Mike Kennelly
Labour Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I express my deep concern at the devastating wildfire that affected Killarney National Park yesterday evening. It is one of the most treasured national landscapes in the country.”
“However, as that excitement builds ahead of the biggest day in the GAA's calendar, there is again a growing concern among Kerry and Mayo supporters and others about how they will get to Croke Park.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. My ask is for the Minister for Transport to liaise with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann to ensure that adequate transport is provided for all football supporters from Kerry and Mayo for the upcoming All-Ireland final. I congratulate Kerry and Mayo on reaching this year's All-Ireland football final.”
“This is not just a Kerry issue or a Mayo issue; it is a national issue. We heard yesterday on the Order of Business that even Louth and Wicklow supporters had difficulties getting to Croke Park last Saturday. The All-Ireland final is one of the largest sporting events in the country, bringing tens of thousands of supporters together.”
“The use of barbecues, open flames or any activity that creates a fire risk in such conditions is simply unacceptable. What may seem like a harmless act can, in a matter of minutes, destroy habitats that have taken generations to develop and places lives in danger.”
“Yesterday was just a reminder of the of the serious consequences that can arise when risks are taken with fire. The land and trees are so dry at the moment that a spark could destroy every amenity we have.”
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“I welcome the Minister of State and I acknowledge the work that has been done. This is reform. It is the best thing that has happened. We have had a housing issue in this country for the past number of years. I congratulate the Minister of State on the work he has been doing in this Government. With all the toing and froing, this is welcome news. Most importantly, Kerry, which I proudly represent, was said to be, even today, and I circulated this recently, the third best county to live in. It reflects the very strong communities we are building at the moment. Last year, construction was begun on only 297 homes in Kerry, but between January and April 2026, over 400 commencement notices were issued. That is something that is working and that has to be acknowledged. However we have serious other constraints in sustaining rural communities.”
“There is a very strong argument for the RSA, in a time of real need for road safety, to examine the feasibility of establishing a driving test centre in Listowel or, at the very least, to assess the demand and services needed for the wider north Kerry region. I call on the Minister for Transport to come to the House to debate this issue for north Kerry. I was across the road this morning at the INTO's presentation for Oireachtas Members on its pre-budget submission, with regard to the 1,000 teaching jobs needed to secure the national schools in this country. I want to show my support for its submission.”
“In general the long delays for driving tests in Kerry over the past three years were caused by a combination of very high demand and insufficient testing capacity. The Listowel municipal district area alone has a population approaching 32,000 and this does not cover the whole district of north Kerry. Listowel serves as the main hub for the area. The town has a suitable road network including urban routes, roundabouts, residential areas, national and regional roads, and the recently opened Listowel bypass further enhances connectivity and provides access to a wider range of road conditions suitable for driver testing capability.”
“When young people are completing their essential driving training families already face the cost of lessons, insurance and testing fees. Long travel distances for lessons and test appointments place an additional burden on households, particularly in rural areas where public transport is limited and a driving licence is often essential for accessing education, employment and training opportunities. There is also a strong case that demand exists. Figures from last year show that more than 850 people were actively waiting for a driving test in Tralee. There were 3,736 driving tests in total. There were 500 waiting in Killarney, where there were 3,933 driving tests completed in total. When scheduled applicants and those progressing through the system are included, there were more than 4,300 applications across the two Kerry centres.”
“I welcome our distinguished guest, the Portuguese ambassador, to the House this morning. I also welcome Councillor Peter Feeney and his special guests and all of the guests in the Public Gallery this morning. Today I want to raise the issue of limited access to driving test centres in north Kerry and seek a debate with the Minister for Transport on the provision of additional driving test capacity in rural north Kerry and throughout the country. At present residents of north Kerry must travel to Tralee or Killarney to sit their driving test. This includes people living in towns and villages such as Listowel, Ballybunion, Tarbert, Moyvane, Duagh, Causeway, Abbeydorney, Ballyheigue, Ballydonoghue, Lixnaw and Kilflynn in rural north Kerry.”
“I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Indeed, I compliment the response. I look forward to the completion of this process. Obviously, the assessment is the outstanding aspect. I again ask the Minister of State to contact the Department and the Minister to double down on this and bring it to fruition. The next step for the people of Cahersiveen and the Iveragh Peninsula is to find out where this primary care centre will be located. If that assessment is completed sooner rather than later, we can move on with it.”
