GAA told to reapply for €40m State funds

THE Taoiseach last night told GAA president Seán McCague to reapply for the €40 million grant he had promised to the organisation and that he wanted Croke Park opened up for soccer.

Insisting there were no preconditions attached to future grants, Bertie Ahern told the GAA that funding will not be linked to the opening of Croke Park for use in the European football championships in 2008.

Nonetheless, following a meeting with the Taoiseach, Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy and Sports Minister John O’Donoghue, GAA officials were left in no doubt of Mr Ahern’s desire to have Croke Park available for Euro 2008.