TD wants selling of overpriced match tickets to be an offence

TD and former Kerry footballer Mr Jimmy Deenihan has called for the implementation of a Private Member's Bill, introduced three…

TD and former Kerry footballer Mr Jimmy Deenihan has called for the implementation of a Private Member's Bill, introduced three years ago by Mr Denis Naughten, which would make it an offence to sell match tickets at more than face value.

Mr Deenihan's call follows reports of the sale of two match tickets for the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Armagh next weekend for €1,000 by a UK company.

Mr Deenihan said it was impossible to prevent tickets falling into the wrong hands, and it was difficult for the GAA to devise a system to prevent this happening. This week many genuine fans who had given their time voluntarily to the GAA and to supporting football were unable to get tickets.

He called for the introduction of a points system whereby people who attended matches throughout the season got first preference for tickets for the final.

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"People who trained those on the pitch next Sunday when they were starting out, and who are training the footballers of tomorrow and who are giving their time voluntarily cannot get tickets for the All-Ireland."

Meanwhile, demand for train tickets from Kerry and Cork to travel to the final is expected to exceed demand, Iarnród Éireann said yesterday. The sale of over 14,400 seats on 38 trains from lunchtime on Friday to Monday lunchtime began on Thursday.

The three match-day special trains from Kerry sold out quickly in Killarney, although there were some places left on the special trains from Tralee. Seats were also available on the regular service.

Control cards are needed in addition to rail tickets in order to travel on all trains over next weekend.

Kerry GAA fans are limited to a maximum of four tickets per person on the special trains on Sunday.

Demand for airline tickets from Farranfore to Dublin on All-Ireland day was also high. Holiday tour operators from Kerry put on a number of charter flights alongside the regular Aer Arann Express flights. Selling at €221, including tax per seat for the day return, there were only 15 seats left out of 260 on the Slattery's Travel charter flight yesterday evening.