GAA insist only Congress can decide on Croker

THE GAA’s President-elect has reiterated the fact that any decision on the use of Croke Park for the European Championships in 2008 can only be made by Congress and by no other individual or group.

Sean Kelly was reacting to a statement by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, in the Dáil yesterday. Mr O’Donoghue said the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has formally written to the Association requesting the use of GAA headquarters for the joint Irish/Scot bid to host the Championships in six years time.

“The Government is fully supportive of the joint bid for the European Championships in 2008, which will be decided by UEFA in December,” Minister O’Donoghue said. “I have no doubt that it would certainly help if we were in a position by then to state categorically where precisely we would be hoping to host the games in so far as they apply to this country. In that respect, the Taoiseach has written to the GAA authorities requesting them to make Croke Park available,” the Minister added.