Croke Park, The Sunday Game and NAMA are all the subject of criticism from Dublin GAA chief exec John Costello.
He's published his annual report today, ahead of the Dublin GAA Convention that is scheduled to take place on Monday next, 14th December, in Parnell Park.
In the 45 page document Costello details Dublin's unsuccessful efforts to secure a deal with NAMA to purchase the Spawell site in the city. The county board wanted to build at 25,000 seat stadium at the site.
“In June, it became clear that our bid was unsuccessful and we had come second to a speculative investment fund which had submitted a slightly higher bid.”
“The Committee was bitterly disappointed with the outcome, particularly because no credit was given to the community aspect of our offer.”
“I publically expressed our frustration at the waste of so much voluntary effort over the years and the national media picked up on the theme.”
Costello is critical of NAMA’s failure to realise the benefit of developing a sporting complex on the land, he believes the Dublin county board bid as well as being financially strong offered a lot more to the local community:
"I am aware that many clubs have engaged with NAMA to no avail. In fact, I am not aware of any of our clubs benefiting from this provision to date."
"By pushing for maximum commercial returns alone, NAMA appears to be working against the interests of our members, the very ones who have already paid dearly for the write-downs on development loans transferred to it."
“It is well beyond time that NAMA is required to put a line entitled ‘Social Capital’ on its balance sheet and to be held to account in this regard.”
Costello also hits out at RTÉ’s Sunday Game for what he believes is a continuing trail by TV. He reckons the broadcaster are overbearing when it comes to highlighting disciplinary issues.
In the wake of the All Ireland football final win over Kerry, Dublin footballer Philly McMahon was alleged to have gouged the eye of Kieran Donaghy. He came in for criticism on the show that evening.
Costello doesn’t highlight that particular incident, but instead focuses on what he believes is the wider issue of ill discipline being a constant theme on the show:
“The flesh is picked off disciplinary bones until the bone itself is being chewed on. Nobody is condoning ill-discipline but there’s now a view among a lot of GAA people that TV re-runs, whether during ‘live’ or ’highlights’ programmes set the agenda for games which have already been regulated by no fewer than seven officials.”
“The GAA has no control over television or the rest of the media but it can control its own disciplinary affairs and not be dictated to by a TV programme trying to fill out time.”
“If the offence warrants it – take whatever tough action is required, but don’t always respond to incidents shown in slow motion, which can distort reality. In others words, be strong when we have to, not when others tell us we have to.”
He also is not happy that the €15,000 given by Croke Park for the senior footballers’ end of year holiday was needed to pay a CCCC imposed fine after the unsavoury scenes during the Fenway Classic, hurling exhibition game in Boston.
“It would appear Charles Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge has taken up residence off Jones Road this festive season!” Costello said in the report.
“Following our superb All-Ireland success this September the Dublin County Board contacted Croke Park looking for an additional grant from the proceeds of the Semi-Final Replay against Mayo towards the financing of a team holiday for the players this December.”
“After a year, when once again, the Dublin footballers proved to be the most successful in the country and attracted the largest crowds to headquarters, we were promised the princely sum of €15,000.”
“Maybe we can be thankful for small mercies as that was a 50 per cent increase on what we were originally granted. However, the increase was short-lived as the CCCC recouped that exact amount within 48 hours following the Donnybrook in Boston!”
“We don't feel we have a sense of entitlement but we think that after a campaign that included a near full-house (81,897) for our All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay against Mayo, the purse strings could have been loosened a little bit at least.”
