Priest criticises GAA's Guinness sponsorship

Guinness sponsorship of the GAA's All-Ireland Hurling Championship has been described as "a scandal" by a leading Catholic commentator.

Father Gerard Moloney, editor of Reality magazine, has said that "given the level of alcohol consumption in our society, and the growing problem of under-age drinking, it is a scandal that any sporting organisation would accept sponsorship from an alcohol company."

Alcohol companies "and organisations like the GAA" would argue that sponsorship and advertising did not get people to drink more alcohol, he said. "Why then do hard-nosed marketing executives from alcohol companies spend such huge sums on sports sponsorship?" he asked. "It is simply and solely because it sells more alcohol."

The strong philosophy and idealism which had guided the GAA for so long was seriously compromised in 1995 when its Central Council reversed a decision never to accept advertising or sponsorship from alcohol firms, he said.

He hoped the GAA would look again at a sponsorship arrangement that was both unwise and irresponsible.