Former Dublin manager Pat Gilroy has walked away from his role as a director of Croke Park over a disagreement with the association’s financial focus.
Gilroy, who led the Dubs to All-Ireland football glory for the first time in 16 years in 2011 was part of a steering group behind the GAA’s last strategic plan, which was unveiled four years ago.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Gilroy insisted that the GAA has been “going down a path that I don’t think is compatible with what the organisation should be” with specific reference to his concern over potential payment to managers.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday Sport last month, GAA president Jarlath Burns suggested that putting managers on contracts could soon become a viable point of discussion such is the growing demands of the role.
“We haven’t looked at the amateur status since 1997, in that what does it mean to be a GAA inter-county player in 2024 and what does it mean to be a manager? I think there will be a debate on whether we should put managers on contract,” Burns said.
Gilroy, an All-Ireland winner as a player at both club and county level, and most recently managed his own St Vincent’s hurlers, also expressed his unease over the use of Croke Park for outside interests.
There were seven major events in Croke Park outside of GAA games in 2024, with five concerts and two Leinster rugby matches.
“I’m all for helping the likes of the rugby when they’re in trouble,” the 53-year-old said. “But, if we start to do stuff for money, that concerns me because what’s precious about the GAA is the amateur status.”
Gilroy said he has written to the association to explain the reasoning behind his decision, but didn’t get any response which he described as “disappointing”.
Gilroy resigned after one year in charge of the Dublin hurlers in 2018, citing work commitments and was most recently part of Dessie Farrell’s backroom team in 2023 when the Boys in Blue wrestled Sam Maguire back to the capital.
