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Careful Now: Farrell's Twitter warning to inter-county players INPHO/Cathal Noonan
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Dessie Farrell: "We have encouraged players to be very careful of their attitude to Twitter."

The GPA chief speaks out on Twitter usage by inter-county stars and the Seanie Johnston affair.

GPA CHIEF EXECUTIVE Dessie Farrell admits that they may look at exploring the possibility of instructing inter-county players not to post comments on Twitter for a period before a game.

In response to a question concerning the prospects of the GAA following the IRFU’s policy on the matter, the head of the player’s body indicated it could be examined but also outlined that it could be difficult to enact given that footballers and hurlers are not contracted to their organisation.

“Perhaps that’s an angle to look at as well.  We have issued our guidelines and we’ve spoken to Croke Park about it.  Again, the IRFU players would be contracted, our players aren’t. Obviously, the whole advent of social media is a challenge for every organisation.  It can be very positive if harnessed in the right way.

“But it can also cause some issues if it’s not. And we have encouraged players to be very careful of their attitude to Twitter. And just to draw breath on occasion and reflect and maybe leave it to the following morning or 24 hours before they actually put pen to paper.”

Farrell also revealed that the GPA have consulted on an informal basis with the Kildare management and national GAA officials about the transfer of Seanie Johnston to the Lilywhites and also urged people to move on from the episode.

“We haven’t spoken to Seanie but we have spoken informally to the Kildare management and to Croke Park around the issues as well. I am not going to get into the rights and wrongs of it because everyone will have different views on that.

“What’s of interest to us is the human interest story behind it all. For the last number of months Seanie Johnston has been living his life in a goldfish bowl. That has been particularly unfortunate.  That can’t have been easy for him.

“I know people will forget the pressure that will be heaped on the individual and how he might react to that, and how that can effect him. So I think for everyone’s sake we’d like to see the story move on now and just concentrate on the football for the rest of the summer. Whatever people’s views on it may be, it’s done and dusted now and we’d encourage everyone to move on at this stage.”

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