LAST UPDATE | 15 Sep 2022
THE LIMERICK HURLERS have launched a special training jersey in a bid to raise funds for this year’s team holiday.
The O’Neills top, to be worn by the players during their warm-ups in next year’s league matches, was originally priced at an eye-watering €150.
All the names of the subscribers will feature on the shirt, and you’ll also receive a Limerick GAA beanie hat and a personal letter from Kiely and captain Declan Hannon.
After coming under fire, Limerick GAA this afternoon released a statement revealing a cost reduction to €100.
“Limerick GAA wish to acknowledge the concerns raised by supporters over the cost of the recently launched Limerick GAA training jersey in a fundraising campaign for the Holiday fund for the Limerick Senior Hurling Team,” the statement reads.
Statement from Limerick County Board re Cost of Training Jersey https://t.co/fi0YzYQNOt
— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) September 15, 2022
“Since winning the All-Ireland hurling final and completing the three in-a-row of victories planning has been ongoing to arrange a team holiday for the victorious team, management, backroom team and their partners. This is done as a reward for the hard work and dedication that is involved in winning an All-Ireland title.
“Players, Management and Backroom teams sacrifice hours of their lives each week in the effort to secure the most coveted medal in the GAA. To this end the team holiday is a reward to the team and their partners for the sacrifices made.
“With the cost of international travel increasing the cost of the team holiday to include players, management backroom team and their partners is substantial. Limerick County Board will solely be responsible for paying this cost. To that end the unique opportunity to purchase this special jersey was launched as a fundraiser to offset some of that cost. The team have not traveled on a team holiday so far this year.
“This one-off jersey will see each subscriber have their name on the jersey which will be worn by the players next season. each subscriber will receive the specially commissioned jersey with their name on the fabric , a beanie hat and a personalized letter from team manager John Kiely and Captain Declan Hannon.
“When launching the initiative Limerick GAA were cognizant of the current economic situation and have tried to keep the cost at as reasonable base as is possible. However based on the response from our loyal supporters we have listened to the feedback and to this end we are now confirm that the cost will be reduced to €100.
“Those who have already purchased at the original price will be refunded the difference and we will be in touch with them in the coming days.
“Limerick GAA appreciate the huge loyal fanbase that we have and look forward to a successful campaign in 2023.”
Limerick Senior Hurlers release new training Jersey fundraiser https://t.co/QvrT11XoUM
— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) September 14, 2022
“We know Limerick supporters are the best in the country and we have never been found wanting in terms of fundraising events,” said Diarmaid Byrnes, at yesterday’s launch. “We hope you can support us and become part of our team.”
Limerick County Board Chairman John Cregan added: “This is a great opportunity for Limerick GAA supporters to get something back, as each jersey will have the names of all subscribers in the fabric.
“All funds raised will go directly to contributing to the senior hurlers holiday fund. Everyone is getting the very unique opportunity to have their names on this new Limerick training jersey.”
The customary GAA practice is to give grants from a national level towards the trips taken by the All-Ireland finalists in football and hurling, but fundraising events to supplement that have been regularly undertaken by competing counties.
The funding does not extend to the All-Ireland winners in camogie and ladies football, with Kilkenny boss Brian Dowling recently speaking to The42 about their efforts to raise funds for a team holiday after winning the O’Duffy Cup for the second time in three years.
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Extremely tone deaf in the current climate
@Ronan Mullally: not at all. Launch day is April 1….
Just get JP to pay like he does for everything else
@John Tanner: Exactly my thoughts. What’s the point in this when you already have a multi-millionaire backing you already.
@Ultan Corcoran : Even JP would baulk at that price
@John Tanner: Ah lads, come on. Ye should know JP wouldn’t be caught dead paying things like VAT etc on that jersey. If you can get him the tax free version he’d be interested.
@John Tanner: tbf not a Limerick person but from what I gather JP matches whatever Limerick GAA raises for funding, but at the same time 150 for a trading top is a bit Irish no matter who’s signing it or what
@Himalaya Joe: JP makes up for his low taxes through his contribution to the Limerick economy and his charitable work. It’s an open secret when someone has their medical fees paid by a mystery donor that it’s one of the McManus family. I love how they have Limerick plates on their cars too, despite dealerships telling them it affects the second hand value (he used to drive a Bentley with an LK plate which won’t sell on Dublin)
Ah here, read the room now lads…150 quid!