“Has capital funding been formally allocated for the construction phase within the current HSE capital plan or through another mechanism? If funding has not yet been set aside, I call on him to indicate when that decision will be made and whether the project will be prioritised in upcoming capital allocations. The big question people have in the Iveragh and Cahersiveen area is when construction is expected to begin. The community, the local healthcare providers and all the stakeholders need certainty on the feasibility, funding and timelines so this important project can move forward without any hassle.”
“The new primary care centre will also complement the local ambulance base for which funding has been secured. Together, these developments will strengthen the emergency response capacity and create a more co-ordinated, modern healthcare system for the area. Progress has been made. The design phase has been completed. Planning permission has been granted. The project is clearly advancing through the required stages. What is now required is clarity about the remaining steps. Has the full feasibility assessment for the Cahersiveen primary care centre been completed? If so, will the Minister of State outline its key findings? If any elements of that assessment are outstanding, it would be helpful to know what they are and when they are expected to be finalised. Will the Minister of State provide clarity on the funding position?”
“I welcome the ambassador to the House. I hope he enjoys his stay. I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. I raise the proposed primary care centre for Cahersiveen in deep south Kerry and seek a clear and detailed update on its current status and the next steps. This project is of major strategic importance to the Iveragh Peninsula. The centre will bring a comprehensive range of services together under one roof, including GP care, public health nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, mental health supports, dental and disability services and a social inclusion and Tusla hub. In a rural region like south Kerry, this integrated model of care will significantly enhance access and reduce the need for long journeys to larger centres.”
“Coastal local authorities must act now to raise awareness, including through all social media platforms, that people need to think before they act and be aware of dangers and risks to public safety.”
“I call on all coastal local authorities across the country to provide lifeguard cover whenever extreme warm weather brings large numbers to the beaches. Public safety must come first and we cannot just stick to a calendar. We need a contingency plan whereby if there is good weather outside of their fixed-term agreements, lifeguards will be provided to cover the beaches. There is also the issue of awareness. We need a strong water safety campaign reminding people to respect the water, never swim alone, supervise children closely and understand that even experienced swimmers can get into difficulty. Good weather should bring enjoyment, not heartbreak.”
“The good weather can come either in the bathing season or outside it. We are currently outside the official bathing season, which normally runs from 1 June to 15 September, with many of our beaches being left without lifeguard protection. This week alone, heat records have been broken twice and beaches across the county have been packed with people despite there being no lifeguard on duty to protect the public in many locations. We saw the danger of that clearly only last Monday at the beautiful Banna beach in north Kerry, with an incident that, fortunately, had a positive outcome. We may not be so lucky the next time. We cannot continue waiting for calendar dates while temperatures soar and crowds gather at our beaches and coastline. Water safety services must respond to real conditions, not just at certain times of the year.”
“As the good weather arrives, people naturally rush to our beaches, lakes and coastline to enjoy the sunshine. Too often, however, many go into the water without fully understanding the real dangers that can exist beneath the surface. Calm waters can change in moments. Strong rip currents like we have in north Kerry, cold water shock, hidden tides and sudden water changes can turn a day out into a tragedy within minutes. Sadly, there has been an incident recently that has devastated a family and shaken a community. I send my sympathies to the family of Abbie Carmody-Pepper on her recent passing. In Kerry, we are proud to have 15 blue flag beaches and two blue flag marinas, which attract thousands of visitors whenever the weather improves. However, with that popularity comes responsibility.”
“Many of its members were represented by the TUI and SIPTU during negotiations on the new adult educator grade. These people were before us in committee as well. I ask the Minister if their issues will be discussed. I ask for clarity and acknowledgement and better pay and conditions for these people. Across student accommodation, apprenticeships, adult education and research, we are delivering on the commitments set out in the programme for Government and permanently reducing costs for students. The Opposition might not pat the Minister on the back for that, but I will. There is more to come.”
“There are now 81 national apprenticeship programmes available, as well as 25 craft apprenticeships in traditional SOLAS trades and 56 consortia-led apprenticeships. The next action plan must focus on sustainable growth and strong supports for both apprentices and employers. I ask the Minister that the work done in the committee in drawing up the recommendations for apprenticeships will be taken into full consideration. On the adult educator contracts, I recognise the important work of tutors and adult educators in the further education and training sector. Their commitment and skill make a real difference to learners across the country. Our committee heard concerns from the Adult Education Teachers Organisation. While an approved education and teaching organisation, the AETO is not a recognised trade union.”
