IT'S highly likely that if the GAA was celebrating its 125th anniversary this time last year, there wouldn't be such a hullabaloo about the cost of fireworks for next Saturday's celebrations.
No doubt there would still have been complaints as there is a body of GAA opinion that views any expenditure other than that attributed directly to grass roots development as a waste of money but nothing like the choruses of disapproval over the past month since it emerged that over €400k will be forked out for the post match pyrotechnics.
While there's no doubt that next Saturday's event in Croke Park will be spectacular, unfortunately it will be seen as being out of sync with the mood of the nation. That is not the GAA's fault. Throughout even the most difficult economic periods of modern Irish history, the organisation has always been prudent, quietly developing its infrastructure and planning for the future.
During the economic boom over the past 15 years the GAA's image has changed dramatically, however. Croke Park symbolises the modern GAA - spectacular, ambitious, professional and confident. And while the GAA mightn't be regarded as a big risk taker, it is in keeping with the evolving Association that it chooses to celebrate its 125th birthday with a proper party.
However, the period which heralded the dramatic changes in Ireland has ended with a shuddering crash and that puts the celebrations in something of an uncomfortable spotlight. Only this week Ulster Bank, one of the sponsors of the football championship, announced 750 job cuts. One thing which is beginning to sink in is that no one and no organisation will escape the current recession.
The GPA is no exception. After spending many of the Celtic Tiger years lobbying intensely for Government Funding for players, we are now awaiting our fate as the ISC tries to recalculate budgets for the various sporting organisations with rapidly dwindling resources. We know we will have to take our medicine.
Yet, of even greater significance is the changed landscape for players. Along with the rest of the population, players are losing their jobs and facing a very uncertain future. This has posed new and serious challenges for the GPA and the GAA.
As a player welfare body, employment placement, training, career guidance, financial advice and counselling have become the GPA's priorities. Players are entitled to these services - it is the least they can expect for their unique contribution to the GAA, particularly as most of the funding for the organisation is generated through gate receipts, broadcasting rights and sponsorship.
Before the touch paper is lit on Saturday night, two committed panels of amateur footballers will have provided the night's centrepiece, live on television and free of charge. This is the enduring yet evolving contribution of today's players to the history of the GAA.
So while the GAA has earned the right to celebrate with fireworks, players have earned the right to the very best welfare services we can provide.
I cannot think of any other sport in the world that would expect their main crowd pullers (players) to accept absolutely nothing for putting on the show that they are going to do on saturday. In fact i find it hard to think of many other professional sportsmen that are capable of pulling such a crowd as will be in attendance on saturday. How long will the GAA continue to get away with this? - the very least they should be doing is putting in place other ways of looking after players. I think they're blind to it and unable to see the value their players bring to their association. Wake up lads.....before it's too late...
