Mullingar Shamrocks

Founded 1953

Co. Westmeath

Social and Economic Value of Gaelic Games Identified

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 Now We Know: the social value of Gaelic games is estimated to be worth at least €2.87 billion to Irish society …

A comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of Gaelic games and a measurement of its Social Value and Social Return on Investment has produced a landmark report, the first of its kind in Irish sport.

 It is based, in part, on the analysis of national, provincial, county and more than 500 club accounts from across Gaelic games and establishes for the first time the economic impact of Gaelic games activity across the 32 counties, and the Social Value of the work of more than 1,600 clubs which are led by volunteers.

The independent analysis of Gaelic games activity by international experts (Sheffield Hallam University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Ulster University) has found that the Social Value of Gaelic games is estimated to be worth at least €2.87 billion to Irish society.

The Social Return on Investment study shows that for every one euro invested in Gaelic games, the benefit returned to society is at least €2.30 and could be as much as €3.96.

Analysis of the social value of Gaelic games activity estimates that an input or spend to produce Gaelic games of €1.244 billion, resulted in outcomes valued to Irish life worth €2.87 billion.
· €31.06 million for Health,
· €556.48 million for Subjective Wellbeing,
· €1.224 billion for Social Capital, and
· €1.056 billion for the replacement cost of volunteering.


Detailed event impact assessment of major provincial finals indicated that the
· 2024 Ulster SFC Final was worth €1.5 million to the town of Clones and in total €2.1 million to County Monaghan.
· 2024 Munster SHC Final was worth €3.2 million to the town of Thurles and €4.5 million to County Tipperary.

A Satellite Account for Sport extracts its values from the System of National Accounts. The Satellite Account for Gaelic games reveals that:
· Consumer spending on Gaelic games is €377m, which equates to 7.8% of the sport industry;
· Gross Value Added attributable to Gaelic games is €710 million (8.7% of the sport industry);
· Employment generated by Gaelic games is 10,600 FTE (9.8% of the sport industry);
· Total economic activity attributable to Gaelic games is €1,619 million (10.2% of the sport industry);
· Government receives €192.6 million in direct and indirect taxation from Gaelic games.


Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “For the first time the Association has been able to secure facts and figures that confirm what we have always known – that Gaelic games activity makes an enormously positive impact on society through our involvement in communities, and that this in turn, benefits the economy all across the island.

“In a broad sense, it shows that investment in sport matters and that it is something beneficial. For the last 140 years the GAA has been making this contribution to Irish life and to economic activity. This landmark report will enable our Association to position ourselves so that we continue to make this positive impact through our work with clubs and communities and I thank Professor Shibli and his team for their research.”

The full reports are available to download from
www.gaa.ie/downloads

 

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