“According to recent reports, AI will cost this country jobs in the future, so how we roll out preparations in our education sector to counteract that requires a big plan ahead. The previous action plan delivered strong results. By the end of 2025, the apprentice population reached 31,165. That was an increase of almost 60% since 2010. Annual registration rose by 9,461 and funding has increased by 125% since 2020. This year, more than €410 million will be invested in the apprenticeship system. I hope there will be an awareness of the attractiveness of apprenticeships, as I mentioned in our report recommendations, to be driven by guidance counsellor reform in our schools. This gives us a strong base to reach the programme for Government target of 12,500 new registrations per year. Everything is target-driven now.”
“Will all 48 recommendations be seriously looked at? The next time the Minister comes back into the House for statements, which recommendations will be picked? There are a lot of brilliant recommendations in the report on foot of our time as a committee meeting apprentices across the country and across different areas to discuss what apprenticeships bring. Apprenticeships do and will play a bigger role in meeting Ireland's skills needs, especially as we build more homes, expand infrastructure and respond to climate challenges. Artificial intelligence, AI, is also exploding. As we speak, the need to prepare and adjust our college courses to ensure readiness must be a priority. The big question is whether we are ready for this.”
“This is a game changer for many people, it has to be welcomed and I thank the Minister for that. The implementation of the strategy is also under way and a programme board has been set up, including the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, and the HEA, and representatives from both university sectors. Work with NewERA and the Department of public expenditure is ongoing to resolve issues with technological universities' nomination agreements. To move on to the committee's report on apprenticeships, it was a proud effort from the committee of which I am a member. There were 48 recommendations in that report. The one thing about reports is that everyone welcomes them and there is a ticker-tape parade for most of them but unfortunately some of the reports lie on top of shelves and stuff like that.”
“Will the skilled workforce that is coming out now deliver 300,000 houses, and 42,000 beds by 2035 as well? The new higher education institution student accommodation programme will allow universities to work with private developers through nomination agreements and the use of HEI-owned sites. This will help to deliver accommodation at scale using standard designs and through better use of lands to reduce costs. We are also supporting flexible options such as the rent-a-room scheme, but increasing supply is not enough and affordability is a serious matter. Almost 30,000 students will benefit from the €200 increase to the non-adjacent SUSI grant announced in budget 2026. In total, financial supports for students now amount to €176 million each year, alongside the rent tax credit of up to €2,000 for jointly assessed couples.”
“One of the issues we have, as I think the Minister mentioned, is that there are 3,000 beds currently under construction. With the 300,000 target this Government faces in housing construction until 2030 - and given the need for the 14,000 beds that have planning permission, including the 3,000 that have started - my fear going forward is whether the Government will meet its targets. Perhaps the Minister can clarify that for me. The next page is about apprenticeships and all of that. My fear is that we are really kicking the can down the road in that we need apprenticeships to be rolled out a bit faster. Some of the apprenticeships take four years and an electrical apprenticeship could be reduced to three or maybe three and a half years.”
“One of the things that was said here was to "spend wisely" because we are looking for accountability across all Departments at a time where there has been wastage on some public projects in other Departments. Keep an eye on the spend and the wastage will no longer exist. Student accommodation is now a key part of our education system. Without affordable and secure housing, many students cannot take up their places or fully take part in college life. Student numbers are rising, so we must really plan ahead. Last month, the Minister published a student accommodation strategy, as has just been mentioned. Under the previous strategy, 16,000 beds were delivered. Demand is growing, as we can see. We now need around 42,000 more beds, as the Minister said.”
“The Minister mentioned the first permanent reduction in costs since 1995. That improvement and delivery has to be acknowledged. This Government must stand over its commitment to continue to lower student contribution costs in order to reduce the financial pressure on students and families permanently. It must be an ongoing priority. I ask the Government to honour that commitment, in full, during the term of this Government. The Department has secured €4.5 billion in funding under the national development plan. Only recently we have unlocked, through the national training fund, NTF, a surplus allowing it to be used to support skills and training across the whole sector.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank him and his Department and acknowledge the work they do. For the past 18 months it has probably been one of the best-run Departments, due to many factors, so I want to put that on the record. Many of the commitments that were made during the programme for Government, which include reducing the cost of education, improving access and building a strong and modern third level system, are under way in all Departments. During the past year, real progress has been made. We have delivered a permanent cut to student fees, which I have been raising, which helps families across the country. We have also strengthened the technological university sector and created 55 new professorships across the country to support teaching and research.”
