Measuring the social impact of Gaelic Games

The impact of Gaelic Games on the health and wellbeing of participants and wider society will be examined in the first project of its kind covering the island of Ireland.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport will analyse the Social Return on Investment of Gaelic Games, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Ulster, as part of a larger study on the economic and social value of the sports.

Funded by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association, the research aims to measure the impact of engagement in Gaelic Games on the health and wellbeing of participants, volunteers and wider society.

There are six different games in the family of Gaelic Games. These are Hurling, Gaelic football, Handball, Rounders, Camogie and Ladies Football.

Researchers are looking to measure a wide range of social outcomes including how engagement in these sports reduces the number of cases of illness in the population, such as type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various cancers.  It is also looking at negative impacts such as sports injuries.

Larissa Davies, Professor of Applied Sports Economics at Manchester Met Institute of Sport, and lead researcher says:

“Gaelic Games are deeply ingrained in the culture and identity of communities in the Island of Ireland. Clubs often serve as focal points for local communities, bringing people together, as was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. They represent much more than somewhere for people to participate in sport.  Our study aims to capture this wider societal value.

“This study is not just about players but also the volunteer workforce, as they are one of the significant elements of Gaelic games. Volunteers not only benefit the organisations to which they give their time, but individually, volunteers gain wellbeing benefits such as enhanced life satisfaction”

The study involves consultation with key stakeholders such as community groups and will examine the difference that involvement in sport makes to their lives, along with a review of existing literature and previous evidence.

It will measure change in monetary terms and represent this relative to the investment required for Gaelic Games to take place.  So, for every euro spent the research will determine how many euros are returned to society in terms of health and wellbeing.

Ultimately, the study aims to assist organisations providing opportunities to engage in Gaelic Games in informing decision-making, attracting funding, and maximizing the impact of sports interventions on communities and society.

The study will be published in the Autumn of 2024.