Yet more proof that Pat Fitz is a celebrity
from independant.ie
AT a time when the GAA is losing some of its top young stars to the AFL, a leading official has warned that emigration now poses even more of a threat to the Association.
Munster GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald has called upon the Croke Park hierarchy to be proactive in the fight against emigration during the current recession. Fitzgerald suggests that a committee should quickly be established to look at the issue.
In the past six months, over 250 GAA players have transferred from Irish clubs to British outfits. And of the 54 player transfers overseen by Croke Park in October and November, 28 involved switches from Ireland to the UK. In sharp contrast, only seven players left the UK to return to Ireland.
âCertainly, emigration is a serious problem, especially for clubs, and itâs going to get worse as we are in difficult times,â Fitzgerald said.
"We had a similar situation in the 1980s and early '90s but at the moment itâs nowhere near as bad as that. However, between players leaving these shores to find employment and students taking off during the summer, we now have a serious issue on our hands.
âIt will be next year before people realise just how serious it is. At the moment itâs mostly clubs that are affected. Itâs only when high-profile players leave that it will become apparent how delicate the situation is. I think we need to establish a committee to look at the situation. We need to do all we can to ensure our players are kept in this country, or in the worst case scenario, that they donât have to go beyond London to find employment.â
Wexford football manger Jason Ryan has already taken steps to encourage local business people to keep his teamâs players in mind if they are making company appointments.
Gaelic footballâs most promising young manager has voiced fears that his squad could be hit by a mass exodus if players lose jobs. More than one third of his team, including some key stars, are involved in the construction industry and Ryan is worried that their jobs could be axed within the next few months. âWe need jobs now. We needed them six months ago. If players donât get them, they will be gone,â he said.
Clare football boss Frank Doherty is already planning for next season without two of his most talented players, Gordon Kelly and Laurence Healy, who have both emigrated to Australia. And he is fearful that more could be on their way out of the country due to the economic downturn.
âBoth of the lads are tradesmen and have been unable to find work here so they have emigrated to Australia,â the former All-Ireland club winning boss with Caltra said. âThey are young men and they have to look after their future and we just couldnât keep them at home. They will be a big loss to Clare football.â
How much more high profile work does Pat have to do before he is granted âCelebâ status?..