GAA defends use of AI applications to create artwork for match programmes following criticism

The use of the AI generated art was highlighted by artist Barry Masterson who said there was “a ton of Irish artists who specialise in GAA illustration you could commission and support”.

On a post on X, Masterson said: “things are tough at the best of times but I might have to pack it in at this rate honestly if this is what we have to look forward to”.

The programme cover on the Clare vs Tipperary Munster Hurling Minor Final shows two players tussling but the metal bars in their faceguards appear to disappear into their mouths and heads.

“I especially love the hurl that disappears into someone’s flesh ball, and the masks tearing through their faces, looks painful,” Masterson posted. “I know hurlers are tough but this might be pushing the narrative.”

The programme for the Under-20 All-Ireland Football Final between Kerry and Tyrone shows the Kerry player with an unusually gnarled thumb. AI generated images are notorious for how their programmes struggle to generate authentic looking hands.

The programme for the Leinster Senior Hurling Round Four matches between Dublin and Kilkenny, Antrim and Galway and Carlow versus Wexford contain an AI generated hurler in a green “Leinster” top. The stands in the stadium go out of line in background in what seems to be an architectural impossibility.

After Masterson’s X post went viral with over 225,000 views, he asked that people to share posts of their favourite GAA artists in their replies as it would a “a great opportunity for others to find them and support them”.

Masterson has previously drawn illustrations for match programmes for the FAI for its senior women’s team and underage teams. He has also illustrated for League of Ireland teams and done work with the GAA.

Copies of the programmes with the AI generated images are for sale on the website of DBA Publications, whose clients include the GAA and Bank of Ireland.

A spokesman for the GAA said the use of the AI “art” was part of an experiment by one of its partners.

“We are constantly trialling new ideas for our match programme covers and this was a case of experimentation from our publishing partners’ graphic designers,” it said.

Masterson told the Irish Independent that he understood that the decision to use AI image generations tools was probably taken by the publishers to save time and meet deadlines at a time when there are a lot of GAA matches at various levels.

However, he said the outcry that the images had generated online should show the GAA that there is an opportunity for it to engage with artists and illustrators who are struggling to earn a living to work on match programmes.

“This is not a good step,” said Masterson. “I think the GAA could approach it differently. They could get artists from individual counties involved. The GAA is all about individual communities and counties. I feel really feel they are missing opportunity by not getting more people from the artistic world involved in illustrating match programmes. This will really alienate people if they continue to use AI like this.”

Masterson said he immediately spotted the AI generated images as they had a “tell-tale” consistent look and the “weird mistakes” in the rendered hands and face masks that AI generated images are known to have.