Published: Tue, 07 October 2025
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MEP for Ireland South and Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, has welcomed the announcement in Budget 2026 of €2.54 million in funding for the GAA and the GPA, but said it must be viewed as a “stepping-stone towards the level of support our inter-county players truly need and deserve.”
Under Budget 2026, the GAA will receive €984,000, while the GPA will receive €1.56 million, a significant increase on previous years. However, Mr Kelly said this remains “modest when set against the scale of the players’ contribution to Ireland’s economy and cultural life.”
“Our inter-county players dedicate extraordinary time, effort, and personal resources to representing their counties. They train to elite standards while balancing work, study, and family life, and they do so without pay. The Government’s decision to increase support is welcome, but it must now be followed by a structured plan to meet the GPA’s request for €10 million in full down the line,” Mr Kelly said.
“I am calling on the Government to engage directly with the GPA to better understand the needs and realities facing players. This year’s allocation should be the first step towards a long-term funding framework that reflects their immense contribution to Irish sport and society.”
Mr Kelly, a former President of the GAA and Chair of Sport Ireland, together with his Fine Gael colleagues in the European Parliament, had written to Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe last month urging additional funding for the GPA and recognition of the unique amateur model underpinning Gaelic games.
He noted that Gaelic games are “not only a sporting institution but a cornerstone of Irish cultural heritage,” generating almost €600 million in annual economic impact, supporting 4,000 jobs, and contributing €62 million in exchequer revenue each year.
“The GAA model is unlike anything else in Europe, built on amateurism, volunteerism, and community spirit. It represents the best of who we are as a people. Supporting the players who sustain that model is not just a sporting issue, but a cultural investment in Ireland’s future,” he concluded.
