Wexford GAA is delighted to announce that the end of year accounts to be presented to next Monday’s County Convention will show an operating surplus of €369,422. This is a doubling of the surplus reported for 2018 and reflects a hugely positive year both on and off the field for Wexford GAA.
A modest growth in overall income to a total of €3,065,576 has been underpinned by an increase in revenue from commercial income and fundraising of almost €200,000. Micheál Mahon (HWH Bunclody), the outgoing chairman of the Commercial Committee, will outline to Convention on Monday 9 December the major strides in commercial activities and returns over the past three years. Local gate receipts show a small decrease for 2019 while national league income is down by €84,000 compared to 2018 due to earlier elimination of the senior hurling team from the league competition this year. The spend on inter-county teams was €928,331, an increase on the 2018 spend of €850,144 due to the very welcome extended participation by both our minor and senior hurlers in this year’s championships.
The financial picture is especially positive given the increase in expenditure in a number of areas both on and off the field. We invested in several infrastructure projects in both Wexford Park and our Centre of Excellence in Ferns, including the completion of a state of the art gymnasium and catering facilities at the latter venue. A grant of €200,000 from Sports Capital Fund to assist with this infrastructure work will be drawn down in 2020 which further strengthens our financial position.
Wexford GAA continued its strong investment in Coaching and Games Development with an expenditure of over €400,000, including administration costs. The support of Wexford County Council, Leinster Council and Cairde Loch Garman has been crucial in supporting the roll out of new programmes such as Athletic Development and Well Being programmes for schools, a restructured Development Squads programme and an increase in Games Development Staff from four to fourteen in under three years. Over five and half thousand children attended summer camps in the county in 2019 highlighting the continuing growth of underage activity in the county. Income in this area increased modestly to €299,087 which supported an increase in the reach of these camps to include a specific autism-friendly camp which proved immensely popular.
The finances of Wexford GAA are now on a very stable footing after a targeted focus in the last three years on growing the income base and carefully managing costs. The recently-agreed main sponsorship agreement with Zurich Insurance will facilitate further investment in our games and infrastructure and points to a very positive year ahead.
