Croke Park to host major Leinster rugby games
The GAA have agreed to make Croke Park available for a number of forthcoming Leinster rugby games as well as a pre-season soccer friendly.
Central Council were earlier today presented with details of a proposal to facilitate the province’s matches at GAA HQ and UPMC Nowlan Park due to the unavailability of the Aviva Stadium for necessary works both ahead of the Europa League final in May and later in 2024. SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is also set to host another rugby fixture later this year.
A robust debate on whether to bring the matter back to the delegates’ respective county boards concluded with exactly 50% of delegates supporting future discussions and the other half choosing to accept the policy change.
New GAA president Jarlath Burns had the casting vote and opted for the latter with the list of games then voted on individually.
Delegates had been informed the Lansdowne Road venue will be closed for a significant period of time with several games across both this and next club rugby season potentially switching to Croke Park.
Leinster play the Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Stadium in the last 16 of the European Champions Cup on April 6. It is understood should they have home advantage for a semi-final on the weekend of May 4, Croke Park will stage the game.
The matches also include the involvement in the knock-out stages of the URC, starting with a quarter-final on the weekend of June 8. It was explained that the game could only be facilitated in Croke Park on Friday, June 7 as the Leinster senior hurling final is fixed for the venue on June 8.
Croke Park will also be available to Leinster for the semi-finals and final on the next two weekends should Leo Cullen’s side reach those stages.
The reported fanzone for the Europa League final should Liverpool qualify for the May 22 decider was also rubberstamped. A request by Australian events promotion company TEG to stage a soccer friendly in late summer has also received the green light, while UPMC Nowlan Park has been earmarked for a Leinster URC game later this year.
A general view of Croke Park. Picture: Eóin Noonan/SportsfileIn his annual report earlier this year, GAA director general Tom Ryan spoke in favour of the organisation adopting a more liberal approach to hosting other sports at its grounds.
“I wonder if, in the spirit of the foregoing, it might be time to reconsider our current restrictions regarding the use of Association property. Treoir Oifigiúl (GAA Official Guide) and Central Council policy currently prescribe that GAA grounds may only be used by other sports in the case of ‘events of national significance’. Recent months have seen permission granted for a small number of games which possibly stretch that definition and have given me pause for thought.
“It’s not a question of finance, or at least not a short term income stream. We are in an era where the construction of new grounds, the refurbishment of existing ones, and even the running costs of either pose an even greater challenge. Our future lies with new models of ownership, municipal facilities and shared grounds. These could well present our best opportunities for expansion.
“In that context perhaps it is time to adopt a more liberal attitude to opening existing county grounds and trusting local county committees to make those decision based on practicalities and opportunities."
Meanwhile, Antrim’s Terry Reilly will head up the new hurling development committee and will be joined by the likes of his fellow countyman Neil McManus, Colm Nolan of the previous hurling workgroup, Laois manager Willie Maher, former Wexford boss Darragh Egan and Cork’s Seán O’Gorman.
New trustee and former Cork chairperson Tracey Kennedy will be on the national finance committee headed up by Fergal McCormack. Paul Foley of Limerick and another trustee, ex-Connacht chair John Murphy, are also among the members.
While Liam Keane is to lead the playing rules committee which will also include football review head Jim Gavin.
