GAELIC PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
17 YEARS OF PROGRESS
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
The Gaelic Players Association is formed by players in The
Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast with follow up meetings in Dublin.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Campaigning begins to improve conditions for county players.
Inaugural GPA AGM takes place in Killarney marking the first formal
gathering of county players; committee and officers elected.
Annual GPA Player of Year Awards established. Kerry captain Seamus
Moynihan, who went on to become secretary of the GPA, is voted
player of the year.
GPA strikes the first major sponsorship
deal for a group of individual players
which defies GAA ruling at the time
forbidding players from engaging in
commercial activity.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Introduction of formal ‘Player Entitlements’ saw improvements in
conditions, mileage rate increase, gear provisions, meals.
GPA publishes Actuaries Report into the financial losses incurred by
county players.
Sponsorship deal
established with
Carphone Warehouse
introducing the first
GPA Player Scholarship
Scheme.
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
GAA changes rules on restricting players from engaging in
commercial activity.
Value of GAA player endorsement in market place increased
through advocacy and mobilisation of
players collective image rights.
Dessie Farrell appointed as First full
time employee.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Introduction of formal ‘Player Entitlements’
saw continued improvements in
conditions; mileage rates, gear provisions,
meals, injury provision etc.
A three year sponsorship deal of the
Players Awards by SEAT sees the players’
bodies financial future strengthened
and the hurler and footballer of the year
presented with a new car each, further enhancing the commercial
appeal of county players.
Pioneering sponsorship deal struck with C&C securing long-term
future of GPA.
Dónal Óg Cusack is appointed chairman of the GPA.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
GPA lobbies Government for tax concessions.
A delegation of players attend Dail Eireann to hold an information
session for Senators and T.D.’s relating to their proposed grant
scheme for inter county
players and a Dail debate on
the matter.
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
First formal meeting with GAA President Seán Kelly and Director
General Liam Mulvihill.
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
GPA commercial appeal continues to grow and the First Annual GPA
Players’ Team Awards are established with sponsorship from OPEL.
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Following lengthy campaign and protest action including strike
ballot, Agreement reached with Government to introduce State
funding for players thereby securing parity of esteem for county
hurlers and footballers with
other elite Irish athletes. This
move represents a milestone in
recognition of the contribution of
inter county players to the social
and financial fabric of Ireland.
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Government grants
scheme is administered
to every GPA member
and first payments are
made.
56 third-level students
receive a GPA scholarship
scheme, making its
student programme
the largest of its kind in
Gaelic games.
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Players continue to lobby for official recognition as an independent
players’ body.
Formal recognition protest campaign targeting GAA’s commercial
partners conducted successfully by GPA during summer.
Official negotiations commence with GAA on recognition of players
body shortly after.
GPA becomes a member of EU Athletes,
federation of independent athletes
associations representing over 25,000
athletes. Subsequently holds position on
board and becomes member of
UNI Global Union.
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
In a historic move, the GPA is formally recognised as official
representative body with a one year deal put in place.
The Gaelic Players Association is formally enshrined in the
GAA rulebook at 2010 congress.
For the first time the role of the county player within the GAA is
formally recognised with specific reference to the contribution to the
commercial success of the Association.
The GPA launches the Player Development Programme to assist players
with life off the field providing support services for players in education,
career development, personal coaching, health and wellbeing,
benevolent fund.
For the first time, a dispute resolution mechanism
is introduced.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
The first commercial joint venture
between the GPA and GAA takes
place as the annual All-Stars
awards and Players Awards are
merged under the sponsorship of
OPEL.
A new five year agreement with
GAA is established.
A joint commercial entity
developed between GAA and GPA called Le Chéile and subsequently
establishes a new commercial programme including deals with
Avonmore Protein Milk, Opro Mouth Guards and
Opel Ireland.
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Players representing the GPA take positions on various GAA
committees to influence change including Medical Welfare and
Scientific, Games Development and Rules.
As demand for the Player Development Programme and services
increases, The GPA establishes an Advisory Board in New York to
assist with fundraising and promotional activity in US.
The GPA successfully hosts its first ever New York dinner gala
celebrating and acknowledging the deep historical and cultural ties
between the two countries of which Gaelic sporting
heritage is an intrinsic part. This event sets the
template for other fundraising efforts by GAA bodies.
GPA Former Players Group formed.
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Research programme into ACL recovery
commenced with Sports Surgery Clinic.
Super 11s Hurling, a project developed by GPA
to promote games and players at iconic sporting
venues abroad, is played at University of Notre
Dame as part of College Football Game Day.
Multi Award winning Emotional health & Wellbeing Campaign –
WeWearMore is launched promoting mental wellbeing within GPA
membership and in wider Irish society.
First Former Players Event hosted in Dublin – now an annual
function attended by over 500 players and including GPA
Lifetime Achievement Awards.
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
GPA publishes Gambling: A
Guide for County Players and Our
Games.
Player Development Programme
continues to grow with
transformational impacts
on players. This programme
subsequently recognised
internationally as a world leader
in the personal development of
athletes.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Women’s Gaelic Players Association
launched with support and funding from
the GPA.
The GPA Madden Leadership
Programme established for county
players, a bespoke curriculum designed
around specific requirements of players
performing at elite level. Introduced
with financial support from US donor.
GPA Student Report – Never Enough Time – published highlighting
serious welfare concerns for student players and issuing
recommendations for change.
continued on next page
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
continued from previous page
GPA co-author of EU guidelines on management of
Dual Career.
Super 11s Hurling staged on front of almost
30,000 spectators in Boston’s Fenway Park.
GPA continues to lobby for competition reform.
Players Championship Restructuring Proposals published.
GPA is a leading voice in important societal issues such as Yes
Equality Referendum, strong advocate for charities through GPA
Social Responsibility Programme – Headstrong, Pieta House,
Red Cross Irish flood relief, Unicef, Childhood Cancer
Foundation, SOAR.
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Independent Player Safety and Welfare
group established.
Negotiations commence on new longterm Agreement for players.
New comprehensive agreement
secured valued at 6.2 million euros per
annum.
For the first time, GPA funding is linked
to a percentage of GAA commercial income.
Players now have a greater say in policy decisions of GAA.
GPA is in final stage negotiations with new Government to
secure a new grant agreement to be announced shortly.