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Annual Report

Duffy: We're not responsible for the state of the economy

Páraic Duffy has defended the GAA against criticism for not doing more to help its unemployed members.

PARAIC DUFFY, DIRECTOR General of the GAA, has lashed out at those from within the organisation who have been critical of efforts to secure work for unemployed players.

The Monaghan native fixed upon those who called on the GAA to do more for their members that have fallen on hard times, particularly those players that have had to move abroad and leave behind promising inter-county careers.

“So it is that the association is attacked by some GAA people for not finding jobs for our unemployed members, as if we were in a position to do what the entire economy of the country cannot manage to do,” Duffy blasted in his Annual Report, published on Wednesday.

“So it is, too, that we are criticised for not paying off the debts of clubs and counties, as if we had an inexhaustible fund of money.And so it is, finally, that the GAA and its decisions are the object of unrelenting internal criticism, as if we always got everything wrong.

Meath’s Joe Sheridan became the latest high profile star forced to move overseas, having secured a role in Boston’s construction industry, on Monday.

“It is clearly pointless explaining to these commentators that, for example, the association at all levels does its best to help unemployed players, and that Central Council sends out considerable sums of money to support counties and clubs.

“One might hope that some of our own members who regularly comment on GAA affairs would give some consideration to the notion of loyalty to the GAA, and to the damage that their routinely negative comments cause to the reputation of the association. It is striking that this negative attitude is not nearly as prevalent in other sports.”

And there’s more: Duffy slams non-GAA media too >

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