When Clare won the All-Ireland hurling title in 2013, the county board showed that it cost almost €1 million to run GAA in the county, or €913,919 to be exact.
A breakdown for football and hurling was not given at the time by treasurer Bernard Keane, but it was estimated that the increase of over €250k from the 2012 accounts would be mainly down to Clare’s September triumph.
The title was Clare’s third of the modern era, started in 1995 when Anthony Daly accepted Liam McCarthy after a triumph over Offaly, the Bannermen were bridging an 81-year gap back to their last success in 1914.
Hurling then we imagine was a much different sport to what we experience now, but it seems that at least for All-Ireland finals, there was still a sense that players had to be treated right.
A wonderful historical artefact from Clare has shed light on what life was like for the Clare team getting ready for that final over 100 years ago.
The players stayed over in Dublin the night before and were helped around the city thanks to chauffeurs, while there were also several hotel beds booked for the men for the night before and day of the game.
This comes via the Old Photos East Clare Facebook page @ClareHurlingsc @UuuUtd @townhurler @officialgaa #hurling pic.twitter.com/ug1RKBnwVe
— Dr Paul O'Brien (@FearStairLmk) February 16, 2016
Waiters at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis were well paid for looking after the Clare hurlers of the time, while beds for twenty cost an entire £2.
Char-a-bancs seemed to be the most popular mode of transport at the time too, while the entire cost of the build up for the match, which Clare won, was a staggering £36 pounds.
No physiotherapists fees, no mileage expenses to worry about and not a sign of a gearbag between the lot of them.
Different times to the personalised towels the Clare hurlers currently enjoy.
