Burns promises 'radical' proposals on GAA amateur status

By John Harrington

GAA President, Jarlath Burns, has promised his Amateur Status Review Committee will bring 'radical' proposals to GAA Congress in 2026.

Speaking to delegates at GAA Special Congress today he admitted he’s not altogether confident though there’s enough of an appetite for ‘true change’ to ensure they receive sufficient support.

“We're going to bring those proposals to Congress in February and they are going to be a bit radical,” said Burns.

“We went around the country and we did a lot of consultation and I just fear that this part of my presidency will not succeed, being honest with you.

“There's a lot of varied views on what the amateur status means to players and to counties and to everybody else.

“Essentially what we're trying to achieve is to make it easier for our county players to play the game and live their lives. And to make it easier for our counties to pay for playing the game at the highest level. That's the two biggest things that our Amateur Status Committee is trying to achieve.

“I got the feeling when we went around the country that everyone wants change but not too many people want true change.

“If we're going to really deal with this in the way we have to deal with it then we're going to have to reflect seriously on what it means to be an amateur athlete playing at the highest level in 2026.

“That's what it is. The demands we're putting on our county players and on you people to pay for it.

“I was in this room yesterday at an event that Longford GAA ran. The money that is gained by these things runs out very, very quickly. We all know it. So, please, if you could bear with us on with we're trying to do.

“We're trying to make it easier for you to run your counties and make it easier for your county teams to run themselves. That's what it's all about.”