There are calls for smaller counties in Ireland to merge

A Professor of Politics claims it makes sense for representation in sport

Image via standun.com

There are calls to redraw county boundaries in Ireland.

DCU Professor Eoin O'Malley wants smaller counties to merge so residents can get better services.

Eoin O'Malley says there would be benefits if the likes of Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim were grouped together.

He also thinks it makes sense, politically, historically and for representation in sport.

Imagine a football team with Conor McManus, Emlyn Mulligan and Raymond Galligan all on the one squad!

Prof. O'Malley claims, "The GAA knows that there is a problem, that a small number of counties are dominating. That leaves a lot of people in the country without a chance, a realistic chance of winning things. They might want to reconfigure how their competitions are organised."

He adds a change would make councils more efficient.

"You can certainly see in some places like Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim , it might be easier for them to administer and deliver services with the removal of those county boundaries."