Seanad debates

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. John Horan

 

3:05 pm

Photo of Aidan DavittAidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The GAA has always been very inclusive.

I am delighted to welcome our uachtarán here today. The GAA is a roots-up organisation, as shown by our president through his involvement with schools in particular as well as with clubs, counties and provinces. He rose to the top in all of these particular areas. I have been privileged to serve with club and county on the executives of Clonkill and St. Loman's GAA clubs and of Contae na hIarmhí. The skills I learned have stood me in good stead in politics. The skills I learned dealing with an organisation of volunteers have really been a help to me in life in general. The GAA is the last lifeline left holding most rural communities together. I believe that its facilities can be to the fore in arresting rural decline. I know the president on a personal level and he has been brave in showing leadership wherever he has been. I encourage him to keep up the good work and to keep putting clubs to the fore, as he has always done. He was never a shrinking violet in backing clubs and we appreciate all he has done for the club network.

A couple of comments were made. The president discussed the integration of ladies' games into the mainstream GAA. Many people might not know it, but there are costs involved. Registration fees in respect of ladies' teams are three times as high as those of mainstream guys' teams. That is a problem. The cost will be a big factor for the president and the organisation in the future. Some Seanadóirí who spoke earlier were on about the cost of tickets. I was requested to look for some tickets for Steely Dan. The cheapest ticket one could get was nearly €200. If it was a matter of going to Steely Dan or to an all-Ireland final, going to the final would be a privilege for me. I would be lucky to get a ticket. I remember a couple of years ago a guy wanted £200 for a ticket to an FA Cup Final. I just do not know about some Senator's appreciation of value for money. The family ticket was not talked about. Senator Coffey, who is going to games rather than talking about them, is aware that those under 16 do not pay going to games. Many people get free passes and old age pensioners only pay half price for tickets. The family ticket was a great concept from the GAA. I appreciate the president being here and all of the great work he has done for the association since he has been involved.

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