By John Considine
Last night's Prime Time programme carried an extensive discussion on the GAA deal with Sky (here). There are two battle grounds on which the GAA and the wider sporting community will have plenty of confrontations. One battle cry will be "think of the children". Those opposed to the deal will claim children will have to frequent places where alcohol is sold to watch the games. Those in favour of the deal will claim that it is bringing in revenue that will allow the GAA develop its games for those very children. The GAA will also use this argument to fend off arguments that current players are not being paid. The GAA response will be along the lines that it is an inter-generational matter.
A second battle ground will be about whether public funding should go to a sport where games are not available to all. The GAA will put the IRFU in front of it when it comes to defending this argument. The problem is that the IRFU does not sell itself as an amateur organisation. Why exactly government should fund sport is a much wider discussion.
One of the biggest issues for the GAA will be how the deal is presented. Almost two decades ago the GAA separated the provincial and All-Ireland championships. It was branded as a back-door for losers. It was sold as a second chance. Yet this is not strictly true. It was a separation of the provincial from All-Ireland series. You can only be beaten once in each championship. Try telling that to most GAA people. How you present the change matters.
A second battle ground will be about whether public funding should go to a sport where games are not available to all. The GAA will put the IRFU in front of it when it comes to defending this argument. The problem is that the IRFU does not sell itself as an amateur organisation. Why exactly government should fund sport is a much wider discussion.
One of the biggest issues for the GAA will be how the deal is presented. Almost two decades ago the GAA separated the provincial and All-Ireland championships. It was branded as a back-door for losers. It was sold as a second chance. Yet this is not strictly true. It was a separation of the provincial from All-Ireland series. You can only be beaten once in each championship. Try telling that to most GAA people. How you present the change matters.
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