DUBLIN FOOTBALLER CIAN O’Sullivan insists the heavy financial investment by the GAA into the sport in the county is fully justified, despite criticism from some quarters.
The association’s annual financial report revealed the Dublin county board had received €1.46 million in funding for games development during 2015, which equates to more than the 31 other counties combined.
GAA President Aogan Ó’Fearghail has since defended the funding structure after smaller counties voiced their displeasure at the disparity in the allocation of financial resources.
But O’Sullivan believes the funding is needed to facilitate the development of Gaelic games in the capital and its suburbs.
“I haven’t looked into it and I wouldn’t know enough to comment properly on it but I just know from Dublin’s perspective, the work that is being done at the grass roots level and at underage, it’s fantastic,” he said.
“I think the structures that have been in put in place we’re really starting to see the rewards and over the next couple of years. There’s a lot of competing sports in Dublin as there is everywhere else around the country.
“There’s a bigger population, and I suppose it’s the county board and the GAA’s responsibility to try and promote Gaelic games and get those kids playing Gaelic football as opposed to soccer or rugby.
“How the funds are distributed I don’t know what the measure or the metric is, or if it’s done equitably, but I can only speak from what I’ve seen in Dublin and those funds are definitely being put to good use.”
