The advent of debit card machines at GAA venues in Westmeath, not limited to TEG Cusack Park, was hailed as a huge step forward at last Thursday night’s Westmeath GAA county board meeting.
Des Maguire, Westmeath football committee chairman, said that the move was a win for convenience and was “handy for people doing the gate”.
County chairman Frank Mescall said that the initiative was proving very successful and signalled a move away from cash.
“The machines have more than paid for themselves,” the Ballynacargy clubman said, explaining that €700 was taken in on them the previous weekend.
“We’re trying to avoid cash at all costs. If we do, it [the use of cash] will increase again incrementally.
“It’s huge extra work, from a management point of view, to go cashless. To make sure it works, for now, we have to do it ourselves. But we will be training people up in the future to operate the machines.”
The machines are expecting to become the norm at all GAA venues in the near future, where patrons can simply tap their bank card for admission.
Concern was expressed at what the move meant for the elderly or for people not up to speed with such high-tech modes of commerce.
“We’re aware that there are elderly people in our communities coming to games, and we won’t leave any of them outside the gate,” said Mr Mescall, urging clubs to help out where necessary. Pat Reilly, county secretary, added that the Clonkill club had set up a survey to ensure members encountering issues with booking tickets online were sorted out with admission to games.
Patrick Doherty, Westmeath GAA operations manager, said that debit cards had been rolled out in Westmeath “late in the year” but were starting to become bedded in. He said that he believe many among the “older generations” had their own debit cards.
Mr Doherty explained that the roll-out of new channels of revenue underlined the need for clubs to be aware of impending money laundering legislation.
Dr Tom Hunt, Westmeath GAA’s Central Council representative, said that by 2024, all levels of the GAA – from Croke Park down to local clubs – would have to come in line with the legislation.
As clubs are trusts of which the members are beneficial owners, clubs will have to register with the Revenue Commissioners’ Central Registry of Beneficial Owners to secure a sporting exemption. The process will be straightforward and will “save a lot of hassle” down the road, Dr Hunt added.