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GAA legend quits Croke Park board in protest and makes 'Pandora's box' claim
Former All-Ireland winning manager Pat Gilroy has quit his position as a director of Croke Park in protest at what he sees as a growing focus on money at the highest level in the GAA.
Gilroy guided Dublin to Sam Maguire in 2011 - their first All-Ireland in 16 years - and also had a spell in charge of the county's hurlers.
He was an All-Ireland winner as a player at both club and county level, and most recently managed the St Vincent's hurlers.
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Gilroy has also had a hugely successful business career, working all over the world. He was part of the steering group behind the GAA's last strategic plan, which was unveiled our years ago.
At one stage, the 53-year-old was talked of as a potential Ard Stiúrthóir of the GAA, but he has maintained that he never had any interest in the role.
Gilroy was on the board of Croke Park for four years but felt he had to walk away.
"In the last three or four months, the GAA has been going down a path that I don't think is compatible with what the organisation should be,'' he said.
"The things that are concerning me is this talk of paying managers, and the use of Croke Park. I'm all for helping the likes of the rugby when they're in trouble.
"But, if we start to do stuff for money, that concerns me because what's precious about the GAA is the amateur status. It's unique in the world and it's so democratically run - from the clubs to the County Boards, the provinces and Central Council.
"We have a precious, unique structure of democracy which has largely not been affected by money, but money is starting to stick its nose in.''
GAA President Jarlath Burns raised the possibility of paid contracts for intercounty managers during an interview on RTE Radio One last month.
Gilroy feels that would be the wrong road for the GAA to go down.
"The idea of a blanket payment to managers, the idea of a paid Dublin manager standing in front of players who aren't being paid. I can't get my head around it,'' he said.
"I can't be part of the board of Croke Park which, ultimately, will need to make more money to fund this, because we don't have TV rights that will pay for a professional sport.
"I resigned quietly, I've written to the Association to explain why I resigned and I didn't hear anything back. That was a little bit disappointing.
"I've been told that a motion to pay managers is going forward at the end of the month at the Special Congress. There are other managers from the past who definitely would want to have a voice and go 'hold on a second, there is an alternative to this'.
"We have to be careful that we don't open a Pandora's box and become a professional game. I don't think anyone really wants that, but there could be people in the background who maybe do want it.''
There were seven major events in Croke Park outside of GAA games in 2024 - five concerts and two Leinster rugby matches.
Next year promises to be busy too with three concerts already confirmed - two by Oasis and one by Robbie Williams. Leinster may well look to use the stadium again and there is also talk of Katie Taylor fighting there.
Gilroy feels that renting out Croker needs to be carefully thought through.
"If, for instance, there was a decision made to use that money to fund GAAGo for free for elderly people living in Ireland and all over the world, I'd go '100 per cent, get them in','' he said.
"But if that money goes towards paying managers, then no, it just doesn't feel right. That would be my concern. If the GAA starts to generate too much money and doesn't use it the right way, it will damage the Association.
"I'm not talking about being Ballygobackwards here, just be true to the founding principles of being an amateur organisation.
"For instance, GAAGo - when it started - was a really good thing for the diaspora to watch our games and, now, it's pay per view at home and everybody is kind of uncomfortable with that.
"They felt they had to do something when Sky pulled out but is GAAGo the way to go? Could they do something like giving grants to elderly people so that they could get it? I don't know, maybe that's too complicated.
"But it's that sort of stuff...even the choice of sponsors, we have to be careful not to just take anyone's money. The GAA was brave and good in stopping drink sponsorship, for example, as that was big money, But I've seen a few sponsors and wouldn't be so sure they should be on a GAA jersey.
"But I feel things are drifting over the past few months, from things I've heard, and I knew if I stayed there, it would annoy the hell out of me.
Gilroy does feel that some counties would benefit from full-time managers, but only if that role is a broader one that involves responsibilities beyond the senior team.
"To me, players and managers reap a huge amount of reward from being involved at elite level. They're getting the best psychological help in most cases, nutrition. They're getting exercise and don't have to pay for it in a gym,'' he said.
"There are probably untold benefits to the tune of 30 or 40 grand per player and, for a manager, you get the chance to use the best of the best techniques in management so you get to learn a lot as well.
"I can see the logic around paying a manager in a weaker county, if he has to build a structure around him and get involved with more than the senior team, working from minor level up. But employ him as a Games Development manager or something and make managing the county team part of his role.
"For Dublin, for Kilkenny hurling, Kerry football, Cork football, Cork hurling, they don't need to pay a manager because, within the county, there's the knowledge. Galway, Tyrone, they don't have to pay managers.
"There are a lot of counties who've won All-Irelands and there are enough people within those counties who know how All-Irelands are won to try and do it again.''
Many will argue that managers at all levels are currently being paid under the table, and that standardised payments would be a move forward - and also ensure that clubs and County Boards are Revenue compliant.
But Gilroy doesn't feel that argument holds much water.
"They used to say years ago that a manager's job was to 'take care' of the team. If you're being paid, you want to take control of them, to do what you need to do to protect your job - even if that's a subconscious thing. Just because some managers are getting paid now (under the table) doesn't mean it's right,'' he said.
"To regularise something just because it's happening already is wrong. Like we all know cocaine is being taken, That doesn't mean it's legal, it's a scourge.
"All sorts of players are taking cocaine, all sorts of young people. Does that mean we should legalise it? Maybe we should. I don't know enough about cocaine but it doesn't seem like a bright idea.
"Just because we're paying people under the table doesn't mean it should be legitimised.''
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