Rugby World Cup bid a no-brainer for the GAA

We put a call into an opponent of the opening of Croke Park last Tuesday. What did he make of the GAA’s heavy involvement in the Rugby World Cup bid? “Not much,” he said, “and don’t be quoting me.” Still, he wanted to give his take on the news.

Tue, 22 Nov, 2016 - 00:00

John Fogarty

John Fogarty is the Irish Examiner’s GAA correspondent, with unique insights into the action on the pitch and in the Gaelic games’ corridors of power.

He revealed he hadn’t visited Croke Park since the arrival of the rugby and soccer ranks to GAA HQ in 2007.

Never mind that, he stated he hadn’t darkened the entrance of his county grounds in three years. He complained Amhrán na bhFiann isn’t sung at away rugby internationals and questioned the prominence of Fine Gael among the leadership of the GAA. He didn’t use the words “Fine Gael” — his language wasn’t so varnished —but his point was clear.