RWC2023 bid raises booze issue for GAA

This Rugby World Cup bid, you know it’s going to happen, right?

Tue, 18 Jul, 2017 - 01:00

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.

Regardless of the cost to the exchequer and the hundreds of other things the Government would be better off doing with the money, there are too many elements working in Ireland’s favour.

There is the fact fellow bidders France and South Africa have hosted previously in 2007 and 1995 respectively. The proximity of stadia to urban areas is considerably appealing — Cork chairman Ger Lane says the World Rugby (WR) officials couldn’t get over how close Páirc Uí Chaoimh was to the city centre. But above all else, what Ireland has that the others don’t is a remarkable show of ecumenism. Brexit may yet pose a difficulty but in the attempt to stage the tournament, the border may as well not exist. Expect Casement Park’s staggered redevelopment process to accelerate should Ireland get the thumbs-up on November 15.