Central Council to decide on Croke Park usage

A motion proposing that Central Council would have the power to decide the use of Croke Park for other sports was carried at Congress on Saturday.

Séan Kelly, the former Uachtarán, spoke out in favour of the motion, while Cork delegate Bob Honohan was highly critical of the proposal.

A keen debate amongst delegates took place before the matter was put to a vote which resulted in the two-thirds majority required for the motion to be passed into rule.

The Association has rented Headquarters to the IRFU and the FAI over the last number of years since the historic decision to throw open the doors of Croke Park to other sports in 2005.

Following the closure of Lansdowne Road for redevelopment in 2006, soccer and rugby matches have become a feature at Jones’s Road for the last four years.

However, with Lansdowne Road due to re-open this month, Central Council will now have the power to decide if the stadium is to remain open to other sports in the future.

In his annual speech to Congress, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana stated that Central Council’s powers extend only to the use of Croke Park and not to other GAA properties, which he stressed are for Gaelic Games use only.

“The use of our Club properties is governed in rule and is unambiguous. Our facilities are for use by our teams for the promotion of our games only and this stipulation, which is clearly outlined in the Official Guide, must be adhered to by all of our units, regardless of what level they operate at,” the Uachtarán said.

“My views on the use of Croke Park were well known in the run up to the vote to temporarily amend Rule 42 in 2005 but I think anyone would find it hard to argue that opening up the stadium to other sporting codes has not had a positive effect on the Association for a variety of reasons.

“I am acutely aware of the presence of a number of motions on the Clár today in relation to the ongoing use of the Páirc An Chrócaigh. However, I must stress that these propose to oversee the management of Croke Park and Croke Park only. They concern no other GAA facility.”

Meanwhile, a motion proposed by Cill Dreasa, Tyrone, seeking publication of the salary and contributions paid to the Director General by the Association was resoundingly defeated.

The final motion of the day, proposed by Gael na Sionnain, Cavan, seeking a ban on the use of cups and trophies for commercial purposes and an end to the practise of filling cups with alcoholic beverages, was overwhelmingly backed.