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GAA Journalism

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Replying To Kew:  "Again no real hard questions from any GAA journalists about man utd v Leeds at croke park. I didn't even know it was on until last night but it seems GAA journalists have have don't cover anything that might rock the boat mindset ? If they don't report on it it doesn't happen? The lack of AFL discussion, the lack of opening up croke park to soccer for money and finishing the season quickly. The lack of any criticism or discussion by GAA journalists is disappointing especially when the season is over now."
"Hard questions"??..
I'll ask one that shouldn't be too hard- What else do you think could/should have been on instead in Croke Park on a Wednesday evening in August?

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 593 - 14/08/2026 18:51:37    2689923

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The mayo news had great insights into Kerry player Graham O'Sullivan's pre-match antics during the handshakes. Andy Morans mayo knew it might happen as Kerry had done the same thing to Donegal in 2014 when kerry were under Eamon Fitz. Both backroom staff had players from that final Ciaran donaghy and mayo had the former Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan who raised the possibility of it happening again. Cian O'Neill was also part of the Kerry team in 2014. Its amazing the details coaching staff go into and how mayo were prepared for the handshake games from Cian O'Neill's Kerry 12 years later.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 398 - 16/08/2026 10:26:57    2690037

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Replying To Kew:  "The mayo news had great insights into Kerry player Graham O'Sullivan's pre-match antics during the handshakes. Andy Morans mayo knew it might happen as Kerry had done the same thing to Donegal in 2014 when kerry were under Eamon Fitz. Both backroom staff had players from that final Ciaran donaghy and mayo had the former Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan who raised the possibility of it happening again. Cian O'Neill was also part of the Kerry team in 2014. Its amazing the details coaching staff go into and how mayo were prepared for the handshake games from Cian O'Neill's Kerry 12 years later."
What antics were these anyways? Ive heard about the handshake thing but dont know what he did.

It seemed to me to be a fairly sporting game,the only red mark being a Mayo player having a bit of a cut off David Clifford at the full time whistle, harmless enough stuff with the kerryman not reacting to it.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 299 - 16/08/2026 17:31:15    2690076

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Ciarán Murphy: Croke Park's concerts, soccer matches and boxing bouts benefit GAA members across country.

Another pro GAA piece. You rarely read anything not pro GAA these days. It seems as long as it makes money nothing else matters.

I can't understand how no one can see the downside of putting money over everything. If you were a Dublin footballer years ago you were the only one in the city likely to perform in croke park. Now you have rugby soccer etc getting to show off there as they make money to do so.

Is it any Dublin GAA is losing the fan base and young gaa players likely heading to the AFL?
The GAA don't pay players I don't understand why they need so much money for development programs?

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 398 - 20/08/2026 07:41:00    2690531

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Replying To Kew:  "Ciarán Murphy: Croke Park's concerts, soccer matches and boxing bouts benefit GAA members across country.

Another pro GAA piece. You rarely read anything not pro GAA these days. It seems as long as it makes money nothing else matters.

I can't understand how no one can see the downside of putting money over everything. If you were a Dublin footballer years ago you were the only one in the city likely to perform in croke park. Now you have rugby soccer etc getting to show off there as they make money to do so.

Is it any Dublin GAA is losing the fan base and young gaa players likely heading to the AFL?
The GAA don't pay players I don't understand why they need so much money for development programs?"
The number of lads heading over to Oz to play AFL is a drop in the ocean compared to the number of players over there playing GAA.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20540 - 20/08/2026 10:39:00    2690559

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Replying To Kew:  "Ciarán Murphy: Croke Park's concerts, soccer matches and boxing bouts benefit GAA members across country.

Another pro GAA piece. You rarely read anything not pro GAA these days. It seems as long as it makes money nothing else matters.

I can't understand how no one can see the downside of putting money over everything. If you were a Dublin footballer years ago you were the only one in the city likely to perform in croke park. Now you have rugby soccer etc getting to show off there as they make money to do so.

Is it any Dublin GAA is losing the fan base and young gaa players likely heading to the AFL?
The GAA don't pay players I don't understand why they need so much money for development programs?"
I agree with your point to a certain extent, although I'm not against other sports using facilities for a fee when not in use for GAA purposes.

Justification for Casement Park in Belfast was initially about hosting Euro Soccer championships and later about hosting the 2023 RWC, beyond this, justifications were that Belfast needs a GAA stadium and that it has better shopping, airport and hotels. Nationalist political parties wanted it to claim credit for getting it built, and holding concerts, conferences and events was another big selling point.

