GAA ‘has to consider’ Croke Park consequence

THE PR fall-out for the GAA from a refusal to open up Croke Park for rugby and soccer while Lansdowne Road is under reconstruction would have to be taken into account “as part of any decision-making process”, presidential candidate Nicky Brennan has insisted.

Brennan was speaking in the wake of claims in an internal Croke Park report that there would be "a negative reaction" to such a move by GAA chiefs, and comes after Munster chairman Sean Fogarty said it would be a "PR disaster" for the Association to see Irish fans going overseas for 'home' soccer and rugby international matches.

Mr Brennan said the "negative, old-fashioned" charge would be a challenge for the GAA.

"That's part of the rationale we will have to consider, but it's too early to make definitive views on that," he said.

"A number of people have commented on the impact of refusing the use of Croke Park during the Lansdowne Road redevelopment, and we have a report from the marketing sub-committee referring to it. It's a matter that has to be taken into account as part of the decision-making process," he said.

"In relation to the decision on Croke Park, which I believe should be given to Central Council, we just don't know when it is going to be made.

"If it is considered by them, one of the issues that will have to be taken into account is the potential impact on the Association and the development of our games and the impact of what the people would feel about the Association."

Kilkenny man Brennan is convinced Lansdowne Road will continue to be used for the next year or two, based on his understanding that the IRFU won't be applying for planning permission for its redevelopment until the end of the year.

"Knowing the difficulties we had along the way with planning in relation to Croke Park, we had to overcome many obstacles and a lot of work was done behind the scenes. That meant working with the planning people and with our neighbours in Croke Park and some revision of the planning had to be put into place to get everything sorted out. That took a considerable amount of time.

"I would expect there will be some difficulties to be overcome in relation to the Lansdowne Road development. So it's not known at this stage how long it will be before they can get people in and start knocking the stadium. We could be looking at a couple of years down the road."

Referring to the use of Croke Park, the 70-page internal report says that while Croke Park is one of the GAA's greatest assets, it also presents challenges that must be addressed.

"There is an emerging risk that where Irish national teams in other codes find they have to play home matches outside of Ireland, there may be a negative reaction to the GAA brand among the general public and possibly among some of the Association's own members," it reportedly claims.

The report also recommends the GAA should adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards unauthorised use of all GAA marks and should insist that any commercial company, intermediary or agent seeking to use any official GAA image must make a formal

proposal to the Association.

The report was presented in draft form to a Management Committee meeting in Killarney recently.

Set up by president Sean Kelly, the marketing sub-committee has worked for the last two years under the chairmanship of South Kerryman Paul O'Sullivan.

The report includes 43 different recommendations, but none refers to the opening of Croke Park.