Jarlath Burns Suggests Change To Dublin GAA Transfer System For Division One Clubs

Jarlath Burns says the biggest challenge facing the GAA is the demographics issue in Ireland where much of the population is moving east.

The end result sees some clubs struggling to cater for their vast amount of members while on the flip side, others don't have enough members, leading to amalgamations down the line.

Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Burns suggested bringing in a rule to stop players from transferring into Division One clubs in Dublin as a result of this challenge, as he feels the majority of them have 'enough players in their own area.'

"The single biggest challenge the GAA has at the moment is the demographics issue in Ireland and the movement east of a large section of the population," Burns said on Ratified, a show made by GAA+.

"That is a serious worry for us and it has major implications because I think one third of the people of Ireland are living within fifty miles of the east coast.

"We're not properly catering for those because of the price of land. We have super clubs, which are a great thing but that's causing its own issues as well."

High numbers of players transfer into Dublin clubs every year having moved to the Capital City for work, from clubs all over the country, but Burns feels Division One clubs shouldn't be allowed to take in players.

"Second thing is this phenomenon that it just so happens that the top players who transfer into Dublin seem to go into an area where there's one of the big clubs," he said.

"I think we should be introducing rules to prevent players who transfer to Dublin from going to a Division One club.

"Division One clubs have enough players in their own area that they should be able to create their own, they have thousands and thousands of members, they shouldn't have to take players in from other counties."

Burns feels that amalgamations will be required for certain rural clubs who don't have the numbers anymore, though he's aware this may be a difficult transition.

"What can we do? We can start producing what we would call integration independet tool-kits for teams that feel like they have to amalgamate because having to amalgamate with your biggest enemy is in the other parish is a big thing.

"The growth of hurling in Dublin in particular has been a huge achievement by the GAA, but then, looking at the other side of it, North Mayo, Leitrim, Longford, the GAA in towns, how we're finding it difficult to keep clubs alive and yet at the edge of those town centres, GAA clubs are growing and thriving," he added.