By John Harrington

After coming through the straitened times of the Covid-19 pandemic, the GAA enjoyed a much healthier financial year in 2022.

A combination of the full return of spectators to matches and a record number of seven concerts held in Croke Park played a big part in enabling the GAA’s Central Council to return a consolidated surplus of €6.7m, which was an increase of €4.8m on 2021.

GAA central council gate receipts for 2022 came to €33m, commercial income was €22m, and there was a record distribution from Croke Park Stadium of €17m.

Over €21m in state funding and supports were received during the year. €14.2m of this being direct pass-through income (€8.2m in Intercounty male and female player grants and €6m received for onward distribution to clubs under a 2022 Government Covid Club support resilience scheme).

The balance of state funding is made up of €3.5m in National Governing Body Covid rescue funding brought forward from last year, €2.5m in coaching and games grant funding along with Department of Foreign Affairs, community, and healthy club grants.

All of this enabled the return of the full restoration of coaching and games grants, the reintroduction of capital infrastructure grants at both club and county level, regular match day supports, and all operation grants.

The full breakdown of the distribution of funds was as follows: €24.1m went on Capital Grants, €16.4m on match, team and competition costs, €13.3m on player welfare, €11.3m on administration and organisational development, €10.2m on games development, €9.8m on operating grants and club supports, and €8.5m on county distributions. 

The provinces and counties also reported a healthy financial year. The collective counties recorded a surplus of €9m, while the 32 counties recorded a surplus of €9m which all adds up to a combined surplus at Central Council, Provincial Council, and County level of €18.2m.

The GAA’s Central Council Finances in full can be read and downloaded in the 2023 Annual Report below.