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Dublin GAA secretary hits out at timing of Prime Time report on Dublin funding

Dublin GAA secretary John Costello has released his report for 2019 in which he explores a number...
Phil Egan
Phil Egan

13.11 5 Dec 2019


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Dublin GAA secretary hits out...

Dublin GAA secretary hits out at timing of Prime Time report on Dublin funding

Phil Egan
Phil Egan

13.11 5 Dec 2019


Share this article


Dublin GAA secretary John Costello has released his report for 2019 in which he explores a number of topics.

In his 46 page report, Costello hit out at the timing of RTÉ's Prime Time programme.

It looked at the area of funding not long after Dublin had beaten Kerry to win a historic fifth All Ireland Senior Football title in a row.

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Costello states: "We are, unfortunately, becoming familiar with the increasingly twisted manner of public discourse and I genuinely believe that a large part of the contorted debate about funding for Dublin falls into this category.

"Conflating different elements and ignoring other aspects of how Gaelic games in the county are promoted and developed through the club network has shaped the subtext for those who wish to discredit and diminish the achievements of the county senior football squad and management.

"However, though the issue of funding for games development in Dublin was discussed in detail on the Sunday Game during the summer, I was somewhat shocked when, with the dust not even settled on our historic All-Ireland football success, RTÉ’s flagship investigative programme Prime Time included the debate as an ‘issue’ worth covering.

"One would – and should - expect different and higher standards to apply to our national broadcaster and to a programme of the calibre of Prime Time. Perhaps not. By any reasonable and objective assessment, it was a strange editorial choice so quick after the historic five in-a-row victory.

"Most of those approached by the programme to discuss the issue – many of whom were still celebrating the five-in-a-row success - were unhappy with Prime Time contriving to make a cause célebre of Dublin’s success.

"Let’s be clear when perhaps their editorial team were not so clear. Prime Time essentially used how the GAA funds a team of Games Promotion Officers to encourage, coach and support young children to play Gaelic games through their primary schools and GAA club nurseries, in the most densely populated region in the country to raise questions with regard to the achievements of our senior football team.

" As they say you’re entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. "

Other subjects from the report:

-A need to address the lack of land available in the capital to develop facilities for GAA clubs.

-A call for a six-team Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

-A hooter-clock – one that’s already used in ladies football – could potentially negate complaints about a lack of injury time.

-How the introduction of the advanced mark in Gaelic Football could result in a more stop-start game, similar to International Rules.

-A tier 2 championship will only work if the players, management and county board officers from the counties that this will affect in the immediate future are consulted more.

-The scheduling of games in the Super 8s before All Ireland semi-finals.


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