Clubs count the cost as players emigrate in droves

Date Published: 24-Nov-2010

As GAA clubs across County Galway are experiencing dwindling numbers through the scourge of emigration, an impassioned plea has been made for the revitalisation of community schemes as a means of keeping players at home.

Almost every GAA club contacted in Galway has a tale of woe about players emigrating as far away as Australia and Dubai as they fear for the future of their footballers who are currently studying in college.

Some clubs have admitted flying in players from London and Scotland to play league games while others are bracing themselves for their teams being decimated once students finish college next summer and have no choice but to seek work abroad.

A number of county footballers are named as those who have sought employment outside the country while it has emerged that the smaller clubs are those most seriously affected by the downturn in the economy.

But the County Galway GAA Board is fighting back and have presented a plan to Government in order to keep players working in their locality and stem the growth in emigration.

Galway GAA chief, Gerry Larkin confirmed that there was an exodus of players mainly to Australia with some still going to America and Canada while others have opted for work in Dubai.

The County Board Chairman said that clubs with a large number of students playing for them were very apprehensive about the future and particularly when these players finish college.

Mr. Larkin said that the greater availability of the community employment schemes, which helped keep a lot of players at home during recession of the 1980s, should now be considered by the Government.

See full story and feature in this week’s Connacht Tribune.