“The guard said to him, "How many have you?", and he said, "If I had one more, I'd have a sub." That was years ago, and the same person is being prevented from watching the game next Saturday, which is wrong. I call on the Government to bring the GAA before the relevant committee in order to start the conversation. What is happening has to be reviewed.”
“Donegal is a real rural county, like Kerry, and a lot of people cannot access that TV, and the Michael Murphys, Jason Foleys or David Cliffords of Kerry. They cannot. I will give the Minister of State one word: "volunteerism". Many moons ago, an underage game was due to take place in Finuge, near Listowel. There was only one car and two adults available They put every kid they had into that car. They were stopped going over the bridge in Listowel as they headed for Finuge six miles out the road. When he stopped them, the garda said, "Oh my God. What's going on here?" The volunteer, the great man behind that wheel, said, "Guard, I'm on my way to an underage game six miles out the road". There were legs and heads everywhere in the car. The boot was open and there were legs hanging out.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I respect everything he said about being proportionate, the GAA and values, broadcasting rights, commercial views and rights and all that. However, the one thing I did not get is that we need to start engagement with the GAA. We need to call it into the sports committee within these Houses and open this conversation up. This Government is doing its best to support the GAA across the country and so has every other government. They have kept pitches and clubhouses open and accessible to people who want to play football but then it comes to the biggest games of them all. I am not just talking about Kerry and Donegal. I know the Minister of State is a proud Donegal man.”
“I call on the Minister for sport to engage directly with the GAA and urge it to change course as quickly as possible. I asked this ten days out last week and I am glad the Minister of State has come to the House to see if we can come to a conclusion and bring back the free-to-air channels for people to watch.”
“Why refuse free access when the public already funds the association so heavily? The Government will and should continue to support the GAA. I am calling for that because of the extraordinary role it plays in Irish life and communities across the country. However, the GAA has a responsibility to remain accessible to the people who sustain it. This coming Saturday I will be listening to the Kerry versus Donegal game. I will not be attending. I will be listening to the great Kerry radio coverage by Timmy Moynihan and Ambrose O'Donovan. I will not even attend. They are bringing games back to life again for people who cannot view them. Like Mícheál Ó hEithir and our own Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh they are bringing those games back into our sitting rooms again because that is the way it is going.”
“We also have to remember that the taxpayer supports the GAA substantially through the sports capital programme - I am proud that every club in Kerry has got money from it - major infrastructure funding, Sport Ireland grants and local authority investments. In 2024, the Government provided €97 million in public funding to the GAA. That is taxpayers’ money. It comes from ordinary people, who are the same people who fill the stands, keep the clubs alive and give their time freely year after year. Yet, these people are now being told they cannot watch their own national games and their own local heroes unless they pay extra, download the apps or have strong broadband. We saw this clearly over the past weekend with Tipperary versus Clare in the Munster hurling championship. RTÉ offered to show it and the GAA refused.”
“There is another side to this that decision makers may not fully appreciate. For many elderly people living alone, watching championship matches on a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon is a huge part of their week. It helps pass lonely hours and gives them something to look forward to. The same is true for people in hospitals and nursing homes and those who can no longer travel to matches. Many are not comfortable with streaming services. Some do not have smart TVs, smartphones or laptops. Others simply cannot afford it. They are being shut out from something that has always been part of Irish summer life.”
“People did not give up their evenings and weekends in order that one day the biggest championship games could be locked behind the paywall relating to a subscription service. That is why people feel so strongly about this. They feel the games are being taken away from the very people who built them. There is something fundamentally unfair about asking lifelong supporters, many of whom gave decades of voluntary service to the GAA, to take out another subscription just to watch their county team play in the championship. At a time when we should be doing everything possible to showcase Gaelic football and hurling stars, we are instead making them less accessible and less visible. One statement made during the week said it was like putting the family jewels in the back of the closet and hiding them away.”
“People feel deeply let down by that because the GAA is not just another sporting organisation ; it was built from the ground up by ordinary people in every parish in Ireland. It was built by volunteers standing at gates collecting tickets in the rain. It was built by coaches driving young lads and girls to training and games three nights a week. It was built by mothers and fathers washing jerseys, making sandwiches, organising fundraisers and selling raffle tickets. It was built by people mowing and lining pitches, painting dressing rooms and keeping clubs alive through sheer commitment and community spirit. Nobody did those things for profit. Gaelic games are amateur sports.”
