Player exodus crisis for GAA clubs

CLARE GAA is facing a major challenge as the dire economic situation is forcing many young players to emigrate.

Rural clubs in North and West Clare are being particularly hit and it’s widely accepted that what’s happening in the county is an accurate reflection of the situation countrywide.
Recently, on one single day, 17 young men from North Clare boarded planes at Shannon Airport, some to take up work abroad, others to seek work of any description. Clare camogie and ladies’ football clubs have also had to cope with the loss of players due to emigration.
According to the official GAA website, 50 players from Clare have transferred to clubs abroad so far this year. The majority of them went to Britain, with smaller numbers going to the US, Australia and New Zealand. However, an even bigger number of players have left, as many don’t bother with transfer applications.
A survey undertaken by Clare GAA’s games manager, Sean Chaplin, has revealed an alarming rate of emigration among club players over the past three years.
Responses from 41 of 52 clubs surveyed show that 200 players have left their clubs and it’s expected that this figure will rise as a number of clubs still to complete the survey are based in larger areas of population. Of the 200, only three left with families; the majority were young men just out of college or who had served apprenticeships but couldn’t get work.
He explained that there was a 3% increase in the figure from 2008 to 2009 while this jumped dramatically to 15% from 2009 to this year. The survey revealed that clubs with small population bases such as Naomh Eoin (Cross and Kilbaha) had lost 11 and Coolmeen had lost 10. The 17 players who left on the one day were from three clubs in North Clare.
Sean Chaplin has been asked to use the information gleaned in the survey to formulate a plan to help the clubs retain players.
Last year, Clare GAA set up a special committee to assist people with regard to getting work. County secretary Pat Fitzgerald confirmed this week that the committee had helped a few inter-county players.
In the past year, a number of Clare clubs, including county football champions Doonbeg, brought players home from various parts of England and Scotland on a regular basis for their games.
Claire Commane, one of the stars of Corofin’s march to next week’s All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship final, is based in Scotland but returns for the games.
“Emigration is a major problem for GAA clubs across Clare and, indeed, across the country,” Clare GAA chairman, Michael O’Neill told delegates at Tuesday night’s county board meeting. 
“Our aim is that clubs will retain their identity, even if that means some underage competitions having to be nine-a-side. We are not predicting doom and gloom. We will do what we can to keep people at home but we can’t do the impossible. Jobs are disappearing rather than appearing,” he added.
Clare football manager Michéal McDermott said he would have to make plans for 2011 without some players.
“Two of last year’s panel, Declan Callinan and Brian Carrig, have gone to Australia. Also, we didn’t include Mark Killeen from Kilmurry-Ibrickane in our plans because he will be gone too. The unfortunate thing is that after Christmas we could be missing more if work dries up,” he remarked.
Calling for major support to assist players, the Clare manager said, “To be fair to both, the county board and the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) are trying their best but it is very, very difficult because the work just isn’t out there.
“We could be two or three games into the league and we could lose a player or two at that point. The strength of the panel is important and you have to be able to rely on players outside the first 15 to step up and take their place. Guys have to take decisions that are in their best interests and football will only take them so far. It won’t put bread on the table,” he stated.
Clare hurling selector Danny Chaplin said that while 2010 captain Brian O’Connell is in Australia, it is possible he will return in the New Year. “We are lucky in that we have a lot of students and a lot of them are in Limerick and Galway,” he said.
Chaplin also served as a selector with Broadford this year and said that several of those who lined out for the club are now abroad.