Kilkenny GAA held their annual convention earlier this week, the notes of which always make for great reading and insight into the operation at county board level of one of the most successful counties at all levels of the GAA.
County secretary Conor Denieffe’s address on Monday night highlighted some of the financial difficulties Kilkenny have faced this year due to Covid-19, namely a near flatlining of gate receipts in match-day income.
Commercially, things are sound with the county’s coffers bolstered by an ‘excess of income over expenditure’ to the tune of €60,000 while commercial income stands in the region of €400,000.
2020 marked the first full year of sponsor UPMC’s involvement in the setup for Kilkenny GAA having acquired the naming rights to Nowlan Park in 2019 as part of a ten year sponsorship deal.
As the minutes from the meeting show, financially, things are quite stable on the Hebron Road.
“The good news in Treasurer Barry Hickey’s Report to Convention is that despite a very difficult year financially, the County Board’s finances are stable and show an excess of income over expenditure in the region of €60,000. Our commercial income of €400,000 year on year is a very big earner for the Board and notwithstanding the problems posed by Covid-19 this figure has held up well.”
“This is thanks to the generosity of our sponsors/advertisers and direct grants from Croke Park. In particular, I thank our partners Glanbia for their ongoing support of Kilkenny GAA and I welcome our new sponsors UPMC. Without this financial support, Kilkenny GAA would struggle to survive.”
Gate receipts fall flat
“Our income from gates in a normal year would be in or around €180,000 but the figure for this year was just €1,127.”
“Were the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus to continue in 2021, without income from gates, the financial position overall would change dramatically. Our costs were down substantially due to the deferral of inter-county competitions and the fact Croke Park is funding a good portion of costs associated with the senior team’s participation in the championship.”
“One other point worth noting was the reduction in costs to clubs by the County Board. This included a 20% reduction in each club’s insurance invoice and a 50% discount of each club’s Coaching Levy and Club Levy for 2020. These provided some help for clubs at a time were everyone’s financial position was under pressure.”
Full details of the address by the chairperson and secretary can be found here.
