Tom Parsons has insisted that a 30-week inter-county window is not just adequate but ‘generous’ and that the GAA should have locked it in decades ago.
Annual Congress will consider a motion to extend the inter-county footprint into August, whilst cutting away pre-season competitions at the other end of the calendar.
Gaelic Players Association chief Parsons feels that if the GAA cannot run a ‘really strong, vibrant inter-county season’ in that window ‘then it’s a marketing issue’.
Parsons was speaking at the launch of The Playbook 2026-2028, a strategic plan which focuses on five key pillars, or areas of focus. Among the key objectives in the second area of focus, regarding the elite player experience, is that ‘By 2028, inter-county players experience…a more balanced season’.
“If you don’t get that window right, it’s just not acceptable,” said Parsons. “From the GAA’s perspective, if there is an extension of the season into December or into August, or whenever, it needs to come off the other end. We just feel that 30 weekends is so generous.
“If we can’t have a really strong, vibrant inter-county season that gives 30 weekends of action between hurling and football and camogie, which really elevates the games, then it’s a marketing issue.
“I think that’s the general premise of where we’re coming from. The worst of all worlds would be to extend the season and not trim it at the other end. Next thing you’re going into a 10-month or 40-week, or 35-week inter-county season.
“Then the club season is hardly viable and an off-season just totally isn’t viable. It’s a principle that I think actually on reflection should have been set maybe 20 or 30 years ago. The GAA should have been locking in that window for the last 20 or 30 years, and tweaking within that window.”
Cork clubs voted against extending the inter-county season into August earlier this week. Galway are against it too while Kerry have expressed reservations.
“I’m not sure where the politics of that motion will be,” said Parsons. “For us, why it was a tenable motion was because it trimmed the season in January. The challenge that we do have with the competition structure at the minute is that during the League, like, Niall (Morgan) would be playing three League games in a row. Two games is fine but three games is a lot of pressure on. It releases that pressure valve.
“And then you have two teams that their season has elongated. So 2,500 players are benefiting from reduced competition in January. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out at Congress.”
Another stated aim under the elite player experience heading is insisting ‘on high quality coaching and management standards’ for county players.
“It’s amazing,” said Parsons, who was sitting next to Tyrone goalkeeper and GPA co-chair Morgan. “You need all your coaching badges to coach at underage but anybody can just…Niall can just retire tomorrow, and I don’t know what coaching qualifications he has, but all of a sudden he can be parachuted into a management role.”
Under the players growing the games focus area, one specified target is to ‘increase player visibility to reconnect with Gaelic games supporters’.
“We need to debunk this thing of, stay silent, keep your head down, don’t say anything because you’ll perform better,” said Parsons. “I just think that culture isn’t going to serve us in the long run. We need players to be allowed to bring their personalities.”
Integration and the ongoing process of uniting the GAA, LGFA and Camogie association is another of the five focus pillars.
GAA President Jarlath Burns has stated that integration could cost more than €500million.
“That hasn’t come from a formal report, as far as I’m aware, I haven’t seen the legitimacy behind that,” commented Parsons. “To do everything perfect could cost double that, if you want perfect facilities for men and women that every player and young person has access to, and no limitations on access, to quality pitches.”
Parsons argued that there’s ‘no future in the GAA’ without integration.
“It just doesn’t work, it won’t get the support commercially,” he said. “It won’t get the support from the government. It won’t get the support from the members. I’m not going to dispute anything (in terms of Burns’ estimate). It’s going to need investment for sure but I don’t think the investment is the blocker that should stop it.”
On the controversy around Allianz and its sponsorship of the National Leagues, Parsons said the GPA’s priority is to protect players.
“Consent is really important. We communicated that to the GAA before the first round and they just removed any backdrop with Allianz (for interviews). As recently as this week I was again talking with the GAA to reinforce that message on consent.”
