The Gaelic Players' Association are staging a lucrative fundraising dinner in Boston in April, charging $500 for an individual ticket and offering various 'packages' costing as much as $50,000.
Held in co-operation with the Irish-American Partnership and advertised on the Partnership's website as the 'Boston Friends of the GPA dinner in support of the GPA and the Fenway Hurling Classic', the event is set to take place in the State Room in Boston on April 7th. Aspiring guests have several 'package' options to choose from, with the more expensive the package, the greater the privileges afforded.
For just $500/$5000 for a table of ten, you can get your lucky hands on a ticket for the event, which includes a cocktail reception and a dinner. Then we move onto the different packages on offer. The 'Bronze Package' is a snip at $10,000 and will get you, among other things, "two invitations to (a) VIP reception with the legends of Gaelic games" (whoever they may be) as well as two coveted VIP tickets to the world-famous "Super 11s Hurling Final" and an "autographed All Stars jersey from the All-Ireland football and hurling champions". Then, for only $15,000 (an absolute steal), not only do you get a table of ten but you get a choice of one out of three VIP packages for the Leinster football final, All-Ireland football semi-final or All-Ireland hurling final. As well as other prizes, you will also be lucky enough to have a "legend of game seated at table" (whoever that may be)! Is your wallet still in your pocket??
But it gets better. $25,000 will get you recognition on the GPA website (imagine!), a choice of VIP package and - again, among other treats like a "legend" at your table (for that price I'm expecting at least Mick O'Connell) - you will get four VIP invites to a reception with GAA "legends", even including a photo opp. Finally, for just $50,000 you can earn yourself an invitation to play in the "exclusive Legends golf tournament" (who knew such an amazing event existed?) the day before the hurling final and another invitation to the 'GPA Legends Lunch' on the eve of the football final - not to mention more recognition on the GPA website and even on "Boston Friends of GPA Social Media" (in other words, you might be given your very own tweet for your investment).
So, before you question the sanity of paying several grand to meet a "GAA legend" when you could meet one at your club's next senior game (maybe even a current star), before you conclude that a "GAA legend" is in fact the person who never played at inter-county level but has coached underage sides for the past thirty years, before you start asking yourself how such "packages" fit with any sort of "ethos" the GAA likes to peddle, dip your hands in your pockets and get supporting the next generation of "legends".
