'We haven’t gone to any game since this was brought in': Claims GAA’s cashless policy a hindrance to the elderly

A number of elderly people whose grandchildren are playing GAA have spoken to The Echo about the impact they have felt following the introduction of online ticket booking for local football and hurling matches.

The measure has caused considerable controversy since its introduction during the covid era, but which has been retained by the organisation since then.

The issue has been raised on numerous occasions in Cork County Council and sparked a debate at the most recent meeting of the local authority, during which Independent councillor Peter O’Donoghue was challenged by Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn to come up with names of people impacted by the cashless gates at GAA matches.

“There’s no one turned away,” he said.

“Give me the names of the people who are actually refused entry, and I will make sure they are looked after.”

A number of people from the North Cork area have been put in contact with The Echo by the Independent councillor, and they have spoken with this newspaper on the basis of anonymity.

“My husband and I have four children, and we went to more matches than anyone before this came in,” said one woman.

“We haven’t gone to any game since this was brought in, it’s an awful lot of trouble to get children or grandchildren to book tickets. You should be able to go along to a match, pay your money at the gate, and get your change.”

A number of other people echoed these sentiments. Mr O’Donoghue said he had been approached by numerous people, many of them elderly, but others who had no bank accounts or who were homeless or who had intellectual disabilities about this issue. “They’re put out that the GAA has a policy in place that is an obstacle that gets them in the way of going to their beloved matches,” he said.

“They spent their lives building up the GAA, now they feel discarded.”