Kerry hurler Fionán O’Sullivan was part of a Gaelic Players Association delegation that met with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae TD to discuss the findings of the ‘Assessment of Economic and Social Impacts of Inter-County Gaelic Football, Camogie and Hurling Players in Ireland’ recently.
Fionán joined GPA CEO Tom Parsons and Head of Equality and Player Relations Gemma Begley in the meeting.
25 March 2025; Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Healy-Rae during a Gaelic Players Association political meeting on the Indecon Report at Agriculture House in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***The GPA representatives used the time to highlight some of the key challenges faced by inter-county players as evidenced by the independent report which was compiled by economic consultants Indecon and which was published in February.
The groundbreaking new report reveals that inter-county players are generating a total economic impact of €591 million annually but at a significant personal expense. According to an independent report conducted by Indecon International Economic and Strategic Consultants (Indecon) and commissioned by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), individual players incur an average net expense loss of €4,602 annually to participate at the inter-county level.
After the meeting Fionán O’Sullivan said; “The financial pressures on inter-county players are growing, and squads like the Kerry hurlers and Leitrim footballers are being hit hardest. Minister Healy-Rae listened, understood, and supported our position: the government must increase grants for inter-county players to reflect the true cost of participation, while preserving the amateur ethos of Gaelic games.”
This was one of a number of political engagements undertaken by the GPA in recent weeks. Other meetings have taken place with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Charlie McConalogue TD and Social Democrats Spokesman on Sport Aidan Farrelly TD.