“He saw for himself the parade of former greats and heroes of Kerry football on that wall, and where people are going in the context of future development as well. This Saturday's match will have the biggest players in the country involved. It is the biggest clash of all in the championship so far, and to air it on GAA+ is simply not right. People accepted GAA+ initially because they were told it would help cover games that would not otherwise be shown due to scheduling clashes. Supporters understood that. They understood the need to give smaller counties and less prominent fixtures exposure. However, we have reached a point where the biggest matches in the championship are being hidden behind a paywall.”
“I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House to take this matter. I tabled it in order to get the Minister with responsibility for sport to make a statement on the growing concern that top-level GAA matches are increasingly being placed behind paywalls despite the significant public funding the GAA receives from the Exchequer. This denies thousands of ordinary supporters access to our national games. There is growing anger and frustration about the GAA's decision to put the major championship matches behind the GAA+ paywall. This weekend, Kerry will be playing Donegal in one of the biggest games of the entire summer, and supporters are being told they must pay extra to watch it. The Minister of State visited the centre of excellence in GAA headquarters in Kerry recently.”
“The last four families have been settled. The final family, from Listowel, received three procurement offers from the OPW and secured the last one because they were being outpriced. They are now in financial difficulty because the procurement moneys from the OPW were below the cost of buying. They are now in a lot of financial debt. Is there anything the OPW can do in that case, given that the money was secured on the buying of the property? I thank the Minister of State for his wonderful work.”
“One thing I have told the people in the Listowel area is that the early flood alert system has to be installed before any flood relief scheme is delivered. That will allay any fears people have downstream. I sought this the last time in the context of the Minister of State's emergency works. I did not get it then, so I urge the Minister of State to ensure it is put in place before the full flood relief scheme is completed. There is an area at the "Big Bridge" entering Listowel that is overgrown completely. This is going to cause flooding come the early autumn or at another time with high water, so I ask the OPW to take measures to address this as quickly as it can. My final point, which I am raising for a family, concerns the relocation programme the Minister of State and his Department put in place.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. I acknowledge the incredible amount of work he and his office have done. When there were flooding issues across the whole country recently, including in the east but also in the west, he came down to my area and really looked after the people in Listowel and Killocrim, which were totally devastated. Their lives were turned upside down by the recent flooding. To the Minister of State, his Department, Martina, his secretary, and all involved, thanks a million from the people of Listowel. There has been a lot of poor publicity from Deputies in the Dáil recently suggesting that Listowel's full flood relief scheme is in jeopardy. I want the Minister of State to clarify whether it is ploughing ahead, along with the schemes for Kenmare and Tralee.”
“For that reason, I call on the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come to this House to clarify the issues that I have raised and to give the people of Cahersiveen reassurance that all relevant stakeholders, especially the HSE, are engaging productively to progress this project in a timely manner. There are local concerns about this. I want clarity that the HSE is engaging and that it is not the obstacle to this primary care centre being delivered for the people of south Kerry.”
“Its opening will reduce long journeys and help people stay healthy in their own community. The centre will also link with the new local ambulance base, which has been mentioned and already has funding in place. This will shorten emergency response times and create a more joined-up system for care in the region. The project has moved forward in recent years with design work completed and planning permission secured. What the community needs now is clarity. People want to know when construction will begin and an estimated time for when the doors will finally open.”
“I wish to raise the urgent need to progress the primary care centre for Cahersiveen in County Kerry and indeed south Kerry. The people of the Iveragh Peninsula have waited a long time for this facility and they are anxious that no unnecessary delays will occur. This centre is essential to improving local healthcare and easing the pressures on local families on the peninsula. The new centre will bring a wide range of services together under one roof. It will provide GP care, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language, psychology, mental health supports, dental and disability services. This will make a major difference and will be hugely welcomed. People will be able to access care closer to home. As I said, it is in rural Kerry. It is down south and is further away from Tralee and University Hospital Kerry.”
“It is great when to hear such great and welcome news for the people of Kerry. This will be a 130-bed unit that will serve not just Kerry but also neighbouring areas across the county border. I was recently contacted by elderly people who are recuperating following hospital visits or whatever and who do not have community hospitals in their areas. They have been going to Killarney as a result. This is great news. I am delighted that all stakeholders are being engaged with. There is an end line in sight. I ask that the Minister of State to double down over the next couple of weeks in order to get approval from HIQA, get the patients transferred and ensure that the staff happy. Once the staff are happy, the residents, their families and the whole of County Kerry will be happy.”
“They are public and could be valuably used going forward in the context of the Minister of State's directorate. This project has been years in the making. The people of Killarney and Kerry and the staff and the residents who will call this unit their new home deserve certainty about the opening.”