@Dave Ryan: but you get your name on a training top….you might be the only name on it.
Not that I don’t enjoy a wee dig at Limerick GAA and their wealthy benefactor, but can people ease up on the outrage.
Its a training top, no one is under any obligation to buy it, if they can’t afford it.
It’s an overpriced piece of memorabilia with a couple of extras like letters from Kiely and Hannon.
If they were bending people of a barrel for match tickets or maybe even the match jerseys then fair enough, but this is an absolutely discretionary purchase if you can’t afford it
@Johnny 5: well said Johnny. They don’t have to buy it if they don’t want to.
@Johnny 5: I’ll second your sensible comment also Johnny, great to see it gave the permanently outraged something to get outraged about though. And as for Joe Vlogs snide anti Limerick jibe… sadster.
@Johnny 5: I’d imagine the outrage may have come from people who wanted to buy it and wanted to contribute towards the team but couldn’t afford €150. Hence why it is reduced
@Mike Kennedy: he’s right though isn’t he. 100% factually correct.
@Mike Kennedy: he’s right Mike. It’s anti tax avoidance not anti Limerick
I really wonder who actually signed off on this and thought it was a good idea. Very embarrassing for all concerned.
@RJ: At which price? €100 or €150?
Wow I know the players and staff work their socks off and make sacrifices but they also *choose* to do that and rewarded in many other ways. Was not aware that the GAA or anyone else would pay for select athletes to go on a holiday abroad. Are communities solicited by other associations to provide this kind of treat for any of our other amateur athletes?
I love our games but I think enough money, time, and donations from viewers and communities are poured into the GAA as it is. Inflation and rising energy costs are forcing a lot of people across the country to make tough financial decisions every day and they’ve got the cap out looking for money to send a bunch of adults on a plane for a piss-up?Tone deaf doesn’t even cover it.
@B Collins: you clearly don’t love our games that much if the holiday thing is new to you.
@Joe Vlogs: 250k turnover? Give over. They had 260k profit alone last year. Turnover is multiples of that.
@B Collins: I totally agree with you Dublin won 5 in a row the girls won 3 in a row and they didn’t bring out jerseys to get their fans to pay for their holiday so what makes Limerick so special, I wouldn’t pay a €150 for a proper Dublin jerseys don’t mind a training one why can’t Limerick players pay for the holidays themselves I assume their working,expecting fans to pay pay for the player’s wives and partners is ridiculous don’t fans already support they by travelling to matches buy tickets it’s the player’s and Limerick GAA given something back to the fans and not expect fans to pay for their holiday when most of their fan’s haven’t had a holiday themselves
@B Collins: usually whoever wins all irelands gets a holiday.
@Ciaran Kennedy: you can absolutely love the games and not know that.
Ah the bitterness, love it! Hadnt any notion of buying this but the fact it is annoying so many people i think i might treat myself!
@Tadhg Keating: im waiting for the next reduction..the more people outraged the more the price will come down so shhhhhhhhh
@Tadhg Keating: Sure, it’s up to you to do what you want with your own money. As the saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted.
@Joe Vlogs: sure ill have to do my bit to help the lads have their well earned holiday! Its pretty expensive following Limerick these days but its all worth it!
Can they not do a few nights in Milltown Malbay?
A joke should be ashamed of themselves in the current financial climate
Wow, tone deaf is an understatement here. That is sickening.
Coming from the richest amateur sport in the world…
Average new County training top in around €65 max
Still beyond tone deaf in the current climate, fans already buy jerseys, tickets, merch and the cost of travelling to games. Cop on to yourselves, GAA has plenty of money, use that if you want to reward the players, coaches, management, backroom staff “and their partners”. Sure why not bring the kids and mammys and daddys aswell and sure while your at it grab the grandparents and bring them too.
Relax. It’ll be in DHgate in a few weeks. The world has changed
Has JP had enough of giving them money ?
A holiday for their “partners”…?? I remember the pre woke scourge when the only person you would hear using partner were John Wayne and Frank Puncharello.
Can the GAA not pay for it after filling Croke Park for games and also numerous Concerts jaysis they’re hungry fooks
So greedy