Counties line up for Rule 42 decisions
The campaign to open up headquarters to other sports gained a timely boost this week with an emphatic show of support from Tipperary County Board. However, many counties have yet to hold a meeting on the motions because they’re awaiting the decisions of their clubs on the issue.
However, up to eight more counties are expected to debate the issue next week, with key counties like Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork waiting until the following week - the week of Congress. Counties can choose to decide whether Central Council should have the power to decide on the opening of Croke Park, whether it be for a finite period of time or not, to coincide with the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.
Cavan will table a Congress motion proposing to give Central Council the right to decide whether the stadium should be opened to other sports or not and have been mandated by their clubs to vote accordingly.
By contrast, Clare voted unanimously at convention to keep Rule 42 in the official guide, but the county has submitted a motion to allow Central Council to decide, but only while Lansdowne Road is being developed. Clare is totally opposed to any provincial or club ground being opened up.
In Munster, much attention will focus on Limerick, which voted overwhelmingly at its annual convention last December not to open Croke Park but is now due to discuss the matter further at their county board meeting on Tuesday, April 12. The various motions on Croke Park were submitted and circulated to the clubs within Limerick, and there could well be a u-turn on the cards.
Elsewhere in Munster, Waterford’s administrators are due to meet next Monday to decide their position, and sources within the Decies indicate there is a strong possibility that the county’s previous stance against opening up Croke Park may change.
Kerry, home of GAA President Sean Kelly, has already made its position clear at convention, with a motion to Congress giving Central Council the power to make the decision on opening Croke Park. The original motion came from Moyvane, club of county chairman Sean Walsh.
Cork is another weather vane county which will be keenly watched, given its long-established reputation of opposing the opening of Croke Park. With clubs in the county debating the issue at present, a decision is expected at the Cork County Board meeting the week of Congress, and much attention will focus on the mandate of the clubs. Given the sheer number of clubs in the county, predictions of a likely outcome are extremely difficult, though clubs have expressed a strong desire for debate at local level before a decision by the full Board.
In Connacht, Mayo voted recently - by 22 votes to 21 - not to open the stadium. Galway and Sligo will make their decisions at meetings next Monday night. Sligo are viewed as sympathetic to opening up, while the Liam Mellows club in Galway voted unanimously at their meeting on Wednesday night to open up. If that is any yardstick, then the 10 votes Galway will have at Congress should be cast in favour of opening up Croke Park.
Longford have come out in favour of opening Croke Park, while the Leitrim County Board will meet the week before Congress to decide, with sources within the county unwilling to speculate on the likely outcome.
In Leinster, Louth and Meath will decide on Monday, while Carlow will hold their meeting on Thursday. The Kilkenny County Board will meet on Monday, April 11, and the indications are that the Cats’ administrators will support the motion giving Central Council the right to decide.
The situation is seen as relatively clear-cut in Ulster, with the Six Counties expected to strongly oppose any move to open Croke Park, as they have done in the past. However, the decision of the Armagh County Board to go back to the clubs for a mandate has been welcomed by the pro-lobby.
Cavan are in favour of opening up, while the Donegal County Board will meet next week to hear the decision of its clubs.
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