cork city, or part funding a sport stadium on the other side of the city, there are conditions attached to the aid. Paragraph 25 of State Aid SA.44439 says “As stated above, the CCB [Cork County Board] will rent out the PUiC's [Pairc ui Chaoimh] facilities to third parties to organise sporting and other commercial events. In such cases, the CCB will charge market-conform fees that are established on the basis of a market analysis (taking into account the fees normally payable for the use of similar infrastructure). This requirement will be included in the Letter of Offer for the proposed aid.”
Munster rugby have availed of the facilities. But rugby always got an easier ride amongst GAA supporters because it was an all-island game. Now, on July 12th, as those opposed to a united Ireland march in Northern Ireland, the GAA hopes that tens of thousands will march to Pairc ui Chaoimh to support the Irish national women’s soccer team. Some, non-economists, will say that it is a sign that money is the root of all evil.
Only this week the GAA broadcast it support for economic evaluation methods by publishing a study on the economic impact of games (here). Forty Shades of Green is associated with the appropriately named Mr Cash. The economics of sport.
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