WATERFORD GAA secretary Timmy O’Keeffe has made a resolute defence of his highly controversial suggestion that the Déise should opt for Kilkenny’s Nowlan Park as the county’s Munster senior hurling championship venue in any future “home and away’’ arrangement they might enter into.

A GLUTTON for punishment surely, Seamas O’Brien heads off to Down this weekend for his 54th consecutive annual GAA Congress, that great two-day talk-fest when the massive wheels of the GAA can be at their most grindingly slow.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and President Mary McAleese were represented by their respective aides-de-camp at the funeral yesterday of former GAA president Pat Fanning in Waterford.

YESTERDAY’S encounter in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, came with more angles than a bagful of squares: Justin McCarthy, formerly of Waterford, back in the Déise with Limerick.

Former president of the GAA, Pat Fanning, has died.

ON A night when the Waterford County Board unanimously ratified the appointment of two new county senior hurling selectors for 2010, team manager Davy Fitzgerald blasted those people – many of them within his own native Clare – who, he claims, have an agenda designed to try and knock him at every given opportunity.

THE GAA’s influence spreads far and wide. When the Irish party arrived in Melbourne, we were invited to a reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador in the Celtic Club.

OKAY, it’s not the Balkans, it’s not Georgia, the mayor of Waterford isn’t about to lead an assault across the bridge over the Suir any time soon, but still.

A TOP GAA official is warning that the growth in alcohol consumption and substance abuse amongst young people could have serious consequences for clubs and even for the games themselves.

GAA CHIEFS have warned soccer and rugby authorities that the rental of Croke Park will not come cheap.

THE seismic change of policy at Congress on ‘ownership’ of Croke Park didn’t just bring the sharply differing views on Rule 42 into focus - it revealed a “new GAA”, according to Director-General Liam Mulvihill.

A HAT-TRICK of Waterford senior hurling championships wasn't enough to convince Jim Greene to remain on as Mount Sion manager.

THE GAA needs to do much more to promote their games, according to the Munster Council PRO Fr Séamus Gardiner last night.