As all sports organisations are treading unchartered waters, Galway GAA and local hurling clubs are facing unprecedented disruption, not just to a games' schedule, but to the rural and cultural life of their communities.
Galway Hurling Board chairman Paul Bellew says although the current ban on any hurling or training in groups is "insignificant in the general scheme of things", it is the lifeblood of many communities.
'It is only sport, but at times like these, we realise how much we miss it on a week-to-week basis," he says.
However, the board's responsibility is in line with the directive for a blanket ban on all sports until March 29 - a wise decision, he says, because it did not leave it open to individual boards.
"That has made it a lot easier and clear to implement. Our decision to postpone the club championships was made for safety reasons also, because it removes the incentives of players and managers to try to prepare behind the scenes and break into small groups. So that is why we took that decision - we took that power away from them right away and I think it was the right thing to do."
Galway was the first to announce a ban on all club activity, and it will now wait until March 29 when the Government reviews the current situation. However, Bellew expects the blanket ban will be extended - the result of which will necessitate a revamp of the current season which was due to begin the weekend of April 4/5.
"It will mean changes to our structures, what games we play, and that will lead to a lot of disruption to people, but it will also have large financial implications for Galway GAA and the GAA in general," he says.
Twenty-five per cent of Galway's income from 2019 came from a full programme of club games, hurling and football.
"Twenty-five per cent is a significant amount. More than most counties, we depend on the club game. We play a lot of games, we are very strong in hurling and football, and we have good quality in our championships, and that is what is needed to keep Galway GAA running.
"From preparing our county squads, minor, u20s, senior - so 25 per cent of our funding will have an impact. If we have to halve our games' programme, it is a million pounds a year.
"Other counties will also be impacted, but our percentage of club income is a lot higher than other counties. Sponsorship and fundraising capacity is reduced, and that is universal, and at a national level the GAA season for the inter-county game has to be condensed as well. That will have huge repercussions at that level too and possibly impact their ability to help out."
Bellew says the Galway Hurling Board is preparing for a delayed and shorter season.
"If we don't get any club games played before the inter-county season comes, we will be looking at restructuring the competition to fit it into a more condensed period.
"We will work with clubs on that, get their ideas how to fit a 10 week competition into a six-week competition, but that is something we will address in a fortnight's time when we know exactly where we will be.
"We won't be running up and until we get the all-clear to do so. At that point we won't fix any games for three week or four weeks, so teams can get back training, but in terms of when that will be, none of us are any the wiser."
Meantime, he urges clubs to 100 per cent comply with the ban, and also look out for others.
"Players can train individually, they can do their own bits and pieces in a controlled way, and we would urge them to do that.
"From a wider community perspective we have been urging clubs, members, and everyone associated to really comply with social distancing, personal responsibility, and act as if they are carriers, to acknowledge the elderly and vulnerable, and act responsibly.
"I dont think anything will drastically change for us until the March 29 deadline, and we fully expect that will be extended, but that is not our call."
