The Kildare club who pushed towards for GAA pay-for-play in 1971

It's that time of year with games at a minimum — something that will come to an abrupt end very shortly — when most of the 'action' reverts to talk, to chat, to looking back, looking forward, and even reminiscing.

Recently, over a pint of plain, a conversation unfolded where the game of football and hurling was heading, the amateur status, and more importantly, how far away, if ever, pay-for-play would seriously raise its head.

One of those holding court, well- know Moorefield mentor, benefactor and Newbridge publican Eric 'Halo' McDonnell insisting that as far as pay-for-play was concerned, Moorefield were way ahead of the possee.

It was a remark that raised a few eyebrows I can tell you and while it took 'Halo' sometime to relate what he was referring to, nothing unusual in that, he eventually, and miraculously, produced a copy of The Irish Press, dated back to the early '70s; no doubt he had the paper in readiness for some time, just a matter of producing it at the appropriate time and in the right company.

Now not everyone out there might remember The Irish Press; it was a paper founded by Éamon de Valera and first published on the eve of the 1931 All-Ireland hurling final, it was the only paper to cover Gaelic games in any depth at that particular time.

It was, of course, a paper that espoused, and supported, everything that was Fianna Fáil; the Irish Independent group was seen as supporting Cumann na nGaedheal/ Fine Gael, while The Irish Times was mainly looked upon as a read for the middle-classes with mainly a big Protestant readership.

The Irish Press was hugely successful and published until its final edition in 1995 going into liquidation, in somewhat controversial circumstances, that also saw the loss of some 600 jobs.

As a youngster, in short trousers, I can recall a job I had many a Saturday morning — buying the Irish Press for the granny — a big racing fan.

The Irish Press was looked upon as an excellent racing paper, unlike the others. However, one stipulation the granny insisted on was that I also bought the Irish Independent, and each week the purchase came along with a second caveat, to ensure that The Press was folded inside The Independent so no one could see that she (granny) was actually reading a Fianna Fáil supporting paper.

We'll leave that there for now!

Anyway, as a friend of mine often says, to make a long story longer, the bauld 'Halo' produced this particular edition of The Irish Press, dated Thursday February 11, 1971, he immediately went straight to the back (sports) page where the lead story blasted out a headline: Moorefield Rebels Play it by Ear over 'Pro' Gaelic Games.
I cod you not.
It was there in big bold capital letters.

The Irish Press had, in its day some brilliant sport journalists, none more so than the great Con Houlihan, however this particular story was written by Peadar O'Brien. Now Peader was no Con Houlihan but was, nevertheless, a highly respected scribbler when it came to Gaelic games.

Peader wrote in that lead back page article: “moves were afoot that could eventually mean the formation of a semi-professional body playing Gaelic football and hurling, but outside of the GAA.”

The article suggested that a company, with headquarters in Newbridge, would be formed for those interested in playing-for-pay.

Those behind the move according to O'Brien, were Billy Bell, John Joe Murray and Jim Dowling — officials of the Moorefield Club — whose difference of opinion with Kildare Co. Board caused the club to withdraw from the Association.
Moorefield alleged, said the article, “that matters, relation-wise are not at all well within the County Board” adding, that “while they wanted to play Gaelic games they saw this move towards professionalism as a means to an end.”

Billy Bell, the then Moorefield Treasure was quoted as saying “We withdrew from the Association in July last year. We could have formed a soccer or a rugby club, or any other club you can think of, but we want to play Gaelic games. We felt we were not getting a fair deal from the Co. Board and it was our opinion that matters were not being run properly at this level.”
Bell, a member of the club since 1937, revealed, “of course there are snags. There are snags to every-
thing at the beginning but we feel there are enough players in the county interested in joining us.”

If they get enough inquiries the Moorefield men planned “to start something this summer” continued the article, confirming “the games will be confined to 13-a-side, will not recognise the parish rule, something which has caused quite some friction in the county in the past, and the social side will be just as important as the playing end of it.”

Mr Bell said “we don't want to harm the Association, but we feel this could be a way in which people would become interested in the GAA again. Let us say we are merely testing the market.”

John Joe Murray, Club Secretary, added “at the moment, Moorefield, as a club are not involved; it is merely a group of individuals, but in the next few weeks we may become the first professional club playing Gaelic football and hurling.”
Interesting to say the least.

In order to keep the conversation ongoing 'Halo' got in another round as he warmed to the task and to the conversation, much to the delight of the rest of us in the company.

So how would all this work?
Where would the players and the teams come from?
And most importantly of all, where would the money come from to pay those so-called semi-
professional Gaelic footballers?

Would 'Halo' be the main sponsor I say to myself (although I didn't air that particular thought I have to say).
John Joe Murray, according to Peadar O'Brien's article, said he felt “ten teams would be enough to start the breakaway association and as such he invited individuals and clubs who might be interested to contact them.”

And where would the games be played?
The bauld John Joe did not envisage any problems in that regard.
“Grounds would cause little trouble” he insisted. “We would of course, apply for use of the (official) GAA grounds, but if that was refused, we have a first-class pitch of our own.”

How much players receive and what format games would take, according to the Hon Secretary would depend on “the reaction from the rest of the county but these are mattes for conjecture at this stage.”

Naas man, Ger Grehan, was Chairman of the Co. Board at that time, he was contacted for comment, but, according to the article, “was away on business.”

Croke Park was also contacted for a reaction for what was being proposed but, not for the first time the reply was “no comment.”

So were The Moores years ahead of their time with such a proposal?

The question, of course, also has to be asked, were they serious or were they, just like Eric Mac is renowned for, simply stirring the pot?

Anyway the entire project seemed to die a bit of a quick death.

Some months later (March 6 1976) the Leinster Leader ran a follow-up story stating:
“Moorefield are to rejoin the GAA. This decision was reached at a well-attended club meeting last week when a substantial majority were in favour of the move back to the parent body.”

The paper went on to say that Mr Billy Quinn was elected the new Chairman of the club and Mr Davy Dennis took up the role of Hon Secretary.

That article in the Leader added: “Because of the decision to rejoin the Association, at least two prominent members and former officials of the club, declined to seek election, but will still retain membership of the club.”
So there you have it.

Was it all a storm in a tea-cup?
Were those involved fully committed to the proposal?

Or was it a bit of stirrin' of the pot exercise to see the reaction of the hierarchy?
Then again maybe Moorefield were ahead of their time, looking for pay-for-pay more than a half a century ago.

Still it was a great yarn, shortened a cold miserable evening, little on the telly, racing abandoned, no Clubber, soccer boys taking a rest after a busy Christmas and 'Halo'
in the chair for the entire discussion.

Now, whose round is it?

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