The Economics of Sport
  • Sports Economics
  • About
  • Workshop
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • A Primer on Gaelic Games
  • Upcoming Events
  • Media
  • Education
  • Resources & Links
  • Data

Phil Prendergast and Harry Potter

26/2/2014

0 Comments

 
By John Considine
Yesterday I received a text message telling me that Phil Prendergast (MEP) had called for the protection of Irish hurley manufacturing under the guise of the hurley being a cultural tool (or “hurl” if you are from Leinster).  My initial reaction, probably based on my training in economics, was that this was an interest group seeking to avoid competition.  Of course, the fact that a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) was making noises in the run up to the European elections was not surprising.  I read the material reported online (here) and the following words stuck out like a sore thumb - “the protective status would prevent others from making and marketing the hurley outside of Ireland”.
Picture
I then visited the website of Labour's Phil Prendergast (here).  It says that Phil sits on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.  I followed the link and found the ‘Welcome Words’ of the Committee Chair, Malcolm Harbour, The first two sentences of those welcoming words read “The Single Market and its free movement of people, goods and services is one of the absolute foundations of the EU. It has provided prosperity and growth, jobs, mobility and freedom of choice to Europe's citizens and businesses.”  These words seem at odds with what one of its members is suggesting.

We are more than happy to import ash to make the hurleys in Ireland.  Imagine if other countries banned the export of timber for hurley manufacturing.

During the boom years many citizens from eastern Europe came to work in Ireland.  Some worked at making hurleys with imported timber.  I remember reading newspaper stories about how some were returning home to eastern Europe make hurleys with timber from their own countries.  The idea was that they would then export them to Ireland.  Is Phil Prendergast proposing we ban such imports?

What about consumer protection?  If banning cheaper imports means kids and their parents have to pay higher prices then is this promoting hurling?  Is it promoting consumer protection?

I’m probably being too harsh on our European representative.  I can understand why she might seek to ensure that current and future generations of Irish kids have the opportunity to experience the magic of interacting with a local hurley manufacturer.  It is magic.  For those who have not had the experience, the best way I can describe it is to compare it to the moment when Harry Potter got his first wand (see it here).  If you think I’m stretching the point then compare the Harry Potter clip with what you find in superb documentary From Ash to Clash (go to about 4:30 here).

You never forget the experience of buying your first hurley in such a setting.  In my case it while visiting my grandparents’ house in County Laois.  My uncle brought me to Sean Brophy’s workshop and it was better than being let loose in a sweet shop.  A couple of years later, I was even lucky enough to get a stick made by Mick McCarthy in Riverstown, County Cork.  Legend had it that Mick made hurlies for the hurling great Christy Ring (and other great inter-county hurlers).  Under normal circumstances he would not have wasted his time making a stick for me as he knew well his efforts would be served making a stick for better players.  However, my father was a woodcutting machinist who specialized in maintaining the saws that cut timber.  In return for my father’s help, Mick delivered one of his unmistakable McCarthy hurlies.  I’m convinced I can still feel the way it felt in my hands.  This type of experience does not need to be protected by legislation. It can’t be protected by legislation.

The next best experience is to buy a stick made by prominent inter-county hurler (usually a family business).  In my time there was a year or two where some of us bought hurlies made by the Galway hurling family the Connollys.  If it came with the approval of John Connolly then it must have had something.  In recent years kids have flocked to buy hurlies made by Ben & Jerry (the O’Connors of Newtownshandrum rather than the ice-cream makers).  In the last few weeks my son purchased a Canning hurley (another Galway hurling family). This stick is brought indoors to protect it from the elements.  I’m sure he believes he will light up the summer with the aid of a Canning hurley. It was the exploits of Joe Canning on the hurling fields that prompted that purchase.  He could care less if Joe was from Portumna or Poland.  No legislation is needed to protect the Cannings when it comes to making and marketing hurlies.

I guess Phil Prendergast hopes future generations of kids experience the magic of searching for the stick that is made for them.  I think likewise.  Unlike Phil Prendergast I do not believe that legislation should be enacted to ensure that kids can only play hurling with sticks made and marketed in Ireland.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    About

    This website was founded in July 2013.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    American Football
    Athletics
    Baseball
    Basketball
    Behavioural Economics
    Boxing
    Broadcasting
    Competitive Balance
    Cricket
    Cycling
    Darts
    David Butler
    Declan Jordan
    Drugs
    Ed Valentine
    Epl
    Esports
    Expenditure
    F1
    Fifa World Cup
    Finances
    Funding
    Gaa
    Gaelic Games
    Gambling
    Game Theory
    Gary Burns
    Geography
    Golf
    Greyhound Racing
    Guest Posts
    Horse Racing
    Impact Studies
    John Considine
    John Eakins
    League Of Ireland
    Location
    Media
    Mls
    Mma
    Olympics
    Participation
    Paul O'Sullivan
    Premier League
    Regulation
    Research
    Robbie Butler
    Rugby
    Simpsonomics
    Snooker
    Soccer
    Spatial Analysis
    Sporting Bodies
    Stephen Brosnan
    Swimming
    Taxation
    Teaching
    Technology
    Tennis
    Transfers
    Uefa
    Ufc
    World Cup
    Wwe

Related

The website is not formally affiliated to any institution and all of the entries represent the personal views and opinions of an individual contributor. The website operates on a not-for-profit basis. For this reason we decline all advertisement opportunities. 

Contact

To contact us email sportseconomics2013@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @SportEcon.