GAA pledge to press ahead with costly Croker revamp

THE decision to complete the redevelopment of Croke Park with an expanded terrace at the Hill 16 end, will extend GAA borrowings to almost €100m and take more than ten years to pay off the debt.

The plan is for the work to start before the end of the year and be finished in time for next season’s All-Ireland hurling final, increasing overall capacity to 82,300.

Association president Sean Kelly explained that the decision to complete the stadium had been taken largely on the basis that to delay it could prove inordinately costly.

The stadium will be completed in line with the initial horse-shoe design. However, it won’t be a continuous terrace from Cusack to Hogan Stand. There will be a gap in the middle to allow access to emergency services and equipment required for the holding of any concerts. Overall, Hill 16 will be bigger, more modern and higher.

Underneath, it will feature similar facilities to the Hogan and Cusack sides, in the way of toilets and shops. Families and disabled people will be accommodated in specific areas. Mr Kelly pointed out that they had never given any consideration to continuing the stand around the northern end. Apart from the fact that cost would be prohibitive, they don’t have the space, because a railway line runs directly behind. He said there was a desire to keep it a standing area because of the psychological thing with Hill 16 and to provide cheaper tickets.

Other than ruling out a national referendum of clubs to decide on the use of Croke Park for other sports, delegates agreed that hurleys come under the heading of playing gear for the purposes of banning endorsements by players on the field of play. Delegates were informed on the use of the controversial new ball and informed that Cork and Kilkenny had both agreed to stick with it for the All-Ireland final.

Director-General Liam Mulvihill said the same type of sliothar had been used in last year’s final and by most teams in this season’s National League.

The policy of disallowing mascots in pre-match parades was fully endorsed by Laois, even though it was confirmed that they are appealing the €1,400 fine imposed on them for breaching the rule.

An earlier decision to hold presentation ceremonies on the pitch was overturned in favour of having them in the stand.

A debate on the referendum on the use of Croke Park, favoured after this year’s Congress, along with a presentation on the extension of the Hill 16 terrace, was held in camera. A statement issued afterwards pointed out that there was no provision in the rules for carrying out a referendum per se.

Mr Kelly expressed the view that once the up-to-date situation had been flagged, individual clubs could debate the issue and mandate their delegates to vote on whatever motions come before county conventions.

Mr Kelly said that, while it was great news to have got the go-ahead to finish off Croke Park, it was worrying at the same time. “We were very conscious of the figures and the implications for the Association, but ultimately we decided it was the best option,” he said. “We reckoned that if we waited for two years it would cost us another €6m. And, it was pointed out that we took a far bigger risk in 1991 to start the whole process than the risk we are taking now.”

It was estimated that borrowings would increase to €98m and, if all went well, they would hope to have the debt paid off by 2015.

“We would be hoping that the Government would look on us favourably. There is €38m outstanding to us but we understand the economic climate and, in fairness, the Government told us that they’d sit down and talk to us at the appropriate time.”

Limerick delegate P.J. Ryan raised the issue of the Laois mascots in the Leinster football final, which led to the GAC imposing a fine of €1,400 on the county board. He said all counties signed up to the adoption of game regulations and the use of mascots raised the issue of insurance cover.

Laois representative Dick Miller referred to the spectacle of the Higgins twins being used as mascots, pointing out that they had come down from the Hogan Stand and stating that the county board had nothing to do with them being on the field. While they had every intention to accept their obligations, they were appealing the fine.

The president announced that a special function will be held in Dunmanway, Cork, on September 20 to honour surviving All-Ireland football captains and their representatives. It will mark the 75th anniversary of the presentation of the trophy by Sam Maguire, a native of Dunmanway.