Every All-Ireland should be at Croker

In the fullness of time it may well emerge that one of the many anticipated negative knock-on effects of the Garth Brooks saga will be a reluctance by headline acts to perform in Croke Park. What appears certain is that a cap on concerts at GAA headquarters in future years will be rigorously enforced.

This ‘cap’ will mean that there will be some extra free weekends in Croker throughout the year. Perhaps the Central Council might reserve some of those weekends for important GAA matches which are currently played outside GAA headquarters.

I refer to the under-21 All-Ireland hurling and football finals which are played at provincial grounds as Croke Park has been ruled out for staging these finals. It matters not whether it’s at senior, minor or under 21 level, every All-Ireland final, including camogie, should be held at Croke Park.

To reach an All-Ireland final is the pinnacle of a player’s career. It is a sporting achievement few attain and should be acknowledged appropriately by the GAA. How perverse it must be for these players to know that Bon Jovi, U2 and Neil Diamond played Croke Park and they didn’t.

It should not be the players having the honour of playing at Croke Park but Croke Park having the honour of hosting these players.

Tom Cooper

Templeogue

Dublin 6w