Former Kerry footballer Pat Spillane has slammed the GAA for not marketing the sport properly on St. Patrick's weekend.
The Gaelic football legend, who isn't afraid to voice his opinion on all things regarding his beloved sport, believes that the GAA missed a trick when it came to promoting the Allianz League this month and added that the GAA’s marketing strategy around the sport wasn't up to scratch.
"Everything wrong with the GAA’s marketing strategy (or lack thereof) was exposed on St. Patrick’s weekend," he said in his Sunday World Column.
"Granted, the hurling league was a bit of a damp squib, as the seven teams that will form the new Division 1A knew their fate prior to last weekend’s final round of games.
"On the other hand, there was a storyline in virtually every fixture in the penultimate round of the football league.
"There ought to have been lots of razzmatazz and hype. Instead, it was a case of "nothing to see here."
Former RTE GAA pundit Pat Spillane (Photo By Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile via Getty Images)The former pundit then went on to further emphasise his point about the GAA not promoting games on a weekend where being Irish is celebrated.
"What annoys the hell out of me is that there was virtually no effort made by either the GAA or the league sponsor, Allianz, to market the games.
"After all, it was St. Patrick’s weekend, which is a celebration of all things Irish. Surely there is nothing more Irish than our traditional games of Gaelic football and hurling?
"Better still, St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Sunday, giving the GAA the perfect platform to launch a promotion campaign surrounding their games.
"An estimated two million people enjoyed 500 festivals and parades in Ireland last weekend. Surely the GAA should have played a more central role in those celebrations.
"Instead, they sat on their hands and failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity."
Spillane, who loves his sport, now wants the GAA to emulate the marketers of rugby and the Six Nations, where everything is hyped up by a closed circle. This is important for the promotion of the sport, according to the Kerry native.
"My message to Croke Park and to all the big companies that sponsor the GAA is to follow the example of our rugby brethren and hype up our competitions and our stars.
"Gaelic football and hurling are the sports of the Irish people, and we should celebrate that fact."
