The GAA insists that no decisions have yet been made on the 2021 season as it awaits the Irish Government’s next move.
In a circular to all units of the Association, president Larry McCarthy and director general Tom Ryan noted that “we are likely to have to persevere for a little longer before anything like our normal level of activity can resume”.
And while acknowledging that decisions taken by the Northern Ireland Executive last week allows clubs in the six counties to resume activity on a limited basis from April 12, the GAA will watch with interest with the Irish Government set to make an announcement next week ahead of the current run of restrictions ending on April 5.
“In the interim, we would again reiterate that the GAA have not decided on what competitions may or may not be facilitated in any revised national fixture programme for 2021.
“As we have stated previously, such decisions will be a factor of how much time is ultimately available to us, both for an inter county season and for the broader participation levels that will be necessary for a meaningful club season at both adult and underage levels.”
There was a note of optimism from McCarthy and Ryan as they said that “while there are undoubtedly some challenges ahead for the Association, there is also plenty of hope that with the availability of vaccines and the roll out of the inoculation programmes North and South of the border, a summer filled with Gaelic games activity lies ahead”.
Elsewhere, the pair outlined how the GAA is considering imposing a levy to facilitate the loss of wages cover for injured players being restored by potentially increasing the injury fund premium payable by the 1,500 units by 25%.
Another option being explored is for “all our playing members who may feel that loss of wages cover is a prerequisite for participation in GAA activities for 2021 to individually subscribe to a stand-alone GAA endorsed personal injury cover plan for 2021”.
