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Shane O'Donnell 'uncomfortable' with his image being used to promote GAAGO

O’Donnell believes that the GAA should view broadcasting rights primarily for promotion rather than revenue.

SHANE O’DONNELL FEELS “uncomfortable” with his image being used to promote the GAAGO subscription service.

The Hurler of the Year front-runner says he wasn’t asked for permission before his photo was published to advertise the streaming platform.

O’Donnell is a national executive committee member of the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) and previously brought forward a motion calling for improved injury coverage to safeguard inter-county players from financial loss.

He is now working with the GPA on the issue of image rights for amateur athletes and hopes to see consent being sought for such commercial activities.

“The bottom line is I don’t agree with it and then I see on the GAAGO website all year that they’re selling the season pass with myself and three other players, just right above the part where it says ‘Buy for ‘X’ amount of euro’,” O’Donnell told The GAA Social podcast.

“Anyone could think that we’re endorsing that or giving our explicit consent that we would be put up there and that’s just not the case. We weren’t even asked.

“And I don’t even want to benefit financially from that. I don’t want to be endorsing GAAGO because I don’t agree with it.

“So really I just want them to ask me: ‘Can we put your image up there?’.

“‘No.’

“‘Ok, next person.’

“I wasn’t asked and it’s not a huge deal but you feel like you should have some control over your image. You just want to be able to say, ‘Yes, I’m happy to do that’ or ‘No, I’m not happy to do that’.

“It’s not like I want them to come and say, ‘We’ll give you X amount’. It’s like, ‘Can we put your image up there, yes or no?’.

“From a players’ perspective, it just feels uncomfortable. It feels in some ways like you’re being exploited as an asset rather being thought about as a player who is being thrown into this situation to attach your image to something you’re not comfortable with.

“It’s to make sure your values align with the people trying to use your image. If they do, then 99% of the time absolutely, have at it for the positive impact it’s going to have on growing the game.

“The line then is when it comes to commercial ventures where someone is clearly using this to make money.”

O’Donnell believes that the GAA should view broadcasting rights primarily for promotion rather than revenue.

“GAAGO is not a particularly popular initiative and one I didn’t personally agree with. I don’t think they should be selling it. I think they should just be swallowing the cost of promoting the game. I don’t think that’s something out of their budget.”

The issue of players’ image rights was raised by the GPA 20 years ago when objecting to Cork hurler Jerry O’Connor’s photo being used in an advertising campaign for Gaelic Telecom.

They also clashed in 2005 over competing plans to produce a PlayStation game, with the GAA’s product ultimately released with commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh the only recognisable name featured.

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    Mute John Fitz
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    Oct 30th 2024, 12:35 PM

    Fair play to him for calling out the greed.
    One of the stars of the sports.

    Hopefully this is the start of a trend

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Oct 30th 2024, 1:49 PM

    @John Fitz: he a member of the GPA executive. They sold out to the GAA years ago. He is just looking for money

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    Mute John Fitz
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    Oct 30th 2024, 2:40 PM

    @John Buckley: while I agree the GPA is far too chummy with Croke Park, and have compromised on a lot of other things for expenses.

    Does that mean current players should never speak out?
    Surely players being more open to publically criticise the organisation is something to be applauded.
    While I consider amateurism is the keystone of the whole organisation, Croke Parks rampant commercialism flies in the face of this.
    He is right to question why it’s okay for the GAA to use his face to promote a business venture squeezes GAA members and volunteers for more money, while also not getting his endorsement or paying him anything for it.
    I applaud the honesty

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Oct 30th 2024, 2:44 PM

    @John Fitz: well put John

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Oct 30th 2024, 4:31 PM

    @John Fitz: and what’s your solution, there is only a channel or so to show live matches and unfortunately between football and hurling and the 4 provinces there will always be clashes. Unless it’s on some type of streaming platform no one will be able to watch, totally up to each individual if they wish to avail of. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

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    Mute Aidan Farrell
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    Oct 30th 2024, 1:13 PM

    Shouldn’t Shane have gone to the GAA direct and filed an official complaint to his image being used rather than whinging about it in an interview?

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Oct 30th 2024, 1:35 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: How do you know he didn’t bring it up with the GAA first?

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    Mute Cormac O'Hare
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    Oct 30th 2024, 2:08 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: doesn’t sound like he’s whinging to me, just articulating his position as an amateur sportsman on his personal image being used for profit. Fair play to him for sticking to his values.

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Oct 30th 2024, 2:12 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: I assume he did and now he’s answering questions about it.

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    Mute Cian O
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    Oct 30th 2024, 3:49 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: shouldn’t you get some sense and /or get a life and stop trolling on the 42 every day.

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    Mute Sambo
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    Oct 30th 2024, 3:43 PM

    Sure he’s from Clare. They’ll always have their games on RTÉ so of course the status quo suits him and he doesn’t think Go is worthwhile. Stick him on the wicklow football team and see what he reckons when his family can either go to the game or hear about it when he gets home. For the small cost of streaming a game you get to have broadcast coverage for a far larger group of teams. Would agree with him though having a problem with them using his image.

    No offence to the Wicklow footballers intended, they’re trending in the right direction.

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    Mute James Molowney
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    Oct 30th 2024, 4:25 PM

    @Sambo: You had a right cut off the Wicklow footballers, really unnecessary.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Oct 30th 2024, 5:36 PM

    @Sambo: so you agree with him? Right so.

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