At no point during all of this did anyone once talk about who the primary users of the Stadium would be (GAA Fans) or what would be best for the GAA fans. So from that perspective, I can understand what you mean by Pro-GAA.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1941 - 20/08/2026 13:15:00    2690603

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I recently went onto the website of a leading agent who represents most of RTE and Virgin Medias top presenters, noticed GAA presenters among the many people represented and it made me wonder.

When do employees stop being standard PAYE employees and starting being agent represented Contractors?

Like what is the specific criteria that indicates to someone that they will cease being a PAYE employee and they must now get an agent to negotiate on their behalf?

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1941 - 21/08/2026 15:14:47    2690779

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Replying To Commodore:  "I recently went onto the website of a leading agent who represents most of RTE and Virgin Medias top presenters, noticed GAA presenters among the many people represented and it made me wonder.

When do employees stop being standard PAYE employees and starting being agent represented Contractors?

Like what is the specific criteria that indicates to someone that they will cease being a PAYE employee and they must now get an agent to negotiate on their behalf?"
Great point.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 398 - 21/08/2026 17:55:11    2690807

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Which is the best website or paper for GAA? Would it be the Irish independent and examiner?? I know the Irish times and the42 are mainly rugby. Any other ideas or is it balls.ie we get of information from ? If you take out the Irish independent and examiner we don't have a lot

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 398 - 25/08/2026 09:27:46    2691193

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Replying To Commodore:  "I recently went onto the website of a leading agent who represents most of RTE and Virgin Medias top presenters, noticed GAA presenters among the many people represented and it made me wonder.

When do employees stop being standard PAYE employees and starting being agent represented Contractors?

Like what is the specific criteria that indicates to someone that they will cease being a PAYE employee and they must now get an agent to negotiate on their behalf?"
It's not hard to guess what website of what agent you were looking at.

Anyway, to the best of my knowledge, most main presenters across all the main genres (e.g. entertainment and current affairs as well as sport) are self-employed contractors rather than employees. But that really just affects the mechanism by which they're paid and taxed. Also the consideration that an employee would have things like pension and holiday entitlements, whereas a contractor wouldn't.

Don't know what difference you might think it makes to how they actually do the job of presenting?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3912 - 25/08/2026 11:15:57    2691216

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Replying To Kew:  "Which is the best website or paper for GAA? Would it be the Irish independent and examiner?? I know the Irish times and the42 are mainly rugby. Any other ideas or is it balls.ie we get of information from ? If you take out the Irish independent and examiner we don't have a lot"
irish times and 42 are not mainly rugby.
wouldnt be trying to get info from balls.ie its a toilet bowl of clickbait nonsense masquerading as journalism

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 4005 - 25/08/2026 12:33:08    2691227

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Replying To Viking66:  "The number of lads heading over to Oz to play AFL is a drop in the ocean compared to the number of players over there playing GAA."
Absolutely
Since early 80s only 76 players have signed for AFL clubs.
Only 30 of these have played an AFL game.

conordee (Galway) - Posts: 475 - 25/08/2026 13:16:06    2691232

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Replying To Kew:  "Which is the best website or paper for GAA? Would it be the Irish independent and examiner?? I know the Irish times and the42 are mainly rugby. Any other ideas or is it balls.ie we get of information from ? If you take out the Irish independent and examiner we don't have a lot"
In fairness to the Irish examiner, it's really upped its game the last few years. Some excellent gaa coverage. Maurice Brosnan in particular - superb. You'll often see him taking in coaching courses etc. around the country, has an authentic curiosity and enthusiasm of the game and it shows in his writing.

Social media has filled the breach a bit and there's a huge amount of podcasts now also.

donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 52 - 25/08/2026 13:32:19    2691234

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "It's not hard to guess what website of what agent you were looking at.

Anyway, to the best of my knowledge, most main presenters across all the main genres (e.g. entertainment and current affairs as well as sport) are self-employed contractors rather than employees. But that really just affects the mechanism by which they're paid and taxed. Also the consideration that an employee would have things like pension and holiday entitlements, whereas a contractor wouldn't.

Don't know what difference you might think it makes to how they actually do the job of presenting?"
My question was asking at which point someone who was hired by RTE or Virgin Media etc as a PAYE employee, decides in mutual agreement with their employer to now become a Contractor represented by an agent?

They don't start out as self-employed contractors, most start out in junior PAYE employee roles and work their way up, so at some point a decision is made to become a contractor and it has to be done in mutual agreement with the employer, as otherwise if they hand in their notice as a PAYE employee and become an independent contractor without mutual agreement, they could be unemployed for a while.

My assumption is that the move from PAYE employee to Contractor would only be done if it would leave the person significantly better off financially, including things like travel costs, clothing costs, pension contributions, healthcare etc.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1941 - 25/08/2026 14:02:17    2691241

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