Demonstration won’t disrupt Congress business, says Kelly

SEAN KELLY said last night that a threatened demonstration outside Croke Park by a group called the Croke Park Streets Committee Association (CPSCA) would in no way disrupt the association’s annual Congress today.

The CPSCA, which, is in no way aligned to The Croke Park Residents Alliance, is protesting at the refusal by the District Court in March to renew the club licence for the premises of the Irish Handball Sports and Social Club, which is situated in the shadow of the stadium.

“I would advise individuals responsible for disrupting our order of business that we do not respond to bully boy tactics,” said Kelly.

The CPSCA was described in a GAA statement as “a maverick group recently formed under the guidance of certain members of the Irish Handball Sports and Social Club.”

The GAA also pointed out that, despite comment to the contrary, the association was not culpable for the decision not to renew the licence. When the original application was submitted in September of 2004 it was, in fact, supported by the GAA.

“Since then, officials from the Handball Sport and Social Club have sought and received adjournments of the licence hearing whilst they endeavoured to respond to concerns raised by the City Council Fire Officer,” the GAA’s statements went on.

“Despite repeated requests, the GAA as owners of the building were not consulted on proposed works to address the fire officers concerns. You will appreciate therefore that officials of the club must take full responsibility for the non-renewal of the licence.”

Meanwhile, Congress itself kicked off yesterday evening with much of the nuts and bolts being taken care of, but with the ‘juicy’ matters all being held back until today.

Director General Liam Mulvihill’s report was dealt with in some detail with a number of delegates expressing their concerns over the strain too many competitions and too many training sessions are placing on county’s coffers and fixture schedules.

One delegate stated baldly that were simply too many national competitions, some of which were of very questionable value.

The lack of referees was raised by Cork, with one delegate warning that, however bad the matter was now, it would be a number of times worse in even five years’ time.