OPINION: Letting concerts, rugby, or American football, dictate the GAA calendar is a step too far

Here we are, heading into the last week of July, yes July, and the inter-county season is about to come to an end with Sunday's All-Ireland decider.

Bur first, more great news , from a Kildare point of view, and particularly for our own Brendan Cawley with the news last week that the Sarsfields man has been elevated up to All-Ireland referee as he takes charge of Kerry v Donegal.

It is richly deserved for a whistler who is a dedicated match official as you can get; a man who joined the senior inter-county ranks back in 2019 and has overseen games in all provinces, in both league and championship, not forgetting All-Ireland provincial and club level.

Brendan will now join other Kildare referees who have officiated at All-Ireland final level, Seamus Aldridge, Tommy Howard and Mick Monahan, the Raheens man being the most recent when he took charge of the 2005 decider between Kerry and Tyrone.
Cawley's appointment is a further boost to Kildare GAA season of 2025 with the footballers gaining promotion to Division 2, winning the Tailteann Cup, returning to compete in the Sam Maguire come 2026 while the Kildare Ladies, retained their Division 1 status, no mean achievement, while also competing in the senior championship.

All positive and in a year in which the redevelopment of Cedral St Conleth's Park is now up there with the best stadiums, a venue we can expect to see many high profile games in all codes over the coming years.

GAA calendar
But back to the end of the inter-county season come this weekend, barring a draw of course, and in fairness that cannot be ruled out either, surely the fixture calendar needs to be looked at and looked at very seriously.
There was a time, in Leinster anyway, if you were still playing football come the August Bank Holiday weekend, it was a sure guarantee the county team was going well with, at the very least, a Leinster Senior Football Championship final to look forward to.

Now it is all done and dusted by that same Bank Holiday weekend.
And why?
Money.
Finance.
Spondoolicks.
Dough.
Green Backs.

Call it what you like but it has nothing to do with player welfare, nothing to do with attendances, nothing to do with club action.
Just money.

Yes, of course, money is important, in fact vitally important.

Money has to be generated and remember there is no other sporting organisation in the country that spreads its income all the way down to both clubs and county.

Look at what Kildare GAA received for the redevelopment of Cedral St Conleth's Park, both from Leinster and Croke Park (not forgetting the government) — support that the project would never have been possible without those contributions.

But this is all about getting the balance right.
All about refusing to let the tail wag the dog if you get me drift.

Croke Park concerts create huge revenue for the GAA and I don't believe anyone wants to see them ended — not with the amount of finance they bring in.

But letting concerts, American football, boxing, rugby, whatever, dictate the GAA calendar like it has done in recent years is surely a step too far.

We hear those in authority are going to look at the entire GAA calendar, not though for 2026, but possibly for 2027.
An Uachtarán, Jarlath Burns, has given an undertaken that that will happen but “due to contractual matters” not next year.
In plain English that means that contracts have already been agreed and signed for high-profile 'gigs' for Croker in 2026.
And it matters little if that is for U2, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Katie Taylor, maybe Daniel O'Donnell, add in rugby and soccer, it means that the All-Ireland finals, both football and hurling, will again take place in July in 2026.
It has been and continues to be a step too far and needs to be looked at urgently.

Anyone who knows anything about the GAA Calendar would agree how difficult a job it is. but that does not mean it cannot be changed.

Hopefully Mr Burns lives up to his pronouncements regarding fixtures, will come to pass, but then again the Uachtaráin will have lost his car park spot at Headquarters by then, his three year term of office comes to and end in February 2027, having take up the position that month back in 2024.

So, lots to ponder.
Lots to look forward to.
2026 and beyond.
Next up, Kerry v Donegal.
And best of luck to Mr Cawley!

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