Getting back on the field is the absolute priority for the GAA rather than improving the facilities which surround pitches, insists new President Larry McCarthy.
Amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the funding of major redevelopment projects, including Casement Park in Belfast, McCarthy insisted:
"Everything emanates from getting back on the field. You saw the accounts, the cupboard is bare as I said, and once we are back in we might have some funding to be distributed."
The Cork native re-iterated that the GAA would pay what it promised towards the new Ulster provincial stadium but did not set Casement above any other schemes:
"Our commitment was for '15 million to the project and we will stand by that and let's see where the costs are going and where the project is going.
"Where is it on the wish-list? Well, getting back on the field is top of my wish-list. There are other capital projects as well that we have committed to and we will fund those as well. I don't have any priority of one coming before the other, I can assure you."
He re-iterated that his main desire is to get children and young people playing Gaelic games again as soon as possible, pointing to what has happened in his long-time home in the USA:
"Having seen schools open in the US and school sports coming back, I would have to be optimistic. But I only landed in this country the last 48 hours. It would be wrong for me to suggest I would be optimistic, or not optimistic about it.
"But I am asking it, on the basis of our history and the basis that we did it last year. Acknowledging that circumstances are a bit different this year, the [Covid] variant is stronger, apparently."
McCarthy issued his call during his maiden speech as President, saying: "We are operating at the behest of the Government and the public health authorities, and we will continue to do so.
"I would respectfully ask the authorities that we be allowed to have activity for children in our clubs once schools have safely opened.
"We showed last year that we can do this very safely and very effectively. Acknowledging that the circumstances are more onerous now, there is no doubt in my mind that we can do so again.
"This will have a three-fold effect: it will get our children engaged in organised physical activity with their friends, it will allow the parents a slight relief from the stress of the pandemic, and it will bring fun back into many people's lives.
"To the public health authorities, please give consideration to this request. We did it last year, we can do it again."
McCarthy reinforced his plea in stark terms, saying: "We are in unprecedented circumstances at the moment. We are not in control of our own sporting destiny.
"We are a sport organisation without sport – except for our games going on in Australia. We are not deciding on matches and fixtures, nor coaching and games, nor tournaments."