“Are all of the necessary beds, medical equipment, assistive technologies and dementia-specific supports installed, tested and operational? Given his role as Minister of State with responsibility for older persons, I ask Deputy O'Donnell to outline what are the future plans for the St. Columbanus home and Killarney Community Hospital once the new Killarney community nursing unit opens. These buildings are significant public assets. A minor injuries unit is planned for one section of the St. Columbanus property. It will cater for people with less serious injuries - fractures, strains, burns, etc. - rather than those people being obliged to travel to UHK and clog up the accident and emergency department. What options are being considered for the remainder of these properties?”
“First, can the Minister of State provide the latest update on the opening date of the unit? When is HIQA expected to complete its assessment? Can the Minister of State confirm that HIQA registration is the final step before opening? Second, can he confirm whether there are any outstanding staffing issues? While the HSE has stated that workforce planning is under way, there are concerns locally in the county about recruitment pauses and the impact this may have on opening the unit on a phased basis. We need clarity on whether staffing is fully in place. Will the Minister of State clarify what is meant by the opening of the unit on a phased basis? Third, is the facility now fully furnished, equipped and clinically ready for occupation?”
“Columbanus home and Killarney Community Hospital. It represents one of the most significant investments in services for older people in the region. I congratulate the Minister of State on the work he has put into this since I made contact with him in the past couple of months. He has shown a never-ending desire to get this to fruition. Construction has been completed, the building has been handed over and the community has been repeatedly assured that the opening is, as we say, around the corner. Yet, despite these assurances, residents, families and staff still do not have a definite timeline for when the first patients will be transferred. They are waiting anxiously for what will be the jewel in the crown of services for older people in Kerry. I am asking for three points of clarification today.”
“I welcome Austin and his family to the House. I followed Austin’s heroics out at sea, from where he swam back in. A triathlon was mentioned by the Acting Chair. Austin was very brave. The Irishness came out through him. He was never going to give up, and he did not give in. We acknowledge that today. I hope the Cathaoirleach and the State in some way acknowledge Austin's bravery. I also welcome Deputy David Maxwell, who is with the family. Well done, Austin. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I raise this matter to seek a clear and up-to-date position on the long-awaited opening of the new 130-bed community nursing unit in Killarney, County Kerry. This will mean real security for elderly people in Killarney and the Kerry area. It is a state-of-the-art facility designed to replace the St.”
“There are 12 days until this game. Today I am calling for the Minister of sport to come to the House. It is not too late for the debate. This needs to be challenged because the people who carried the GAA for generations should never be locked out from watching their own heroes on the biggest stages of all.”
“We see Westmeath contesting the provincial final against Dublin next weekend. We saw Cork the last day as well. The second best sideline ball ever taken by a footballer was taken by Monaghan's Jack McCarron, all viewed on RTÉ, which took Monaghan to a provincial final. We see the delight in the crowds and the number of people attending these games again. Unfortunately, what does the GAA do? It hides the Kerry and Donegal game away from the very people who made the association. All the provincial finals are on TV with two football finals to go. However, apparently that is not enough. Now it is box office. Now it is about squeezing more money out of loyal supporters and excluding people from watching their own club players. The GAA was built in rural parishes and rural communities, not in the corporate boardrooms up the street.”
“The men and women who gave decades of their lives to the GAA, the volunteers who cut the grass, washed the jerseys, sold the tickets, made the tea and sandwiches and stood at gates in the lashing rain so that our games could survive and be played still pay their TV licence. They have supported the GAA all their lives and now when Kerry and Donegal are lighting up the championship they are told they have to subscribe, stream, download apps and pay extra money just to watch their own county teams. This is a total disgrace. Gaelic football is beautiful again. Look at the crowds. Last Sunday over 32,690 people were in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney to watch Kerry play Cork. Nearly 25,000 went to Dr. Hyde Park to watch a historic win for Roscommon.”
“I want to raise the ugly side of the GAA. On 24 May, Sunday week, the biggest game of the All-Ireland football championships this year will be on in Killarney when Kerry play Donegal. The GAA has again put championship football behind a bloody paywall. Ordinary rural people with issues in Kerry and Donegal, and indeed the whole country, are being excluded from viewing this spectacular game of football. The very people who built the GAA are being excluded from watching it, including elderly people living alone at home, people in hospitals, people with disabilities and people in rural Ireland who do not have smart TVs, smartphones, laptops or any other instrument to stream the game.”