Totally agree with your opinion Ard Mhacha , that GAA has done well by it's parish clubs and should NOT rent Croke Park to other sports , especially those that might give it even more competition. But do not forget the financial input of those same clubs to Central Funds , over the past 100 years when many people saw helping the GAA as synonymous with helping to "free" Ireland from the shackles of the English Parliament.And the local clergy were always the automatic "popular choice" for the Chair or life-presidency, by priest-ridden rural lads who always put the hand in the pocket when asked to do so from the altar at Sunday mass.
My contention was, and is, that the political, cultural and even religious climate all militated against the FAI and it's predecessor, the IFA (not to be confused with the good farmers's organisation) from ever amassing the wealth , in assets or in funds, to compare with those of the GAA. What do you think about that?
As far as getting one third of the development cost of your local facility goes, didn't that very fact obviate any chance that your place could be "used" by any other organisation.
Does it not seem a bit much to expect an other organisation , based mainly on working men's (and women@s) wages to provide equal magnificence. Make no mistake about it, soccer is gaining ground in theis country, not all clubs have facilities yet, but quiote a few have and they are willing to help each other in adversity. There are clubs and pitches nowadays throughout the length and breadth of the land and , while, they still have a long way to go, to even catch up with the GAA lads...look out!
The central organisation of the FAI was a collection of mainly Dublin based small time business men and a few who rode along in the chance of making a quick buck, there were a few of these in some of the provincial centres also, but, Good on ya Roy, many have been weeded out and the activities of the top men are now under much more severe and enlightened scrutiny. The GAA went through a similiar exercise some years back when Liam Mulvihill was appointed except that they did it behind closed doors (Much of the running of the GAA remains inside, mind you, still but this charade of "Easter Congress" annually provides the customer with a pressure valve for all his grouses, including your own about the ticket situation)
As far as entertainment value goes, well I believe that, while hurling continues to be a thrilling game of skill, Gaelic Football has descended into a dragging, punching series of melees where skill is "taken-out" at the first opportunity and rules seem to have little enough relevance to the "action".
If you watched the Champions League games this week the difference is so obvious where skill and teamwork were shown to be of such a high order.Similarly, the recent Rugby internationals displayed how a genuinely tackling game can be beautiful to watch. Especially when Ireland win, eh?