Louth’s Cashless Club Championship Sparks Debate
Louth GAA’s shift to a “ticket-only” system for the Club Championships has sparked controversy, with several clubs voicing opposition to the removal of cash payments. During the September County Board meeting in Darver, concerns were raised that the cashless policy might be deterring supporters from attending matches, particularly those less comfortable with technology.
Young Irelands led the criticism, highlighting that older supporters or those not familiar with online systems are at a disadvantage. Their delegate argued that the hassle of purchasing tickets through the app was discouraging fans from attending games, affecting gate receipts.
Glen Emmets joined the criticism, questioning whether Louth’s cashless stance was dictated by Croke Park or a local decision. Their representative sought clarification on whether this was an official GAA policy.
Treasurer Aidan Berrill defended the County Board’s position, citing security concerns over handling large amounts of cash at venues. He noted that Louth GAA is working on introducing a “tap” payment system, which could be implemented in the coming weeks. However, some delegates argued this system should have been in place before removing cash payments altogether.
Clan na nGael acknowledged the rationale for going cashless but called for a more thorough discussion on the policy, while Naomh Fionnbarra expressed concern that the policy was excluding long-time supporters who are now unable to attend games due to the lack of cash options.
County Board Chairman Sean McClean empathized with the frustrations expressed, but reiterated that no supporter had been turned away from a match due to lack of cash payment. He remained hopeful that the upcoming “tap” system would ease concerns.
Scheduling Issues Also Raised
In addition to the cashless policy, Young Irelands took issue with the scheduling of matches, particularly Saturday afternoon fixtures. The club argued that it was unfair, as their players were losing income from Saturday jobs. They pointed out that senior clubs were not being asked to play at such times.
The John Mitchels also raised concerns about early Sunday fixtures, calling a 12 noon or 12:30pm start in Darver “very disrespectful.”
Other Developments
• Cuchulainn Gaels announced they will amalgamate with South Armagh’s St. Michaels Killean at the underage level.
• Gate receipts for the Leinster Football and Hurling Championships were down by €46,000 this year.
• The Leinster SFC draw will take place on October 12th, with the venues for fixtures to be decided later by the CCC.
• Inniskeen was mentioned as a potential venue for Louth’s home National League matches, including the highly anticipated clash with Meath.