€5.6m went through accounts but Offaly GAA will 'cut cloth to measure' if income plummets

THE Offaly GAA handled a whopping €5.6 million this year but will “cut their cloth to measure” to ensure that expenditure does not outstrip income in the coming years.

The accounts were presented to Convention this week by treasurer Dervill Dolan and show a profit of €16,908 for the year when their three accounts are combined: Their own day to day running, O'Connor Park and Faithful Fields. Those three accounts show a combined income of €2,809421 with expenditure of €2,792,513. Income is up almost €300,000 from last year but with expenditure jumping from €2,426,288 to €2,792,513, the total surplus is down from €88,963.

The accounts show the dramatically increasing volume of money now going through the Offaly GAA County Board's hands and St Rynagh's delegate Paddy Scales sounded a note of warning after complimenting the outgoing officers for the way they have managed the finances.

Chairman Michael Duignan, secretary Colm Cummins and treasurer Dervill Dolan all stepped down at Convention and Mr Scales noted the way income and expenditure has spiralled during their five years in charge.

The cost of preparing county teams has jumped through the roof compared to a few years ago. In 2024, it went up to €1,373,730 from €1,160,854 and Mr Scales described these costs as a “run away train” that will be very hard to stop.

“I would ask the question, will income continue to grow to match this. I can't see team expenses reducing,” he remarked, adding: “We need to be mindful of that. We could be back here in a couple of years and not in as good a spot.”

Offaly GAA has been a fundraising force of nature in the past few years, drawing in unprecedented money from sponsors and fundraising ventures. Mr Dervill Dolan noted the increases that have taken place in income and expenditure but stressed that they can't and won't spend money they don't have on preparing teams.

“We will cut out cloth to measure and that is the reality,” he promised, adding: “If we don't bring in money, we won't spend it.”

Michael Duignan pointed out that €2.5 million will be coming in over the next five years from agreements they have made with several sponsors. He noted that some counties are spending €1 million more than Offaly on county teams. “I don't know how they do it. We are not fancy when it comes to county teams but we do spend money as needed to drive it on. We are prudent.”

He also revealed that the debt on O'Connor Park has reduced by €609,000 in the past five years and it will be repaid in eleven years time.

Cappincur's Rory Goggins asked about recent reports of Revenue investigations into GAA finances. County Board officers were informed of the situation in an online meeting before Convention and Mr Dolan revealed that only three counties are being investigated at the moment. “It is nothing to do with Offaly or anyone else but Croke Park are concerned it might spread and we all have to take this on board.”

Faithful Fields in Kilcormac was responsible for the board being so close to being in the red. Its accounts shows a loss of €91,121: income was €76,321 and expenses were €167,442. With announcement of a deal to lease an additional 15 acres at the county's training ground imminent, considerable further money will be spent on developing and enhancing the facilities here in the coming years but Mr Dolan acknowledged that the cost of the county training grounds will have to be examined.

He went through the accounts in detail and highlighted some figures to show the way the reasons why their expenses have jumped:

County teams catering: €233,527 from €194,235 – Mr Dolan explained that this was because the quantity and nutritional benefits of meals has increased.

Medical expenses including physiotherapy: €143,546 fom €97,436.

Complimentary/sponsors tickets - €47,563 from €21,559 – Mr Dolan stated that they looked after sponsors well by providing tickets for them for the All-Ireland U20 HC and Joe McDonagh Cup finals and this was the reason for this increase.

Coaching wages and PRSI costs - €421,805 from €328,686.